Sunday, February 27, 2011

One Man’s Mystery Leads to a Backlash Against Natural Gas Drilling

This story is one of the best fracking stories I have read so far.  It is a detailed and comprehensive history of how the EPA got involved in fracking, and follows the story of Louis Meeker.

It struck so many chords with me. It is very close to home. The story of Louis Meeks should serve as a warning and inspiration to all of us. I support him fully, and feel very sorry for him. WE HAVE TO PREVENT FRACKING IN OUR KAROO, AS WELL AS OUR COUNTRY.

Please follow this link to read his story:


Friday, February 25, 2011

SHALE SHOCKED IN THE KAROO BASIN

Article from: http://www.liveeco.co.za/?m=2&idkey=1723
Thursday, February 24, 2011

SHALE SHOCKED IN THE KAROO BASIN

Oil and gas companies are queuing in line for exploration licenses to search for shale gas in the Karoo region. Residents of the Karoo (and more recently – wider South African population) are concerned about the unproven shale gasextraction methods that could be harmful to the environment and contaminate underground water.

About shale gas and its extraction from the Karoo


Shale gas is a natural gas produced from shale, a sedimentary rock composed of mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals. Farmers and residents are mainly concerned with the extraction method, which is calledhydraulic fracturing or fracking. During the extraction of shale gas, deep drilling is used to penetrate the ground until shale rock is struck. Chemicals, water and sand are blasted into the holes, fracturing the shale and releasing natural gas from it. Shell, Sasol, Anglo American, Falcon Oil and Gas, and Bundu Gas and Oil Exploration, are among those eyeing shale gas in the region.

The Petroleum Agency South Africa (PASA) awarded Royal Dutch Shell a TCP (Technical Co-operation Permit) for a one-year study to determine the hydrocarbon potential in parts of the Karoo Basin in 2009. In 2010, the company secured a permit to explore for shale gas over 185000km² in the Karoo, which means that more confrontations between communities and companies will continue.  According to the law, the residents in the area own their land but not the minerals beneath them.

We are very concerned about the environmental impact, especially because fracking is not regulated in South Africa,´ said Derek Light, a Graaf-Reinet lawyer representing a number of Karoo land owners and interested parties. 

 “It would be pretty naive if we weren’t concerned because if it happens, it’s the end of our livelihood - not only ours, but all the people we employ as well,” said Princess Irene, sister of 
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, who owns Boplaas Nature Reserve in the Karoo. Princess Irene spoke to Carte Blanche (the programme aired on 20 February 2011). Unlike some of the Dutch royal family, Princess Irene does not own a stake in the oil giant Shell and she is vocal about her opposition to shale gas exploration in the area.

Light successfully opposed the last two exploration applications by Bundu Oil & Gas, adding that the legal process was failing the farmers and residents of the area. Carte Blanche reported that applicants have 120 days to inform and consult the public and come up with an Environmental Management Plan for a technique on-one fully understands. But the public, spread out on isolated Karoo farms, have only 30 days to respond. 

Activists and opposition


In February, an action group called the Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) was formed by community members and land owners. TKAG issued a press release calling on all the current applicants to withdraw their applications for licenses to pursue shale gas mining in the Karoo.

We further call on the Ministers of Water and Environmental Affairs and other ministries including Public Works and Tourism to become urgently and publicly involved in this issue of critical environmental importance, on the basis that the effects of fracking have the potential to permanently damage the Karoo environment,” said TKAG spokesperson and Karoo landowner Jonathan Deal. A Facebook group called “chase SHELL OIL out of the Karoo!” has also been created, with members of Earthlife commenting on the page. By the end of February, over 2000 people also signed the “Stop Fracking in the Karoo” page on Thepetitionsite.com.
 

Gasland documentary


Gasland, an Oscar-nominated documentary about fracking, highlights the aftermath that the messy gas drilling technique is having in the US (where the process is under fierce government scrutiny and has been banned by over 160 communities in America). The film begins and ends in Dimock, a rural area of Susquenhanna County, where methane starts to spill out of kitchen sinks and catch fire after Cabot Oil & Gas Co. start drilling wells nearby. The director of the film, Josh Fox, then begins his search to discover what shale gas drilling in America is doing to the environment and what unexpected consequences the technique may have on people.

 “In most cases, the extent of environmental disasters only becomes apparent in hindsight, when it’s too late. On precious few occasions do we get an inkling of what environmental impact an activity is like to have because others have done us the dubious favour of acting as guinea pigs,” writes Andreas Spath, maanger of Idasa’s Cape Town Democracy Centre and regular columnist on News24.
 
The liveeco team

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Not good news


Government to look at fracking environmental impact

Feb 24, 2011 12:32 PM | By Sapa 

The need for South Africa to explore for gas is also informed by its interest in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters says.


Karoo
Karoo
Photograph by: Emily/Dodi Ingle

RELATED ARTICLES

Responding to questions during a media briefing at Parliament about the outcry over shale gas exploration in the Karoo using the fracking method, Peters said that while South Africa knew it had potential for gas, "we're also alive to the environmental challenges that the process would generate".
That was why the government would ensure that any development was subjected to environmental impact assessment.
"And I believe that the shale gas exploration would allow us as South Africans to know whether we do have enough gas reserves to use them for power generation or for any other energy need that we have in South Africa."
Peters said she would advise and request the environmental groups to understand that the need for South Africa to explore for gas was also informed by its interest to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Because if we don't use that gas for whatever purposes that we would want to use it for, it will be released into the atmosphere and it will also create another particular challenge."
It was important to engage the environmental groups and appeal to them to understand that South Africa needed to develop and create the necessary jobs.
"But, we are alive to the need for us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but also to make sure that we adhere to the National Environmental Management Act (Nema)," Peters said.
The Cape Times reported earlier this week that farmers, landowners and community members in the Karoo were bolstering their opposition to applications by energy companies Shell, Bundu and Falcon to explore for shale gas, a non-renewable form of energy, in 95,000km2 in the Karoo.
Shell was the largest applicant and had submitted three applications which extended over 90,000km2.
The exploration and mining method it intended using was a "highly invasive, water-intensive and potentially toxic process called fracking", the newspaper reported.
A key collective initiative had been launched in Graaff-Reinet, where attorney Derek Light was spearheading the legal opposition against Shell, Bundu and Falcon on behalf of hundreds of Karoo farmers, landowners and community members.
The paper quoted Light as having said: "The available information on fracking indicates that it is a highly invasive process with a high risk of contamination of the environment and, in particular to underground water and air, it necessitates the use of large volumes of water for the drilling process and substantial quantities of water in the fracking process.
"It also involves the use of sand and highly toxic chemicals."
Shell and Golder Associates (the company appointed by Shell to conduct its public participation process and compile its Environmental Management Programme) had publicly stated that fracking posed no risk to the environment, the Cape Times reported.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

A Huge Fracking mess

This is a very good, and in depth story if what is going on in the US, in regards to Fracking, please follow the link:

http://www.anh-usa.org/a-huge-fracking-mess/

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Cape Times - Karoo mobilises against fracking

Heather Dugmore
Farmers, landowners and community members in the Karoo are bolstering their opposition to applications by energy companies Shell, Bundu and Falcon to explore for shale gas, a non-renewable form of energy, in 95 000km2 in the Karoo.
Shell is the largest applicant and has submitted three applications which extend over 90 000km2.
The exploration and mining method they intend using is a highly invasive, water-intensive and potentially toxic process called fracking.
A key collective initiative has been born in the Karoo’s pioneering town of Graaff-Reinet where attorney Derek Light is spearheading the legal opposition against Shell, Bundu and Falcon on behalf of hundreds of Karoo farmers, landowners and community members.
Adding to the growing public opposition to fracking and any other forms of invasive mining in the Karoo is an action group that was formed this month, called the Treasure the Karoo Action Group or (TKAG).
“TKAG is a co-ordinating body representing a broad range of stakeholders who are concerned with the plans of oil and mining companies to extract shale gas from the Karoo basin,” says TKAG spokesperson and Karoo landowner Jonathan Deal.
“Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is under fierce government scrutiny in the US and has been banned by at least 160 communities in that country,” he said.
TKAG issued a press release this week calling on all the current applicants to withdraw their applications for licences to pursue shale gas mining in the Karoo.
“We further call on the Ministers of Water and Environmental Affairs and other ministries including Public Works and Tourism to become urgently and publicly involved in this issue of critical environmental importance, on the basis that the effects of fracking have the potential to permanently damage the Karoo environment.”
The process of fracking is not regulated in South Africa and has never been used in this country before, the statement said.
Explaining, attorney Light said: “The available information on fracking indicates that it is a highly invasive process with a high risk of contamination of the environment and, in particular to underground water and air, it necessitates the use of large volumes of water for the drilling process and substantial quantities of water in the fracking process.
“It also involves the use of sand and highly toxic chemicals,” Light added.
“Apart from the exploitation of water reserves, the potential contamination of water reserves and the air by the process, there are other environmental risks associated with (it).
“Hundreds of trucks would visit a site for the drilling of one well and the initial fracturing process.
“The trucks need to convey kilometres of piping, drilling rigs, fuel, equipment, personnel, large quantities of fracking fluids and millions and millions of litres of water.
“The dust pollution, noise pollution and impact on our roads systems would have to be considered as extreme.”
The environmental threat that fracking poses to the entire Karoo is contrary to the Bill of Rights, as contained in Chapter 2 of the constitution, the group said.
If shale gas is exploited, the environment will be “permanently altered”, as there will literally be thousands of wells jutting out over the vast exploration areas in the Karoo, the statement said.
Shell and Golder Associates (the company appointed by Shell to conduct its public participation process and compile its Environmental Management Programme) have publicly stated that fracking poses no risk to the environment

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Carte Blanche

Wow, did Carte Blanche rock or what?

Advasol backs down on Gas plans

This is a media statement, posted on a blog from people fighting Fracking in the Stilbaai area, http://duiwenhoksblog.com/.


If they can do it, so can we.

Today, we received the following statement from Advasol:
MEDIA STATEMENT
01 February 2011
NEW FOCUS FOR ADVASOL
Gas exploration license application withdrawn temporarily
Cape Town, 01 February 2011: Alternative energy company Advasol is actively seeking cleaner and more efficient means of delivering energy to the SA grid – methods that do not compromise the environment or the economy. The company is currently involved in several projects including applying, through the Petroleum Association of South Africa (PASA), for an exploration license to determine whether a natural gas resource exists in the southern Cape coastal region, harnessing potential gas reserves in Mozambique and establishing Solar Energy Parks in the Northern Cape. Because the latter two energy projects are now gaining momentum, Advasol has decided to withdraw its application for an exploration license on the south Cape coast.
“Within the energy industry, we are a relatively small company”, explains Advasol director, Anton van Wyk. “Our intention still is to find the best possible solution for South Africa’s considerable energy challenges but we must consolidate that effort so that it is as effective as possible. Certain project interests have escalated and our focus now needs to shift to these projects so that they can be brought to fruition sooner – and, of course, these projects would also be very effective and responsible bridging solutions to our energy problems.”
Sustainable and responsible business is a key driver of ICE Finance, owners and investors of Advasol and Menlyn Maine. The organization is affiliated to the Clinton Foundation’s Climate Change initiative through the Menlyn Maine. While the company’s license application on the south Cape coast met with some resistance from a select few individuals in the community, who have unfortunately resorted to making inaccurate statements about the company’s activities and intentions, the majority of the community members – as well as PASA – responded favourably and positively to Advasol’s application. Advasol had completed all aspects of its application in 2010 and PASA was in the process of evaluating the application.
Anton van Wyk adds: “Although we have withdrawn our license application, we still believe opportunities for harnessing natural gas in the area exist and therefore we may reactivate our application again in the future.”
-ends-
While the PR spin on this is intended to suggest a graceful exit, there can be no doubt that the resistance to this initiative played a huge role in the decision to withdraw. This is an resounding victory for all the people who devoted time and energy to fighting this potential environmental threat. Well done and thank you!!!!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Interview on RSG with Jonathan Deal, from TKAG(Treasure the Karoo Naturally)

Please follow link:

http://soundcloud.com/fritsphilips/sabc-news-radio-item-on

Carte Blanche

Hi all

Please make sure to watch Carte Blanche this Sunday, as they are doing a large piece on Fracking.

CARTE BLANCHE 19H00 SUNDAY 20 FEBRUARY. SET YOUR ALARMS, MAKE A NOTE PHONE YOUR FRIENDS, TELL STRANGERS IN THE STREET. DON'T MISS IT!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Press Release


Latest Press release from TKAG


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Cape Town, South Africa, February 17 2011
PASA ‘clarification over fracking moratorium’ draws criticism


Responding to an article which appeared Cape Business News on February 15th a spokesperson for Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG) stated that they were surprised and dismayed to learn of the statements by Mthozami Xiphu, the CEO of the Petroleum Agency of SA (PASA).


Media announcements earlier this month stating that PASA had placed a moratorium on all new applications were greeted with a sense of relief by a broad range of stakeholders concerned about the plans of mining and exploration groups in the Karoo basin. Now it appears that PASA is encouraging further applications for exploration and mining rights to extract shale gas from the Karoo basin, using the highly controversial fracking process.


Mr. Xiphu’s clarification that PASA had not placed the moratorium in response to a call by the DA “has the effect of making a political football of an issue of national importance that transcends the aims of any political party”, said Jonathan Deal of Treasure the Karoo Action Group. He added that that the notion of hydraulic fracturing in South Africa’s Karoo basin can be unnecessarily complicated and thus presented as an extremely complex topic.
“It’s shrouded in scientific mystery, wrapped in politics and set against the backdrop of oil company profits and stakeholder concerns. But it can be addressed as a simple issue at this early stage by considering a few questions.”
These are:


1. Has PASA studied the contemporary scientific data produced in the United Kingdom and the United States which addresses the practice of hydraulic fracturing?


2. Has PASA any responsibility towards the South African public for awarding exploration and mining permits for an activity that is banned in at least 160 US locations and which is the subject of a moratorium in NY State?


3. Is PASA prepared to wait until the outcome of an ongoing congressional investigation surrounding fracking in the US, due to be completed in 2012?


4. Has PASA taken any advice from the local scientific community, including its own scientists and engineers on the merits and results of fracking a water-scarce area of delicate biodiversity such as the Karoo?


5. Is PASA in a position to call on all current and future applicants wishing to apply fracking to present a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) together with an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) on the basis that the applicants cannot effectively predict how they will manage a process that has not been evaluated in this country?


6. TKAG appreciates that PASA’s objective is to exploit mineral resources in South Africa. Is it PASA’s understanding that this brief means that minerals can be exploited irrespective of the cost to country and community?


7. Does PASA endorse the scientific principle of a ‘cautionary approach’ in the absence of strong supporting data?


8. Is PASA prepared to make a formal statement with regard to these questions and the issue of fracking technology in general?


TKAG called on Mr. Xiphu to respond to these questions on behalf of PASA as a matter of urgency.
About TKAG – Treasure the Karoo Action group is emerging as the co-ordinating body representative of a broad range of stakeholders who are concerned with the plans of Oil and Mining companies to extract shale gas from the Karoo basin. Popular support can be followed and joined on Facebook and soon at the web address www.treasurethekaroo.blogspot.com
• FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Jonathan Deal on jdeal@jonathandeal.co.za or 023 358 9902 / 076-838-5150. Please quote ref: TKAG002/2/11

Gasland Karoo

A great article, Gasland Karoo,

http://www.news24.com/Columnists/AndreasSpath/Gasland-Karoo-20110216

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Over 1000 cases of water contamination in the US from Fracking

Excerpt from ProPublica, Nov 2008

The contamination in Sublette County is significant because it is the first to be documented by a federal agency, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. But more than 1,000 other cases of contamination have been documented by courts and state and local governments in Colorado, New Mexico, Alabama, Ohio and Pennsylvania. In one case, a house exploded after hydraulic fracturing created underground passageways and methane seeped into the residential water supply. In other cases, the contamination occurred not from actual drilling below ground, but on the surface, where accidental spills and leaky tanks, trucks and waste pits allowed benzene and other chemicals to leach into streams, springs and water wells

Fracking Sites

Do we really want the Karoo to look like this?


See more pictures like this under the tab More Pictures or at http://www.damascuscitizens.org/photos.html

Strife looms as Rupert fights Karoo gas fracking

http://www.iol.co.za/business/opinion/columnists/strife-looms-as-rupert-fights-karoo-gas-fracking-1.1024430

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Moratorium

Moratorium Imposed on New Reconnaissance, Exploration and Related Applications in Four Provinces

Department of Mineral Resources
The department of mineral resources has imposed a moratorium on the processing of all new applications for reconnaissance permits, technical cooperation permits, exploration rights and production rights in certain areas of the Northern Cape, Free State, Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces.
The moratorium is announced in notice 54 of Government Gazette 33988 dated 1 February 2011, takes effect from that date and will remain in force until further notice.
It is made in terms of section 49(1) of Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 and affects the processing of applications submitted in terms of sections 74, 76, 79 and 83 of the act.
The notice includes a map indicating the areas concerned.
According to the notice, in the areas specified the moratorium will not affect the processing of applications received before 1 February 2011 in respect of:
· technical cooperation permits;
· exploration rights; and
· production rights.
The notice states that the moratorium has been imposed “having regard to the national interest and the need to promote the sustainable development of the nation’s petroleum resources”.
Sabinet Cape Town Office

What a load of nonsense

Follow this link to the article in Business Day, and see what nonsense Mr Phaldie Kalam, Shell Africa communications vice-president is telling the media, we have to stop this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/Content.aspx?id=133760



Mr Kalam says: "We are very much aware and sensitive to the fact that this will impact water availability. We are therefore exploring alternative sources of water supply. We are looking at the possibility of bringing in sea water and brackish water.

"The possibility of railing the water is good. The Karoo has a good rail network. We can give an assurance that we will not contaminate fresh drinking water supplies. Fresh water supplies are found at 150m to 200m below the surface.

"We will be drilling at about 4000m below surface. So the drilling will take place far from the fresh water supplies. Shell will also use protective steel pipes which will bypass the water aquifer. They will be encased in cement, providing additional security against leakage."
Mr Kalam says all the chemicals used during "fracking" have been declared safe by the Environmental Protection Agency of the US.

"There are currently no laws in the US that place a moratorium on fracturing," he says.
Mr Kalam says Shell will be thorough in assessing the effects of drilling .
Fears over water and chemicals aside, Shell and the other companies will need access to privately owned land. "We will comply with regulations required in SA. We will negotiate with land owners for access."



Saturday, February 5, 2011

Our Constitution

Paragraph 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa:

24. Environment

Everyone has the right 
to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and
to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that 
prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
promote conservation; and
secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

How now fracking?


From Jonathan Deal