Santos coal seam gas project contaminates aquifer
EXCLUSIVE
In waiting: Grazier and protester Ted Borowski lies
in a dry creek bed ready to disrupt a drilling convey in the Pilliga
forest by locking himself to a truck. Photo: Dean Sewell
A coal seam gas project operated by energy company Santos in
north-western NSW has contaminated a nearby aquifer, with uranium at
levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, an official
investigation has found.
It is the first confirmation of aquifer contamination
associated with coal seam gas activity in Australia - a blow to an
industry pushing state and federal governments for permission to expand.
Santos was fined $1500 by the NSW Environment Protection
Authority, which posted a media release on its website on February 18,
without identifying the nature of the contamination.
NSW farmers Ted and Julia Borowski (holding banner)
protest against Santos' coal seam gas project near the Pilliga State
Forest. Photo: Dean Sewell
Two days later, Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner signed a
memorandum of understanding with Santos to speed up the project, in the
Pilliga forest near Narrabri, guaranteeing a decision on its future by
January 23 next year.
The EPA says it launched an investigation after routine
testing in March last year by Santos of groundwater around the project -
which remains in the test well stage - detected ''elevated levels of
total dissolved solids and slightly elevated levels of other elements''.
In waiting: Grazier and protester Ted Borowski lies
in a dry creek bed ready to disrupt a drilling convey in the Pilliga
forest by locking himself to a truck. Photo: Dean Sewell
north-western NSW has contaminated a nearby aquifer, with uranium at
levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, an official
investigation has found.
It is the first confirmation of aquifer contamination
associated with coal seam gas activity in Australia - a blow to an
industry pushing state and federal governments for permission to expand.
Santos was fined $1500 by the NSW Environment Protection
Authority, which posted a media release on its website on February 18,
without identifying the nature of the contamination.
NSW farmers Ted and Julia Borowski (holding banner)
protest against Santos' coal seam gas project near the Pilliga State
Forest. Photo: Dean Sewell
memorandum of understanding with Santos to speed up the project, in the
Pilliga forest near Narrabri, guaranteeing a decision on its future by
January 23 next year.
testing in March last year by Santos of groundwater around the project -
which remains in the test well stage - detected ''elevated levels of
total dissolved solids and slightly elevated levels of other elements''.
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/santos-coal-seam-gas-project-contaminates-aquifer-20140307-34csb.html#ixzz2vJ2c5sHp
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