Donegal Council calls for ban on fracking

tuppence

http://www.thejournal.ie/donegal-and-sligo-become-latest-local-authorities-to-ban-fracking-329929-Jan2012/

tuppence

Sometimes we like to have a gripe about our elected representatives but would like to think that theres a bit of democracy in action at teh moment and they deserve our thanks.

The chief executive of the gas company has asked to get on Ocean FM tomorrow am. He has always been highly polished but more recently he has undermined with derogatory comments the communities who are involved in raising this issue. (eg on Pat Kenny radio show) We anticpate that this is a damage limitation exercise by them. Pls show solidarity with our communities and councillors by stating your concerns.
We are calling on all those who can to contact the station to show their support for the Council's decision, to let all other decision makers know just what a popular movement (crossing all the divides and borders) the antifracking movement is. You can email the show at niall.delaney@oceanfm.ie . Txt 0833500530. Call and leave a message on 0719118100. This can be done all day Wednesday and not just during the programme.

danniemcq

i do wish this was a battlestar thread instead but i guess i have to be serious. So serious hat on.

Ah good, contaminated water supplies in time for the water charges

This is the process that is causing fire to shoot from peoples taps in the states

For the first time, a scientific study has linked natural gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing with a pattern of drinking water contamination so severe that some faucets can be lit on fire.

The peer-reviewed study [1], published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, stands to shape the contentious debate [2] over whether drilling is safe and begins to fill an information gap that has made it difficult for lawmakers and the public to understand the risks [3]

http://www.propublica.org/article/scientific-study-links-flammable-drinking-water-to-fracking/single

and they even made a movie on the topic

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1558250/

ednwireland

i applaud donegal County council in this

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/8864669/Cuadrilla-admits-drilling-caused-Blackpool-earthquakes.html

In April, a tremor measuring 2.3 on the Richter scale was felt in the Lancashire seaside resort, followed by an event in May that measured 1.5 on the scale.

“It is highly probable that the hydraulic fracturing of Cuadrilla’s Preese Hall-1 well did trigger a number of minor seismic events,” Cuadrilla admitted. The report also said there was no threat to people and property in the local area caused by the drilling.

dont think there are too many shales in donegal to frack but i cant see how this is safe technology

tuppence

danniemcq wrote: »

i do wish this was a battlestar thread instead but i guess i have to be serious. So serious hat on.

Ah good, contaminated water supplies in time for the water charges

This is the process that is causing fire to shoot from peoples taps in the states



http://www.propublica.org/article/scientific-study-links-flammable-drinking-water-to-fracking/single

and they even made a movie on the topic

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1558250/

Here is more scientific linking pollution with the whole process preliminary findings just come out from the Americian Environement Protection Agency who are in a state of catch up cos they havent been monitoring before-god love their people.

http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/wy/pavillion/EPA_ReportOnPavillion_Dec-8-2011.pdf

Maybe not battelsatr maybe more David and Golliath.

danniemcq

Hey OP

can you just clarifty, if DCC have said no can Dublin still force them to do this? or sell the rights off for some corporation to come in and do it?

article says

DONEGAL AND SLIGO county councils have become the latest local authorities to ban fracking.

so does that mean we'll never have it happen up here or is there loopholes somewhere? Was chatting about it at work but don't have time to fully look into it, any chance of a quick summery on above point?

oh and article also says

The motion, proposed by Fine Gael councillor Barry O’Neill and debated at a meeting of the Council yesterday, called for the practice to be prohibited in the Donegal County Development Plan.

does that mean that it was Barry who said we should frack or is he head of saying no?

donegal_road

there is a Facebook group called Fracking Awareness Donegal, do a search on Facebook for it, lots of info there

danniemcq

donegal_road wrote: »

there is a Facebook group called Fracking Awareness Donegal, do a search on Facebook for it, lots of info there

Facebook banned here at work!

tuppence

danniemcq wrote: »

Hey OP

can you just clarifty, if DCC have said no can Dublin still force them to do this? or sell the rights off for some corporation to come in and do it?

article says

DONEGAL AND SLIGO county councils have become the latest local authorities to ban fracking.

so does that mean we'll never have it happen up here or is there loopholes somewhere? Was chatting about it at work but don't have time to fully look into it, any chance of a quick summery on above point?

oh and article also says

The motion, proposed by Fine Gael councillor Barry O’Neill and debated at a meeting of the Council yesterday, called for the practice to be prohibited in the Donegal County Development Plan.

does that mean that it was Barry who said we should frack or is he head of saying no?

Briefly jotting you a line so cannot go into depth. Basically most of the councils have voted towards lobbying central governement for a ban/moratorium. Its central goverment that will hold the ultimate say on this. Putting into County Development Plan with makes it more legally binding toward the wishes of the local people. Basically we are in this together with our councillors supporting us.
The companies only have the first options liscence, we have to pull together to ensure they dont get past this. There will be processes and consultation that have to be followed before they get to that. We need to leave the government and investors in this industry (they are looking for investors now hence the 'big sell') that the groundswell of public opinion is against this before we even reach this.
Ultimately this is a national and international campaign
Here is the Irish and Northern Irish petition
http://frackingfreeireland.org/info-to-download/flyers/

There is a comprehensive amount of information available in this site, research reports, press etc.
http://frackingfreeireland.org/what-is-fracking/