Australia: NT gov’t hit with frac lawsuit, had a “terrible track record of failing to regulate highly polluting industries … we’re arguing the minister failed to lawfully assess Tamboran’s environmental plan by not identifying and considering all the risks”

Frack Free NT@FrackFreeNT Feb 6, 2023:

Central Australian Frack Free Alliance have launched a legal challenge to Tamborans approval to drill and frack 12 wells in the Barkly. Caffa will argue the minister should have considered the climate impacts of a full scale fracking industry in the NT.

Northern Territory faces legal challenge over approval of Tamboran drilling and fracking in Beetaloo basin, Central Australian Frack Free Alliance argues NT environment minister failed to properly consider Tamboran project’s impact by Lisa Cox, 7 Feb 2023. The Guardian

Activists have launched a legal challenge to the Northern Territory government’s decision to approve drilling and fracking by resources company Tamboran in the Beetaloo basin.

The Central Australian Frack Free Alliance (Caffa) is asking the NT supreme court to review the process that led to the approval of Tamboran’s environmental management plan, arguing the environment minister, Lauren Moss, failed to properly consider the environmental impacts of the project.

In particular, Caffa will argue the minister failed to fully consider the climate consequences of the project, including the climate effects of future production in the Beetaloo that the exploration may facilitate.

The approval allows Tamboran to drill and frack 12 exploratory wells 600km south of Darwin.

Caffa’s case is a test of the NT’s petroleum regulations which were reformed in 2016. The group, represented by the Environmental Defenders Office, will argue those reforms provided for a wider assessment of the risks associated with gas or fracking activity.

“By approving this exploration application, the minister is laying the grounds for potentially thousands of fracking wells to be drilled in the NT,” Caffa’s spokesperson, Hannah Ekin, said.

“Tamboran’s project would help facilitate the drilling of vast new gas fields across the heart of the territory. This would have a catastrophic impact on runaway climate change and affect the lives of everyone who resides here in the territory.

David Morris, the chief executive of the Environmental Defenders Office, said the NT government had a “terrible track record of failing to regulate highly polluting industries”.

“In this instance, we’re arguing the minister failed to lawfully assess Tamboran’s environmental plan by not identifying and considering all the risks,” he said.

“The law places the responsibility on the minister to ensure all risks are identified and considered, we say she failed in that task.”

A NT government spokesperson said the government could not provide comment while the case was under way. Comment has been sought from Tamboran Resources.

Territorians launch Supreme Court challenge to fracking approval

The Central Australian Frack Free Alliance (CAFFA) has launched a legal
challenge to gas company Tamboran’s approval to drill and frack 12
exploratory wells about 600km south of Darwin.

CAFFA will ask the NT Supreme Court to review the decision of NT
Environment Minister Lauren Moss last November to approve the project’s
Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

Through its lawyers, the Environmental Defenders Office, CAFFA will argue
the EMP approval was invalid because Minister Moss failed to adequately consider the environmental impacts of the project.

In particular, CAFFA will argue the minister should have considered the
climate impacts of future gas projects that this exploration will enable.

The International Energy Agency said in 2021 there can be no new gasfields if the world is to stand a chance of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees, and therefore avoiding the worst impacts of catastrophic climate change.

CAFFA spokesperson Hannah Ekin said: “By approving this exploration
application, the minister is laying the grounds for potentially thousands
of fracking wells to be drilled in the NT.

“Tamboran’s project would help facilitate the drilling of vast new gas
fields across the heart of the Territory - what the gas industry calls the
‘Beetaloo Basin’. This would have a catastrophic impact on runaway climate
change and affect the lives of everyone who resides here in the Territory.

“The NT Fyles Government has failed to implement the recommendations of the Fracking Inquiry and it’s clear the government lacks the gumption to step in and do anything meaningful to protect Territorians from the risks of fracking.

“Tamboran’s fracking plans could cause significant impacts on water
resources that are vital to the future of the Territory, through
unsustainable water take and potential contamination from leaks and spills. The minister has failed to acknowledge these cumulative impacts in her approval.”

EDO CEO David Morris said: "The NT Government has a terrible track record
of failing to regulate highly polluting industries.

“In this instance, we're arguing the minister failed to lawfully assess
Tamboran's environmental plan by not identifying and considering all the
risks.

"The company has publicly opposed targets set by international climate
agreements, so it is not surprising its environmental management plan fails
to identify key environmental risks.

“The law places the responsibility on the minister to ensure all risks are
identified and considered. We say she failed in that task.”

Mudburra Elder Ray Dimakarri Dixon, from Marlinja Community, said:
“Fracking, it's a big risk. We want to protect our water, it's very
important, it's our culture, it's our ceremony, and our songlines.

“Once the damage is done no one can fix it. It's not right for a new
company to come in and do more damage.”

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT

EDO | James Tremain | 0419 272 254

CAFFA | Dominic Geiger | 0447 355 565

BACKGROUND

Tamboran Litigation — Background Brief — February 2023

ABOUT THE CENTRAL AUSTRALIAN FRACK FREE ALLIANCE

The Central Australian Frack Free Alliance (CAFFA) is a grassroots
community group located in Mparntwe/ Alice Springs and organising to
protect the NT’s water, health, communities and country from the harms of
unconventional gas extraction. CAFFA has been active over the last eight
years in raising awareness within the Alice Springs and Central Australian
community about the risks posed by this poorly regulated and inherently
dangerous industry. Their work, which is largely done by volunteers, has
seen CAFFA engaging with the community through market stalls, letterboxing, community surveying, door knocking, interviewing politicians and candidates, developing electoral scorecards, writing submissions, and a host of social events. They are calling for transparency, clarity, and
independent scientific research, as well as thorough community
consultation. CAFFA is a member of the Protect Country Alliance NT.

Many humans, including “educated” lawyers and judges can’t or won’t think beyond $2 + $2 for them (aka OK to betray country, citizenry and environment to fill my own immediate greed and ego, future livability on this planet for our species and others, be damned).

Refer also to:

2022: Compendium 8 on Harms of Frac’ing & Associated Infrastructure: “The only method of mitigating its grave threats to public health and the climate is a complete and comprehensive ban on fracking.” No evidence was found showing “fracking can be practiced in a manner that does not threaten human health directly or without imperiling climate stability upon which human health depends.”

Meet Johnny Gogan, filmmaker of Groundswell; Important “document” of how a small rural border community in Ireland beat Calgary frac’er Tamboran leading to a country-wide frac ban and now working for a global ban. A loving positive interview! Bravo!

Queensland, Australia: Town of Stanthorpe runs out of water but frac’ers keep frac’ing; Trucked water costing $800,000 a month, 14 vehicles haul 42 truckloads, 130-km round trip. Ernst’s roundtrip to haul water is 100 km, which Alberta and Wheatland County make her pay herself, after the authorities enabled Encana’s illegal fresh water aquifer fracs

Australia High Court “full bench of dinosaurs” unanimously rules Environment Minister owes no duty of care to protect youth from climate change when assessing fossil fuel projects (similar to Alberta courts ruling AER owes no duty of care to residents harmed by companies, not even when their drinking water supplies are illegally frac’d)

Australia: Victorian State Gov’t follows though on commitment, enshrines frac ban in Constitution, safeguards regions from threat of practices not trusted or supported by community.

Watch out Canada! Standing united, Australian newspapers black out front pages to fight against increasing govt secrecy laws, penalizing whistle blowers and criminalizing journalism. “The truth is, those in power don’t want the public to know what they’re up to and are shutting down transparency and accountability to serve their own interests”

Front Page Chinchilla News! Australia farmer speaks out about CSG (CBM/NGC) impact on water aquifers; Office Groundwater Impact Assessment estimates 574 water wells will be affected

“yep they get the gold, we get the shaft.” Dam collapses at one of Australia’s largest gold mines after 2.7M earthquake 2 km away. Imagine BC’s foolish, high risk Site C dam surrounded by frac’ing causing much stronger earthquakes!

Queensland Australia: Another new study shows unconventional gas industry pollution: Air Pollution and human health hazards: a compilation of air toxins acknowledged by gas industry in Queensland’s Darling Downs. As expected and as usual, industry name calls the scientist, Geralyn McCarron, “activist” to try to discredit her and her alarming paper

Western Australia permanently criminalizes fracking in South-West, Pell and Perth regions; Legislation also supports State-wide frac moratorium

Australia: AGL’s irrigation trial using CBM (CSG) waste water found to be ‘unsustainable’ or too toxic? It “left behind” (on what?) unacceptably high levels of salt and heavy metals

Australia Documentary by Brendan Shoebridge, The Bentley Effect, on Keeping Unconventional Gas Out, Tours Australia & UK: “It’s as simple as that, ‘Bugger Off!’”

Australia Esso Longford plant: Toxic PFAS chemicals found in dam and groundwater

Queensland, Australia: Contamination and irreversible damage caused by Linc Energy at Hopeland more widespread than first thought. With Linc in liquidation and debts of $300 Million, who pays for the “irreversible” damages to the many farms, homes, soils, air and aquifers?

Frac Happy Nature Conservancy accepts $14 million donation from BHP Billiton, Australian oil and mining giant

2016: Newly elected Northern Territory Labor holds firm on fracking moratorium; Did they win the election because they promised a moratorium?

It’s still Labor gov’t in power, promise breakers – just like NDP gov’ts in Canada federally and provincially.

2016: Australia: New Intermim Select Committe Report on unconventional gas, including CBM (CSG): Australia must ban fracking across the country.

2016: “This is the future of Australia, if we do not stop the fackers:” Condamine River in Queensland, Australia Explodes Into Flames From Methane Coming From Nearby Fracking Sites

Fracking Rights Decimation in Australia: Companies need not negotiate land access under WA Government reform, NSW Passed Laws That Can Get You Seven Years Jail For Protesting

Australian Book Review: Monash University Lecturer Ruth A. Morgan reviews ‘Slick Water’ by Andrew Nikiforuk

“Total Farce” Australia’s national assessment of chemicals used in CSG (CBM) 2.5 years delayed: Is industry afraid of sick families finding out what they’re being poisoned by?

Tara Australia Residents Want Out: Brutal betrayals, Greed & Gag Orders, Losing Health & Home. Synergy Strikes, Again.

Australia: “urine tests of Tara locals of all ages showed up levels of various toxic chemicals used in controversial ‘fracking’

Australia: Protesters face jail under new Barnett Government law to “protect the rights of companies”

Australia: Victoria extends drilling, fracing ban & Australian Petroleum Association Confession: Coal seam damage to water inevitable

Queensland, Australia: The Mithaka People take Newman Government to United Nations over deregulating water protections in Lake Eyre Basin to enable fracking

The Ultimate Frac Synergy Paradox: Australian Industry Harmed by LNG Export Boom Wants Frac Bans and Watershed Protections Lifted to Frac for More Gas, Claiming this will Decrease Gas Prices set Soaring by LNG Exports

Northern Rivers Australia: 2000 protesters to block Metgasco tight sands gas drilling that uses risky frac’ing processes as used to extract CBM

2014: The People of the Emerald Isle vs Tamboran & Fracing: VICTORY!

2014: Western Australia: Water Corporation warns of fracking compromising drinking water aquifers if companies allowed to drill through them

2014: Santos CBM in NSW Australia contaminates aquifer with uranium at 20 times the safe drinking water levels; Regulator does not test for thorium, radon and radium! Thorium and radon are known to cause lung cancer.

2014: John Fenton warns Australia: Coal seam gas industry’s solution to underground pollution is to bury the proof

2014: Australia: Local doctor talks of ‘catastrophic’ CSG (CBM) health impact

2013: Lawsuit Challenges Second, Massive U.S.-Funded Fracking Project in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, UNESCO World Heritage Site

2013: GAS LEAK! ABC Four Corners on Coal Seam Gas (Coalbed Methane) in Australia

2013: Revealed: secret Scots fracking plans by Australian energy company Dart

2013: Radon gas leaks in coalbed methane fields in Australia spark call for probe

2013: Risky Business – Al Jazeera’s report on Coalseam Gas [Coalbed Methane] in Australia

2012: Plan to mine CBM gas under homes in Sydney Australia

2012: Doctors raise alarm over toxic coal seam gas leaks, Gas Industry Attacks Scientists After Research Finds Triple The Normal Levels Of Methane At Australian Gas Fields

2012: Gas Wells Leak – Even Upside Down – in Australia 44% of gas wells leaking in the Tara Coalbed Methane field

2011: Australian Petroleum Association: Coal seam damage to water inevitable

The coal seam gas industry has conceded that extraction will inevitably contaminate aquifers. “Drilling will, to varying degrees, impact on adjoining aquifers,” said the spokesman, Ross Dunn. “The intent of saying that is to make it clear that we have never shied away from the fact that there will be impacts on aquifers,” Mr Dunn said.

Frac’d future interlude:

CAPP – Canada’s Petroleum Producers Propaganda group – admitted the same, in a full page ad taken out by them in the Calgary Herald no less:

Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers: Coal bed methane operations contaminate water resources by The Calgary Herald, August 28, 2014

Yet CAPP’s Alex Ferguson says many worries about water quality are based on past operations involving coal-bed methane — shallow deposits in closer proximity to groundwater. These did occasionally contaminate water resources, he says. In some of the more infamous instances, affected landowners could light their well water on fire.

Alex Ferguson was appointed Commissioner and CEO of the BC Oil and Gas Commission from 2007-2011

End Frac’d future interlude

2011: 60 Minutes Australia – Fracking – The Coal Seam Gas Land Grab

This entry was posted in Global Frac News. Bookmark the permalink.