In a 298 voting, MPs approved Fracking below National Parks for Shale Gas. As long as the required minimum depth is met, companies will be permitted to drill outside of national parks or protected areas. Opposition MPs and campaigners who criticised the lack of discussion on the topic in the Commons claim that ministers made a huge U-turn. Opposition parties claim that Tory ministers previously pledged to ban fracking in all of the country’s national park areas. The Government claims that its plans to protect Britain’s most valuable landscapes will be successful. It also states that it has “one of best records in the world” for protecting the environment and developing industries. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Hydraulic fracture (or fracking), creates cracks in rock formations that stimulate natural gas flow or oil. This increases the volume that can then be recovered. The wells can be vertically drilled hundreds to thousands of yards below the surface of the earth. They may also include horizontal and directional sections that extend thousands of miles. (Image: Wikipedia). MPs reject a request to stop drilling for shale gas. In January, MPs rejected a Commons vote to ban drilling. Ministers then pledged an “outright ban” on fracking within national parks. The proposal was published 16th Jul. 2015, stated: “The proposed regulations provide further protections for groundwater, National Parks and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty as well as the Broads and World Heritage Sites. This will ensure that hydraulic fracturing cannot take place in areas below 1200 meters. Drinking water cannot be found below 400m. Friends of the Earth Rose Dickinson of Friends of the Earth stated following the Commons vote that fracking was safe. UK Onshore Oil and Gas, the representative body of the UK’s onshore oil and natural gas industries, including exploration, production, and storage, believes that shale gas is possible to be safely and usefully produced in the UK. The UKOOG states that fracking poses no greater risk than similar industries. UKOOG stated on their website that gas is an integral part of human life. It provides electricity and heating, as well as raw materials for products like computers and medicines. This trend is expected to persist. The UK offshore oil and gas industry will address this issue by using shale gas as a way to increase energy security in the UK. It will also help to combat worries about supply security. We are currently establishing pilot programs in relation to the initial communities. This will allow us to discover what is most effective for these communities. This is a community-led initiative. UKOOG says that companies must now determine the amount of shale gas below ground in the UK. It adds that the industry could provide thousands of skilled jobs in the UK and energy security for the UK. Fracking is what? Hydraulic fracturing is the term used to describe the process of creating fractures within rocks or rock formations. To force cracks open more, fluid is injected into them. The cracks open and more oil and natural gas flow out of the rocks and into the wellbore. Since the beginning of the 20th century, fracking has become a major business in America. It is on track to make the United States a net exporter for fossil fuels. Video: What exactly is Fracking? Fracking is something you’ve heard of and seen politicians and other groups debate it. Perhaps you don’t know what fracking is. The video below explains fracking in an easy to understand and nonscientific way.
UK MPs approve Fracking below National Parks.
