Antrim – Northern Ireland’s fracking guinea-pig?

The industry is gearing up!

Background facts – Northern Ireland

• Exploration in Northern Ireland is administered by the N.I. Dept. of Enterprise Trade and Investment (DETI) who are advised by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland.  Any person who wants to explore for, drill for or extract oil or gas in Northern Ireland must hold a Petroleum Licence granted by DETI.

• Four Exploration licences were granted by N.I. Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) in 2011 to Tamboran (Fermanagh), Infrastrata plc (Larne Basin), Providence (Rathlin Island) and Rathlin Energy (Rathlin Basin).  (Rathlin Basin is the area encompassing Portstewart, Coleraine, Ballymoney and Ballycastle.)
• A motion calling for a Moratorium on Fracking in Northern Ireland was passed by the Stormont Assembly in December 2012, however the Minister did not withdraw the Licences.  (Is the Northern Ireland Assembly actually a glorified Council with few powers?)

• Recently (April 2013), a Licence was granted to CHx Ltd (An investment company associated with Aspect Energy LLC) for an extensive area around Lough Neagh.

Current Situation

• In Northern Ireland, planning permissions are granted by the Department of Environment (DOE).  The Department consults with statutory bodies to obtain comments on a development proposal .  These include  Roads Service , Northern Ireland Water , Northern Ireland Environment Agency and the Environmental Health Department of the Council.  Councils are also consultees but have little say in decisions made.

• Rathlin Energies have now applied for full planning permission for drilling an exploration well on Ballinalea Road 10km from Ballycastle in the Glens of Antrim.  Notice of the Rathlin Energy Planning application (E/2013/0093/F)  to drill an exploratory oil/gas well was made in the Ballycastle Chronicle dated 11th July. It gave 14 days for submission of written comments.  The deadline for objections is 25^th July.  For more information, go to http://notofracking.com/2013/07/01/rathlin-energy-planning-application-what-next/

WHAT CAN WE DO?

1. Object to the planning application before 25^th July!

For letter template, click HERE

Or go to http://notofracking.com/2013/07/10/object-to-the-rathlin-energy-planning-application-by-25th-july/.

2. Email or write to DOE, to the MLAs, to Councillors, to newspapers.  Full list of contacts to be found on notofracking.com web page (above)

3. Spread the word around and get hundreds of letters emailed or posted

This is the final week for objections, ACT NOW!