Greens NSW MP and mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham has congratulated campaigners in the Northern Rivers today for their action against Metgasco’s plans to build a new coal seam gas waste-water pond near Casino.
“The Government grandly announced a ban on evaporation ponds last year but has now approved a 5-year wastewater storage pond that operates exactly like an evaporation pond. It is completely dishonest,” Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham said.
“The community has been forced to take this action because the Government has failed to adequately protect the water resources in the Northern Rivers.
“The Coal Seam Gas Inquiry recommended banning all open water storage of waste water from coal seam gas production including temporary storage and open storage in tanks. It viewed this as a significant environmental risk and the government should accept that recommendation in full.
“I will ask questions in parliament today about the Government’s position on open water storage and why they are continuing to allow coal seam gas companies to put our water resources at risk.
Metgasco was recently caught out disposing of produced water at the Casino sewage treatment plant, which was not permitted under the facilities environmental licence. Metgasco disposed of over one million litres between May 2011 and March 2012 before being told by the Environmental Protection Agency to desist.
Contact: Justin Field – 9230 2202 or 0439 205 835
June 21st, 2012 at 12:26 am
Was Metgasco fined for illegally depositing water in the sewerage treatment plant.
Where did that water end up?
Was their waste water tested for magnesium, iron, barium, strontium, manganese, methanol, chloride, sulfate, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, chlorides and naturally occurring radioactive materials for example the radioactive element radium?