Briefing Document, Nov 5 2015 Leinster House
EPA Research Study on UGEE (Fracking)
‘Fracking’ is a completely new technology, introduced around 2007, based somewhat on a much older
and simpler process. For this reason, it has bypassed the usual regulatory regimes in US, Germany, Ireland
and elsewhere. Ireland uses the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act, 19601 to avoid the
necessity of carrying out an SEA on unconventional gas exploration (fracking). Fracking has resulted in
huge increases in US gas production, but also causes human health and environmental problems2.
In 2011, Minister for Energy, Pat Rabbitte, asked the EPA to examine the whole issue of fracking and its
potential environmental implications.
Following a short study in 2012 carried out by Aberdeen University, the EPA issued tenders for a
Research Programme in 2014 to answer the key questions:
1. Can UGEE projects/operations be carried out in the island of Ireland whilst also
protecting the environment and human health?
2. What is ‘best environmental practice’ in relation to UGEE projects/operations? 3
This was intended to be an independent study with strong academic involvement that would afford the
Irish people and policy makers with a sound basis for considering the issue of fracking in Ireland. It was to
produce Interim Reports, include dissemination of results, and do Field Studies and investigations in the
areas given Licencing Options.
The contract was awarded to CDM Smith Ireland, a subsidiary of Boston-based consultant CDM Smith.
In the year since then, disturbing facts have emerged:




At the beginning of the contract, the independent academic body Queens University Belfast
(QUB) opted out of the research team. CDM Smith took over its research tasks and reviews.4
This was hidden from the public, the Joint Oireachtas Committee and the Minister.5
The main contractor CDM Smith is heavily involved in the oil/gas industry. For example, they
support Marathon Oil “with the development and implementation of an integrated water
management strategy that considers all phases of shale oil development”.6
The other major member of the research consortium is another oil and gas industry consultancy
company, AMEC Foster Wheeler, which includes among its clients BP, Shell and Exxon-Mobil.7
1
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/1960/act/7/enacted/en/html
http://concernedhealthny.org/compendium/
3
Terms of Reference for EPA/DCENR/NIEA Research Programme related to the Environmental Impacts of
Unconventional Gas Exploration & Extraction (UGEE) EPA 2014
4
https://goodenergiesalliancedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/epa-letter-re-qub-date-of-opting-out-ofconsortium.pdf
2
5
http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/debates%20authoring/debateswebpack.nsf/takes/dail2015061600012?open
document
6
http://cdmsmith.com/en/Solutions/Water/Marathon-Oil-Water-Use-in-Eagle-Ford.aspx
7
http://www.amecfw.com/aboutus/at-a-glance
1







The Key Questions above have been largely ignored in the research tasks actually being carried
out, with no review of human health impacts.
The two main contractors appear focussed on the needs of Industry, not on human health or the
environment.
The main contractors, who advise industry on regulations, are being charged with advising
Government on what regulations should be put in place in Ireland to facilitate fracking.
(Industry writing its own rules.)
The contractors have no obvious competence in any field of health, yet AMEC is leading the task
on the role of Health Impact Assessment (HIA) in regulation.8
Interim reports are not being published; public participation has been removed from the research
process.9
Because no interim reports are being issued, the public and policy makers will have no
information on the research results for 3 to 4 years.
Peer reviewed research studies are being published in hundreds on the damaging effects of
fracking in the U.S. over the last four years. These need to be taken into account.10
CONCLUSIONS
The Irish taxpayer should not continue to fund Research that is not genuinely independent and reliable.
The Irish taxpayer should not continue to fund an industry investigation that does not include Health.
The Irish taxpayer should not continue to fund industry field investigations into seismicity, geology,
groundwater etc.
ACTIONS to be TAKEN
1. We call on Government, in particular the Minister for the Environment and the Minister for Energy,
to direct the EPA to stop the study related to the “Environmental Impacts of Unconventional Gas
Exploration & Extraction (UGEE)” immediately and to cancel all supplementary tenders for on-theground seismic and other monitoring tasks relating to this work.
2. We call for a review of the public health impacts of fracking, based on the methodology of the New
York State Department of Health “Public Health Review of High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing for Shale
Gas Development” (Dec 2014)11, to be carried out by the Chief Medical Officer, under the auspices of
the HSE and the Department of Health.
Fracking Free Network Ireland / N. Ireland
Good Energies Alliance Ireland
8
https://goodenergiesalliancedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/matrix-of-research-d3.xlsx
EPA Head of Research (April 2015)
10
http://concernedhealthny.org/compendium/
11
http://www.health.ny.gov/press/reports/docs/high_volume_hydraulic_fracturing.pdf
9
2