TAKE ACTION: Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive on Fracking

national | environment | news report Tuesday July 02, 2013 22:08 by anti-fracking

Help is needed to lobby our Environment MEPs on the review of this directive because this will be used to set the parameters on Fracking in Ireland.

1. Lobby our ENVI MEP’s – Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive before 11 July!!
2. Watch the BBC documentary
3. Send an e post card

1, Review of the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive

See also update and new letter on: http://frackingfreeireland.org/campaign-news/take-action/

This Directive is absolutely essential as it notably defines why, when and how an Environmental impact Assessment (EIA) should be made in order to better understand the potential environmental impacts of industrial projects and to mitigate these impacts as much as possible.

However, as mentioned by several legal studies, the EIA Directive is currently not adapted for unconventional oil and gas projects and, therefore, cannot guarantee a systematic EIA before the beginning of a new shale gas, shale oil or coal bed methane project. The consequence of this shortcoming could generate dysfunctions similar to those observed in the US:

No baseline data and therefore no possibility to prove the causal links between drilling activities and accidents

No participation of the local communities in the decision process.

Together with my colleague Geert, from Food and Water Europe, we have suggested amendments to add the shale gas/shale oil/coal bed methane specificities in the document. So far, our recommendations have been followed by the MEP leading the review of the text. However, this MEP had to agree with other political groups on a number of compromises which slightly water down our initial proposal. It is however still acceptable to our eyes, but we know the amendment will be challenged during the first vote in the Parliamentary committee working on environment issues that will take place on the 11th of July

Therefore, we need your help to contact your MEPs, members of the ENVI Committee, before the 11th of July, and ask them to support the Amendment imposing a systematic EIA for shale gas, shale oil and coal bed methane projects. The more letters each MEP will receive, the better, and don’t hesitate to do some follow-up by phone if time allows you.
More http://frackingfreeireland.org/campaign-news/take-action/

2. Watch the BBCdocumentary on fracking and Write to Iain Stewart/Horizon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v02pX-lBp0g
Iian Stewart: iain.stewart@plymouth.ac.uk
Horizon: horizon @ bbc.co.uk

Sample letter in Fracking Matters Newsletter 112 and lots of info you can use on
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/europe/fracking/

Johnny Linehan has created an event on FB where we can share our complaints sent in to the programme.
Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/491680057577641

Twitter to Iain – https://twitter.com/Profiainstewart

3.. ACTION POST CARD see http://frackingfreeireland.org/campaign-news/take-action/ for full details

Send the waterpost e-card to TD’s, Government bodies, Petroleum Affairs Division and demand a ban on fracking! or use text below

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The practice of onshore unconventional gas extraction on the island of Ireland is unacceptable to the communities living in the proposed gaslands.

We wish to leave our children a legacy of hope, not one of an environment so degraded that their legacy will contain carcinogenic timebombs.

Caption: Video Id: v02pX-lBp0g Type: Youtube Video
Horizon - Fracking: The New Energy Rush