MEDIA RELEASE  4 April 2014

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today expressed his dismay that the government’s centrepiece policy to protect groundwater, the Aquifer Interference policy, will not apply to the assessment of Santos’ 850 gas well project, despite admissions from Santos that there are risks to aquifers, a record of contamination incidents and the fact that it sits above a Great Artesian Basin recharge area.

Santos have lodged their Preliminary Environmental Assessment with the Department of Planning as the first stage of the assessment process.  Page 29 says: “an aquifer interference approval would not be required for the proposed development” arguing that this is because the government has not made the appropriate ‘proclamation’.

“This is a catastrophic bungle by the O’Farrell Government.  The Aquifer Interference policy is meant to be the centrepiece policy to protect groundwater from mining.  That it does not apply to the largest coal seam gas project in the state is a complete farce,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“The Greens call for any assessment of the project to be halted until the government can rectify this bungle to ensure that the Aquifer Interference requirement is applied to the assessment of the Santos project.

“If this is an intentional oversight to help push through the Santos project, then the government has a lot of explaining to do.  If it is a bungle, then the Water Minister should resign.

“The Preliminary Environmental Assessment admits that coal seam gas development may impact on groundwater quality and quantities, with risks that cross-contamination of aquifers can occur and there may be cumulative drawdown impacts and subsidence.

“A major concern about coal seam gas has always been its impact on water.  This project cannot slip through a loop hole and put at risk local water resources and the Great Artesian Basin.

“Other concerns with the project include bushfire risks, the vague plans to deal with the massive amounts of salt and toxic waste water this project will create, as well as significant native vegetation clearing and industrialisation of the Pilliga forest and surrounding bushland,” he said.

A project brief sheet follows.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

The Preliminary Environmental Assessment document has been released by Santos for the Pilliga coal seam gas project.

http://www.santos.com/library/Narrabri%20Gas%20Project%20request%20for%20DGRs.pdf

The project will be 850 gas wells with an area of 98,000 hectares.  It will include high voltage power lines hooked up to the state grid; an expansion of the already massive waste water facilities; in-field compressor stations; as well as a large gas treatment plant.

Major issues:

1)     Claim they do not need to get an Aquifer Interference approval.

P.29 Although Santos admit “the project would encounter groundwater, and would, therefore, penetrate an aquifer” they claim that the government has not ‘proclaimed’ the Aquifer Interference provisions of the Water Management Act.   “Accordingly, an aquifer interference approval would not be required for the proposed development.”

Aquifer interference approval was the O’Farrell Government’s major policy put in place to protect aquifers from damage from mining. It is the centrepiece of their policy response.  The fact that the biggest coal seam gas project in NSW, that sits on top of a Great Artesian Basin recharge area, does not need to get an aquifer interference approval is a scandal.

2)     Admission that project will likely damage groundwater.
P.39-40 Admit the project has the impact to damage groundwater through:

1. Depressurisation
2. Leakage through poorly constructed gas wells
3. Changes to groundwater quality
4. Cross-contamination of aquifers
5. Cumulative drawdown impacts
6. Subsidence
7. Spills and leaks affecting shallow alluvial aquifers
8. Changes to groundwater ecosystems

3)     There is no clear plan for waste water or salt management.
The EIS is vague about how it will dispose of waste water, brine and the huge quantities of salt it will produce.  It is highly likely that the salt will have to be buried as land fill.  This will require a site of hundreds of hectares.  Where will the salt be buried? P.14-15

A significant expansion of the waste water ponds will be required. These ponds are already 800 mega litres or 325 Olympic swimming pools in size.

4)     The project is likely to be connected to the electricity grid and require high voltage transmission lines through a bushfire prone area. P.15-16

5)     Admission that a fire at a gas well head could initiate a bush fire
Placing a major gas field in the middle of a highly bush fire prone forest has always been a major concern for local residents.

6)     Santos admit there will only be 200 ongoing jobs.
P.41

 Download this press release.

MEDIA RELEASE - 2 April 2014

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham has written to Police Minister Mike Gallacher asking for the reasons behind his ministerial decision to request the closure of both the Leard State Forest and the Pilliga Forest near Narrabri, saying he was concerned that the decision was a political favour to resource companies Whitehaven and Santos. 

“I’ve written to the Police Minister asking for an explanation as to why he has made a ministerial request to close these forests for extended periods of time and whether it was made at the request of the resource companies,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“State Forests should be open to the public for a variety of activities.  The extent of these closures is of concern as it could have significant impacts on the public’s right to enjoy public assets.

“People in NSW have the right to peaceful protest and public land should not be closed simply to curtail this right.

“There is significant concern about both the destruction of the Leard Forest for Whitehaven’s coal mine and Satnos’ coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga Forest.

“The Greens support the right to peaceful protest and the NSW Greens state conference held last weekend passed a motion in support of protesters at both the Leard Forest and the Pilliga.”

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 28 March 2014

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham expressed his concern that the EPA has announced an investigation into yet another spill by Santos, this time of 500 litres of toxic coal seam gas water at its Narrabri coal seam gas operations.  He called for their operations to be frozen by the Minister.  

“Santos promised that their ‘new’ management would ensure that the pollution incidents stopped.  This latest spill of toxic coal seam gas water is proof that this industry is unsafe no matter who runs it,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Coal seam gas is an inherently risky industry.  We’ve had multiple spills and contamination incidents with only a dozen pilot wells.   The risk will be multiplied with 850 gas wells planned for their Narrabri operations.

“Produced water contains high levels of salt, as well as dangerous heavy metals such as arsenic, lead and uranium.”

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 27 March 2014

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today accused the O’Farrell Government of covering up after they blocked a motion in the NSW Upper House for all documents relating to the aquifer contamination incident and investigation, as well as the MOU to fast track the assessment process for the Santos Narrabri coal seam gas project.

“The Greens are very concerned that there has been collusion between Santos and government departments and the denial of documents only increase our concern,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“The citizens of NSW are entitled to know why the EPA took so long to report the aquifer contamination, why the fine was so tiny, and what happened behind the scenes?

“There is concern that the EPA is far too close to industry and evidence of collusion with Orica to downplay pollution incidents.  We are very concerned that the same thing has happened with the Santos pollution incident that resulted in an aquifer having uranium at 20x safe drinking water levels, as well as heavy metals such as lead and arsenic.

“Was the government aware of the aquifer contamination incident when they signed an MOU to fast-track the Santos Narrabri coal seam gas project?

“Barry O’Farrell promised a more accountable and transparent government, yet they act the same as when NSW Labor were in office by refusing to release this information to the parliament.

“The Greens will attempt to access the information through a Freedom of Information request,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE - 8 March 2014

Ground water contaminated with uranium 20x limit & other poisonous elements - game over for coal seam gas

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today called on the NSW government to halt all coal seam gas projects after the NSW Environmental Protection Authority found that gas company Santos had seriously contaminated ground water with toxic elements such uranium, arsenic, lead, and boron at its coal seam gas Bibblewindi water treatment plant near Narrabri.  Uranium has been detected in the aquifer at 335 micrograms per litre, which is 20 times safe drinking water levels. 

“This is game over for coal seam gas.  Here is definitive proof that unconventional gas, such as coal seam gas pollutes aquifers with extremely toxic elements,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“It is totally unacceptable for ground water to be contaminated with radioactive uranium 20 times the safe drinking water limit.   Poisonous elements such as arsenic, lead and boron have also been mobilised and concentrated by coal seam gas extraction and then leaked into the aquifers.

“The gas industry often states there are no ‘proven’ cases of gas extraction leading to aquifer contamination.  Well here is the proof.

“The Greens call for the Santos Narrabri project and other coal seam gas projects in NSW to be halted immediately.  Other aquifers cannot be put at risk of serious pollution.  This type of contamination represents a serious health risk to humans and animals.

“It is scandalous that the government knew of this serious contamination incident when they announced the MOU to fast-track Santos’ Narrabri project, and when the Premier downplayed concern about the chemical risk associated with CSG on radio by likening it to chewing gum. 

“The dead vegetation in this area has given a clear visual indicator of this instance of contamination. There may be many, many more instances of pollution below ground that are not visible but are very real and will have long term effects on the aquifers and environment.  This incident is the tip of the ice berg.

“The fears of farmers and the community that coal seam gas was putting water resources at risk have been vindicated.  The claims by the gas industry that coal seam gas is safe are now disproved.

“The NSW Environmental Protection Authority has become a fig leaf for industrial pollution in NSW.  The tiny fine issued is staggering and there should be an inquiry into their failure to protect the environment in this case and others.”

Contact: Max Phillips - 0419 444 916

Download PDF of media release

MEDIA RELEASE   -  12 June 2013

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham today welcomed the Government’s announcement that Santos would be prosecuted for unreported spills of untreated coal seam gas water at their Pilliga forest operations near Narrabri.  He said the spills were a warning that coal seam gas was a risky industry that threatened to pollute water resources as well as disrupt farming operations.

A tarry substance near coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga Forest NSW

“The Greens have been warning that coal seam gas is unsafe, unnecessary and unwanted for a long time.  This prosecution is proof that the warnings and risks of coal seam gas are well founded,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Coal seam gas water can be highly saline, contain a multitude of hydrocarbons and heavy metals, as well as drilling and fracking fluids.  Disposal of the huge amounts of waste water produced by coal seam gas operations is risky and problematic as these spills in the Pilliga indicate.

“Santos initially claimed that black tarry water near its operations was just ‘eucalyptus leaves discolouring the water’.  This prosecution shows that you cannot fool the public or the authorities, and Santos ought to apologise.

“The coal seam gas industry tried to fly under the radar for a long time, but local residents, farmers and activists have been dragging their ugly operations into the light.

“We’ve had a large number of pollution incidents and other problems with just a few dozen gas wells in NSW.  There is a huge risk in allowing thousands of coal seam gas wells to be drilled and fracked.

“Will we see similar spills from AGL’s coal seam gas operations into the clear streams of the Gloucester Valley and flowing into the oyster growing and fishing grounds of the Manning River?

“Instead of wasting billions in another fossil fuel, we should be investing in clean renewable energy like solar and wind,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips -  0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE

6 July 2012

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham has expressed concern at the extremely light fines imposed on Santos for polluting waterways with coal seam gas waste water, after the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) issued two penalty notices for a total fine of only $3,000.

The EPA announced two penalty notices to Eastern Star Gas, and issued a formal warning to Santos - http://bit.ly/LZ7by8

“It is good that the EPA has investigated these incidents of coal seam gas pollution, but the penalty is hardly a disincentive to the industry not to pollute,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Coal seam gas produces large amounts of waste water that can be highly saline and can contain heavy metals and volatile organic compounds and poses a risk to our water resources.

“The industry claims it does not pollute water, but here we have two fines and one warning for water pollution. 

“The government should not let this industry go ahead while it remains unclear how it can deal with the large volumes of waste water it produces without risk to the environment,” he said.

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916

MEDIA RELEASE

22 January 2012

The Greens NSW spokesperson on mining Jeremy Buckingham seized on revelations from Santos that there have been 20 serious incidents at its coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga Forest, many of which involved spills of toxic coal seam gas water, to renew the Greens’ call for a moratorium on the industry.

“These revelations are yet more proof that coal seam gas extraction is a high risk activity that should not be allowed to roll out across our state,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham.

“Twenty incidents from around 35 pilot gas wells is a high ratio.  How many incidents will there be if Santos are allowed to drill their planned 1,100 coal seam gas wells in the Pilliga Forest?

“Barry O’Farrell has a chance to be either an environmental hero or villain.  He should implement a moratorium on the coal seam gas industry.

“NSW should be investing in truly clean energy sources like solar and wind.  We do not need to go down the route of a new fossil fuel with all the environmental risks that are attached.

“Santos owned a significant stake - 20 per cent - of Eastern Star Gas since 2009.  It’s not good enough to blame the former operators as if Santos was not involved.

“Santos were loose with the truth at the beginning of this year when they dismissed a spill reported by a local farmer as ‘eucalyptus leaves discolouring the water’.   It was later revealed that in fact 10,000 litres of coal seam gas water had spilled in the area killing a large tract of vegetation.

“This is a serious industry, using and extracting serious and potentially harmful industrial chemicals on farms, in our forests and even near homes in our cities.”

Contact: Max Phillips - 9230 2202  or  0419 444 916