Camp Frack Urges Cuadrilla To Suspend Fraccing At Lancashire

The controversial extraction technique "fraccing" and the dangers it poses to the environment has come to the fore again. The environmental group Campaign Against Climate Change and its supporters have launched a protest in Banks, Lancashire, where the oil and gas exploration company Cuadrilla Resources is presently drilling for Shale Gas.

Camp Frack is urging the energy company to suspend fraccing operations to tap in to the region's shale reserves on account of the high carbon emissions associated with the process.

"Fraccing" refers to hydraulic fracturing of the ground and involves the injection of pressurised water with chemicals that creates new channels to recover gas. According to a 2010 US Environmental Protection Agency study that investigated water contaminants in fields close to the "Fraccing sites," the research noted the technique to be a potential cause for the presence of chemicals such as arsenic, copper, vanadium and adamantanes which can cause health effects like cancer, kidney failure, anaemia and fertility problems.

Phil Thornhill, of Campaign Against Climate Change, said: "The whole business of fracking has really taken people by surprise as they don't really know what it is and what damage it can do.

"Shale gas is another fossil fuel, which produces carbon dioxide and adds to global warming.

"Energy companies should be putting their efforts into developing renewable, sustainable energy sources to meet our needs.

Cuadrilla director Paul Kelly said: "It is entirely right that local people should want to know what is going on in their community, which is why we have consistently gone the extra mile to communicate with local people about our operations and we will continue to do so long after 'camp frack' is gone.

"Health, safety, and the environment are very important issues to us and it is important to note that everything we do is regulated by the relevant authorities and was subject to the scrutiny of a recent inquiry, by the Department of Energy and Climate Change House of Commons Select Committee, which examined all the arguments and came out in favour of continuing with exploration."

The campaigners are preparing to stage protests at the site on Sunday.