❓ A Western Australian parliamentary question on notice probes the regulation and environmental impact assessment of coal seam gas exploration and hydraulic fracturing (fracking), particularly concerning chemical usage, methane leaks, and groundwater protection. The response indicates limited specific regulations and public disclosure requirements at the time.
AnsweredQoN 3684Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to exploration activities for coal seam gas in Western Australia that are currently underway or approved to commence, and ask the following, -
(1) What are all the locations in Western Australia that may be subject to drilling for coal seam gas exploration, please include, for each exploration lease title, the proponent’s name(s), the location and a description of the status of the project?
(2) For each of the projects listed above, please state by item, whether hydraulic fracturing, also known as ‘fracking’, has been conducted?
(3) For each of the projects above that are yet to commence but have been approved, please state by item, whether fracking has been proposed?
(4) For each of the projects above where fracking has been conducted, please state by item what chemicals have been used?
(5) For each of the projects above where fracking has been proposed, please state by item what chemicals have been proposed to be used?
(6) What are the laws and regulations that currently exist in the Western Australian legislature that apply to the practice of fracking, as a part of, -
(a) exploration activity; and
(b) commercial operations?
(7) What requirements are stated in these laws and regulations in regards to, -
(a) making information available to the public about which chemicals are proposed to be used in fracking; and
(b) assessing potential impacts on groundwater, human health and the environment from chemicals being used?
(8) What laws and regulations currently exist in Western Australia in regards to potential accidental methane leaks caused by fracking activity?
(9) What laws and regulations currently exist in Western Australia in regards to protecting landowners’ groundwater use should fracking occur on their land, with regards to, -
(a) contamination of groundwater;
(b) drawdown of the water table; and
(c) uncontrolled methane release from drilling areas?
(1) What are all the locations in Western Australia that may be subject to drilling for coal seam gas exploration, please include, for each exploration lease title, the proponent’s name(s), the location and a description of the status of the project?
(2) For each of the projects listed above, please state by item, whether hydraulic fracturing, also known as ‘fracking’, has been conducted?
(3) For each of the projects above that are yet to commence but have been approved, please state by item, whether fracking has been proposed?
(4) For each of the projects above where fracking has been conducted, please state by item what chemicals have been used?
(5) For each of the projects above where fracking has been proposed, please state by item what chemicals have been proposed to be used?
(6) What are the laws and regulations that currently exist in the Western Australian legislature that apply to the practice of fracking, as a part of, -
(a) exploration activity; and
(b) commercial operations?
(7) What requirements are stated in these laws and regulations in regards to, -
(a) making information available to the public about which chemicals are proposed to be used in fracking; and
(b) assessing potential impacts on groundwater, human health and the environment from chemicals being used?
(8) What laws and regulations currently exist in Western Australia in regards to potential accidental methane leaks caused by fracking activity?
(9) What laws and regulations currently exist in Western Australia in regards to protecting landowners’ groundwater use should fracking occur on their land, with regards to, -
(a) contamination of groundwater;
(b) drawdown of the water table; and
(c) uncontrolled methane release from drilling areas?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 April 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mines and Petroleum
Response time
22 days
(3) Fracture stimulation has been proposed for EP 455. (4) DMP is not aware of any chemicals having already been used for hydraulic fracturing for coal seam methane in Western Australia. (5) No chemicals have been proposed for use in fracture stimulation for EP 455 as yet. (6) (a)All hydraulic fracturing activities are currently regulated under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 and the Petroleum Act 1967 Schedule of Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Production Requirements 1991 . If a project is considered likely to have a significant effect on the environment, the project may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment under Western Australia's Environmental Protection Act 1986 . (b) All hydraulic fracturing activities are currently regulated under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 and the Petroleum Act 1967 Schedule of Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Production Requirements 1991 . If a project is considered likely to have a significant effect on the environment, the project may be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority for assessment under Western Australia's Environmental Protection Act 1986 . (7) (a) There are no requirements under the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 for public disclosure of the chemicals that are proposed to be used in hydraulic fracturing. If a project is referred to the Environmental Protection Authority and the level of assessment set for the project is a Public Environmental Review (PER), there would be an opportunity for the public to comment on the proposed project as part of the PER assessment process under Western Australia's Environmental Protection Act 1986 . (b) Under the Schedule of Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Production Requirements 1991 , the proponent is required to have an approved code of environmental practice for the activity. This code is referred to as an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) which is assessed by DMP. DMP requires the proponent's EMP to include the results of an environmental risk assessment for their proposed activity which describes and evaluates the potential impacts on the environment, including groundwater contamination. For potential impacts on human health, this question should be referred to the Minister for Health. (8) The Schedule of Onshore Petroleum Exploration and Production Requirements 1991 contains Clauses 119 and 290 which would relate to an accidental methane leak caused by hydraulic fracturing. (9) This question should be referred to the Minister for Water. Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on http://www.rtlib.com
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