WIREDGOV

Environment Agency opens second public consultation on applications for environmental permits until 8 December.

The Environment Agency has yesterday (10 November) announced a second period of consultation on Cuadrilla’s applications for environmental permits for the proposed shale gas exploration site at Plumpton in Lancashire.

The Environment Agency has been carrying out a rigorous assessment of Cuadrilla’s applications and the comments made by the public during the first period of consultation, which closed in August.

Based on this assessment, the Environment Agency is minded to grant Cuadrilla the environmental permits needed to carry out their operations and welcomes any new relevant information for consideration before making a final decision.

The draft permits set out the conditions needed to protect groundwater, surface water and air quality and to ensure the safe storage, management and disposal of wastes. If the permits are issued Cuadrilla would have to follow these strict conditions, which will ensure that operations do not cause harm to people or the environment. The Environment Agency would rigorously enforce these conditions.

Steve Molyneux, Environment Agency Environment Manager for Lancashire, said:

Our regulatory controls for onshore oil and gas are in place to protect people and the environment. We will not permit activities that pose an unacceptable risk.

This further stage of consultation gives the public and interested groups an opportunity to see our decision making process and have their say on the draft environmental permits.

View and respond to the consultation

View and respond to the consultation documents online.

You can also make representations and submit responses by emailing the Environment Agency PSCpublicresponse@environment-agency.gov.uk or in writing to:

Permitting & Support Centre – Environmental Permit Team 
Quadrant 2 
99 Parkway Avenue 
Sheffield 
S9 4WF