Councillors seek outright ban on 'fracking'

Roscommon County Council is to write to the Government seeking an outright ban on the controversial method of gas extraction known as 'fracking'. At its monthly meeting last week the council heard a presentation from representatives of the Ardcarne Community Against Fracking group. The presentation warned of dire environmental consequences if fracking is allowed to take place in the Lough Allen basin, which incorporates areas in the North West including Roscommon. Earlier this year, licences were awarded to three companies to explore for commercial gas in the Lough Allen basin, though any extraction of gas that might follow on from exploration process is not imminent. Nevertheless, the Roscommon councillors expressed grave concern about the future impact which fracking could have on farming, tourism and water quality in the region. Cllr Tony Ward said he was "horrified" by examples (cited by the Ardcarne group) of environmental damage caused by fracking in the United States. He called on the council to write to Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, requesting an outright ban on the method. This request received unanimous support from the other members. Cllr Ward stated that fracking involved drilling and using chemicals at a depth of up to two kilometres under the ground. "If that was allowed to happen in Roscommon it would have a huge impact on the countryside and create a massive environmental problem. It would seriously affect springwater quality and groundwater quality, and I would have major concern about the amount of chemicals that would have to be used to extract gas," he said. He added that the work would involve the creation of a large 'waste pit' for the disposal of sludge and chemicals used in the process. "When you see the amount of devastation fracking has caused in Texas and Pennsylvania it's absolutely frightening. I would call on Minister Rabbitte to respect the wishes of the councillors, who represent all of the people in county Roscommon." Cllr Ward said the motion would be distributed to other councils and their support for a ban on fracking would be sought.