Overview

This bill aims to strengthen the regulation of fracking in England and Wales by mandating comprehensive monitoring of environmental impacts, including water contamination, methane emissions, and the effects on local communities. It also introduces financial safeguards to ensure responsible site abandonment and remediation.

Description

The Fracking (Measurement and Regulation of Impacts) Bill introduces several key measures:

• Water Contamination: Requires regular testing of groundwater and local water supplies before and during fracking operations, unannounced inspections by the Environment Agency, and mechanisms for handling complaints from residents. Long-term modelling of groundwater flow is also mandated.
• Methane Emissions: Requires the Environment Agency to monitor methane emissions from fracking sites using both ground-based and satellite technology. The bill sets limits on permissible methane emissions, and prohibits venting and flaring of wells.
• Wastewater Disposal: Mandates that wastewater from fracking operations be processed in licensed facilities, and tested for radionuclides. If radionuclides are detected, disposal must be in facilities licensed to handle radioactive waste.
• Impact on Local Communities: Requires an independent review of the impact of fracking on local communities, considering factors such as increased traffic, loss of amenities, and the physical and mental health of residents.
• Financial Bond: Requires shale gas operators to deposit a financial bond to cover environmental damage and ensure the safe abandonment of fracking sites, even in case of bankruptcy.
• Fiscal Strategy Review: Mandates an independent review of the government's fiscal strategy concerning unconventional gas extraction and its potential impact on climate change and air quality standards.

Government Spending

The bill will require government expenditure to cover the costs of implementing the regulations, conducting reviews and inspections, and potentially compensating for environmental damage or community disruption. Specific figures are not provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• Shale gas operators: Will face increased regulatory burdens, including monitoring, reporting, and financial bond requirements.
• Environment Agency: Will have increased responsibilities for monitoring and enforcement.
• Local communities: May experience both negative impacts (e.g., increased traffic, potential environmental damage) and positive impacts (e.g., potential job creation, independent review of their concerns).
• Water companies: Will be involved in the monitoring and management of water quality.
• UK Government: Will incur costs associated with implementing the bill's provisions.

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