The Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) new draft regulations has identified certain areas including national parks, areas of outstanding national beauty, the broads and world heritage sites, where hydraulic fracking will be allowed only below 1,200m, to preserve groundwater.
Drinking water is generally not available below 400m, the department has contended while disallowing fracking activities on the surface wells drilled in the protected areas.
UK Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom said: "The UK has one of the best track records in the world when it comes to protecting our environment while also developing our industries – and we’ve brought that experience to bear on the shale gas protections."
There has been widespread opposition to fracking in the UK, due to concerns over possible water contamination, methane leakage, earth tremors and disruption to local communities, reported the BBC.
The process of fracking involves bringing out the gas trapped In shale rock, by blasting the rock with water, sand and chemicals.
"We need more secure, home grown energy supplies, and shale gas and oil have a vital role to play – much better that we use what we have at home than relying on supplies from volatile foreign imports.
"This industry will be developed safely with world class environmental protections, creating jobs and delivering better energy security while safeguarding of some of our most precious landscapes," Leadsom added.
An independent body Task Force on Shale Gas has earlier this week observed in a report that harm to human health and environment due to fracking can be avoided with proper regulation.
Friends of the Earth energy campaigner Rose Dickinson said that the government’s decision follows its own recent report which determined that serious health risks can be caused even with indirect exposure to contaminated drinking water.
"With fracking halted in Scotland and Wales due to the high risks, banned in New York State due to the ‘significant’ threat to health, abandoned in much of the South East of England and now rejected in Lancashire, it’s clear that there is overwhelming opposition wherever fracking is proposed."
Image: The Northumberland National Park in England. Photo: courtesy of Keith Edkins.
