Environment Agency grants permits for fracking in North Yorkshire

The government agency has awarded the environmental permits to allow Third Energy to frack at an existing borehole in Kirby Misperton, near Pickering in North Yorkshire.

The permits sets out the conditions which Third Energy must follow in order to protect groundwater, surface water and air quality and to ensure the safe storage, management and disposal of waste materials.

Planning permission has not yet been granted for the process.

Martin Christmas, EA environment manager for North Yorkshire, said: “After completing a thorough assessment of Third Energy’s application and all of the responses to our public consultations, we are confident that these environmental permits set out the right conditions to ensure that people and the environment are protected.

“Should Third Energy receive the appropriate planning permission and begin the permitted activities, we will stringently enforce the conditions of the permits to ensure that waste is managed properly and local groundwater is protected."

The three permits awarded are a Mining Waste Operation permit, a groundwater activity permit and radioactive substances activity permit.

Third Energy’s operations director, John Dewar said: “The permits cover, amongst other things, the frac fluid and the disposal of flow back water. The issuing of these permits demonstrates that the Environment Agency is satisfied that the hydraulic fracturing operation, including frac fluid which is non-hazardous to ground water and the disposal of the flow back water, can be managed without impacting on the local environment.

“The company will undertake additional actions to ensure conditions attached to the permits are met, ensuring further and ongoing protections.”

Frack Free Ryedale, made up of residents from the district opposed to gas extraction, fear introducing fracking will result in a high volume of HGV traffic to the tourist spot, as well as air, light or noise pollution. They also fear the effect of chemicals used in the process on their health.

The group is also opposed to the practice of re-injecting contaminated water back into the ground as a means of disposal.

Third Energy says the conditions of the permits require them to monitor emissions and noise.

Mr Dewar said: “Conditions attached to the permits require us to undertake a wide programme of baseline studies to measure existing conditions at the well site. Thereafter, the permit requires us to monitor emissions to air, water, seismicity and noise during and after the operation, in accordance with an agreed Environmental Monitoring Plan, to identify if the hydraulic fracturing has created any measurable change to the baseline conditions.

“This monitoring is important as it will show whether or not our operations have impacted conditions and provide reassurance to both the residents and the wider local community.”