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Shale Gas Monitoring and Citizen Mobilization Seminar

This seminar explores the challenges and controversies surrounding shale gas in Poland and Europe, examining the experiences in the US, the regulatory catch-up in Europe, and the discussions and next steps in Brussels.

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Shale Gas Monitoring and Citizen Mobilization Seminar

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  1. Gaz łupkowy – monitoring, mobilizacja i partycypacja obywatelska/Seminarium: ”Gaz łupkowy w Polsce – wyzwanie dla demokracji An EU-wide ‘Brussels’ Perspective on Shale Gas, Food & Water Europe Geert De Cock PROJEKT WSPÓŁFINANSOWANY PRZEZ SZWAJCARIĘ W RAMACH SZWAJCARSKIEGO PROGRAMU WSPÓŁPRACY Z NOWYMI KRAJAMI CZŁONKOWSKIMI UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ www.obywatelekontroluja.pl

  2. Structure • US experiences • Not without controversies … • Lessons in the EU • Discussions in Brussels • Poland in Brussels • Next steps in Brussels www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 1

  3. US experiences www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 2

  4. Not without controversies … • Carbon footprint of shale gas • Water treatment challenges • Groundwater contamination • Negative impact on local air quality • Industrialisation of countryside • Fracking & residential areas www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 3 l

  5. Map of local resistance in US www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 4

  6. Regulatory catch-up with shale gas boom • US federal government: EPA new standards to reduce fugitive emissions • New initiatives on fracking chemicals disclosure • Overhaul of regulations in Pennsylvania, Illinois, etc. underway • Ban in Vermont and 2-year moratorium in New York state www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 5

  7. Lessons in the EU from US experience • France and Bulgaria banned fracking • Moratoriums in (Germany), Netherlands, (Ireland), Lithuania, Czech republic and (Romania), (Denmark) • Halting of activities: Sweden, Austria (and UK) • Only 2 countries with interest in shale gas: Poland and UK Diverse responses in EU! Situation in flux www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 6

  8. European Parliament • Sonik report: Calls on the Commission to introduce an EU-wide risk management framework for unconventional fossil fuels exploration or extraction, with a view to ensuring that harmonised provisions for the protection of human health and the environment apply across all Member States; • Tzavela report [C]alls on the Commission and public authorities in the Member States, without delay, to check and, if necessary, improve the regulatory frameworks in order to ensure their adequacy for shale gas and shale oil projects, especially with a view to being prepared for possible future commercial-scale production in Europe as well as for addressing environmental risks; www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 7

  9. European Parliament • Citizen petitions to Parliament’s Petition Committee • Ireland, Bulgaria, Germany, France, Poland, Romania • Main concerns: • Immediate moratorium, at least until impacts are understood and better standards are in place • Mandatory impact assessments • Long-term liability • No subsidies • Groundwater contamination, water treatment & water shortages • Use of toxic chemicals • Land use / impact on other economic activities • Fugitive methane emissions www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 8

  10. European Commission • 2013 work programme: “Environmental climate and energy assessment framework to enable safe and secure unconventional hydrocarbon extraction”. • Expert workshops (including NGOs) • Public consultation – online (until March 23) • Stakeholder conference www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 9

  11. EC consultation • Topics covered: • Opportunities & challenges • How to address challenges (well integrity, disclosure, monitoring, liability) • Form of legislative response (voluntary – legislative) • Important for ENGOs: • Possibility to answer that “unconventional fossil fuels extraction (e.g. shale gas) should not be developed in Europe at all” www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 10

  12. Poland & Brussels • Long-standing opposition against ambitious climate policies of the EU • Still no renewables law in Poland • Defending broad interpretation of “right to decide own energy mix” (Art. 194 EU Treaty) • Position that current regulatory framework is ‘adequate’ for shale gas • Downplaying cumulative impacts of large-scale shale gas activities www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 11

  13. Poland & Brussels • Infringement of several EU laws, relevant for shale gas activities • Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC • Failure to implement river basin district analysis and water monitoring programmes • Hydrocarbon Directive 1994/22/EC • ‘First come, first serve’ awarding of licences not in line with requirement for completive tenders www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 12

  14. Food & Water Europe / Poland • Letter to Environment Minister (April 2012): • Local water shortages? • Air quality (flaring and venting)? • Monitoring capacity? • Revised liability regime (Fund, burden of proof)? www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 13

  15. Food & Water Europe / Poland • Reply (July 2012) • Solid answers on water usage. Research on water availability • No attention to cumulative impacts of large-scale commercial exploitation / focus only on exploration stage • Study of 1 well “Łebien LE-2H” • Little detail • Where will produced water be treated? Which technologies? • No need to hire new staff yet www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 14

  16. Application of EIA Directive in Poland? • European Commission: • Only natural gas extraction, exceeding the 500.000 m3 threshold, requires mandatory EIA • Shale gas activities by their nature require (always) an environmental impact assessment, i.e. mandatory • Important because: • Improved understanding of environmental impacts • Baseline studies! • Possible mitigation measures • Consultation of the authorities and public concerned www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 15

  17. Application of EIA Directive in Poland? • Ongoing negotiations in Brussels about review of EIA directive • Need for mandatory impact assessment of all unconventional fossil fuel projects • New Polish hydrocarbon legislation exempts exploration wells up to 5000 meters from EIA • Against the spirit of the current EIA directive www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 16

  18. Conclusion • Poland ‘going it alone’ • In contrast, Brussels and EU Member States engage in broad discussion about risks • Hype about shale potential not conducive for debate about risks and impacts • Key pieces of EU environmental law not implemented • Need for mandatory EIA for shale gas projects www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 17

  19. Dziękujemy za uwagę.Zapraszamy ponownie. PROJEKT WSPÓŁFINANSOWANY PRZEZ SZWAJCARIĘ W RAMACH SZWAJCARSKIEGO PROGRAMU WSPÓŁPRACY Z NOWYMI KRAJAMI CZŁONKOWSKIMI UNII EUROPEJSKIEJ Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich (INSPRO) ul. Więckowskiego 33/107 90-734 Łódź Tel/fax: (42) 630 17 49 e-mail: aleksandra.swiatkiewicz@inspro.org.pl www.obywatelekontroluja.pl 3

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