Outrageous EPA Backs WA Fracking Project: Climate Impact Concerns

A controversial fracking proposal in Western Australia’s Kimberley region has been recommended for approval by the state’s Environmental Protection Authority, a move criticised as “outrageous” due to the project’s potential climate pollution and environmental impacts. The EPA on Tuesday recommended that the Valhalla project, which proposes to drill up to 20 gas wells in the Canning basin, proceed subject to certain conditions. Bennett Resources, a subsidiary of US-based Black Mountain Energy, announced the fracking proposal – located about 123km south-east of the town of Derby – in 2020. Sign up: AU Breaking News email Climate scientist and the chief executive of Climate Analytics, Bill Hare, has estimated that Valhalla, “if developed as planned, would add 1.8–2.6% to Australia’s [greenhouse gas] emissions”. The recommendation for approval by the EPA has been criticised by environment groups and comes months after WA Labor members voted for a moratorium on fracking – which covers 98% of WA – to be extended statewide. The Greens’ WA fossil fuels spokesperson, Sophie McNeill, said the “outrageous decision” was at odds with community sentiment, which was “overwhelmingly opposed to fracking”. “The Kimberley has the largest, most intact tropical savannah left in the world and its nature and culture, with vast dramatic landscapes, are the draw cards for the $500m tourism industry every year,” she said. The EPA’s recommendation comes after an Independent Expert Scientific Committee report, published in December, which found Bennett Resources’ environmental risk assessment was “limited and disjointed” and reached “largely unsupported” conclusions about “potential impacts to surface water and groundwater resources”. Fracking – or hydraulic fracturing – is a method of extracting oil and gas trapped in shale and other rock formations. It involves pumping large amounts of water, as well as small amounts of sand and chemicals, down a well at high pressure. The method has been controversial for its environmental impacts, primarily the risk of water contamination. The EPA report, which is subject to a three-week public appeal period, noted that fracking was “central to the high level of public concern and interest in the proposal”. At a press conference on Tuesday, the WA premier, Roger Cook, said the decision was “not a green light for fracking”. “The EPA has made a recommendation that the particular project in question … can have its environmental impacts managed in a way that means they are comfortable that it goes ahead,” Cook said. “I suspect that decision will be appealed, so I won’t make further comment.” The executive director of the Conservation Council of WA, Matt Roberts, described the EPA’s green light as “reckless”, adding: “CCWA raised concerns during the project assessment around the potential contamination of groundwater and impacts to subterranean fauna, along with increased greenhouse gas emissions, and the impacts on endangered saw fish, ghost bats and bilbies, none of which the proponent adequately responded to.” The director of Environs Kimberley, Martin Pritchard, said: “Fracking would pollute the water that sustains life in the Kimberley and threaten rare and endangered wildlife as well as the National Heritage–listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River.” The state environment minister, Matthew Swinbourn, will have final say over the proposal. Pritchard called upon Cook and Swinbourn to reject the fracking project. “If they don’t there will be significant electoral consequences with a backlash not just from the Kimberley but also across key Perth electorates,” Pritchard said. Swinbourn said in a statement: “There is a 21-day public appeals period, and the proper avenue for concerns is via an appeal to the Appeals Convenor.” “Once the EPA and Appeals Convenor processes are finalised, I will consider the final advice and while that independent process is underway it would be inappropriate for me to comment.” Cook’s office was contacted for comment. The Valhalla project is also being assessed under federal environment laws. In a statement, the executive chairman of Black Mountain Energy, Rhett Bennett, described the EPA report as “an encouraging step forward”, adding: “I remain a strong believer in the vast resource development opportunity that exists in our EP371 permit in the Canning Basin. Our focus remains on progressing activity for the benefit of all stakeholders.”