Minister clears way for formal refusal of Burniston frack plan
North Yorkshire councillors are free to issue a formal refusal of plans by Europa Oil & Gas for drilling for gas and lower-volume fracking at Burniston, near Scarborough.
North Yorkshire councillors are free to issue a formal refusal of plans by Europa Oil & Gas for drilling for gas and lower-volume fracking at Burniston, near Scarborough.
Fracking should be defined by what it does and what it is for – not by how much fluid it uses, the government has been advised.
A leading geologist has warned that plans for lower-volume fracking in northern England could cause earthquakes as large and unpredictable as high volume operations.
The government has told North Yorkshire Council it is keeping regulation on lower-volume fracking “under review”.
The government’s climate advisor has said the moratorium on fracking in England should not be lifted without an “in-depth” climate review.
Council planners who have backed plans for lower-volume fracking in North Yorkshire have been warned they risk opening a “can of worms” over legal definitions.
The government said today there was no evidence of risk from lower volume fracking. This suggests, for the first time, that the government’s proposed ban on fracking will not include lower-volume processes, such as proppant squeeze.
The UK government has confirmed there will be no new licences for onshore oil and gas in England.
Officials in Lancashire are recommending refusal of a bid to extend the life of the mothballed Preston New Road fracking site near Blackpool.
The government failed to respond directly to a parliamentary petition about lower-volume fracking for onshore oil and gas, a group of MPs has said.