Stop the fracking vandals in the NT

The Northern Territory Government is assessing plans by rookie fracking company Empire Energy to frack seven new frack wells on Exploration Permit 187. It’s the biggest shale fracking proposal we’ve ever seen in the NT. The fracking field would be 85 km southwest of Borroloola near creeks that flow into the Limmen Bight Marine Park. They are trying to get away with only a minimal environmental management plan. This is our chance to object.

This is an unprecedented level of fracking activity in the NT. It’s all set to take place before critical baseline groundwater studies are ...

The Northern Territory Government is assessing plans by rookie fracking company Empire Energy to frack seven new frack wells on Exploration Permit 187. It’s the biggest shale fracking proposal we’ve ever seen in the NT. The fracking field would be 85 km southwest of Borroloola near creeks that flow into the Limmen Bight Marine Park. They are trying to get away with only a minimal environmental management plan. This is our chance to object.

This is an unprecedented level of fracking activity in the NT. It’s all set to take place before critical baseline groundwater studies are complete. Empire Energy’s seismic lines will chequer the region’s lush woodland savannah with clearings and traverse sensitive and biologically rich creeks. The company proposes to frack just over one kilometre away from existing water bores.

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Please take a moment to use this submission guide to lodge your objection. You can also find the full information about the project and object through the Imperial Oil and Gas EMP comment page.

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Dear Hon Minister Lawler, Hon Minister Sussan Ley, and Independent Officer Dr David Ritchie,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) submitted by Imperial Oil and Gas/ Empire Energy for clearing and fracking activity on Exploration Permit 187.

This proposal for seven new fracking wells in the Northern Territory will have significant combined environmental impacts. I’m concerned this fracking program is not receiving the regulatory scrutiny it warrants.

I believe the scale of this project is beyond the scope of the NT EMP process. This project should be assessed at the Federal level, plus with the detailed involvement of the NT EPA through a full environmental impact assessment.

The proposal includes 7 fracking wells and 6 new well pads. Fracking wells will be connected by a grid of roads and flow lines - pipelines carrying polluted waste fluid between frack sites. Well pads will be cleared, seismic lines cut across dry savannah woodland and traversing creeks. Pipelines and tracks will be constructed beside and over creeks.

In total, the proposal includes 150 hectares of land clearing. This clearing is not confined to a single area, but will scar a significant stretch of country. This will increase predation from feral animals and cause inundation by invasive species, which typically favour areas of disturbance.

Imperial is proposing to frack just 1.1km from a water bore. This is the minimum set back distance permitted, and does not leave much room for error. The Pepper Inquiry found that fracking within a kilometre of water bores poses an unacceptable risk of water contamination.

I’m very concerned about impacts on groundwater quality. The recent discovery of at least 11 new stygofauna species in the Cambrian Limestone Aquifer should trigger a halt to all fracking activity. Groundwater baseline testing and studies of aquifer connectivity must be completed. These new stygofauna species are crucial to keeping water clean and usable for us all. Fracking activities may put these species and groundwater at risk.

This fracking work schedule coincides with peak tourism season. The adverse economic impacts and road safety issues have not been properly considered. There are significant movements of holiday makers and cattle trucks along the Carpentaria Highway during the dry season. Increased traffic from the fracking fields, including heavy and oversized vehicles, puts other travellers at risk.

The transport of chemicals, radioactive mud and fracking waste fluids via pipelines and trucks and their storage in open treatment tanks in a cyclone pathway presents a contamination risk. The proposed works area is in close proximity to the Limmen Bight River, which flows into Limmen Bight Marine National Park. There is a risk of fluids spilt during storage and transport flowing into the Limmen Bight.

Many of the essential details regarding well integrity, i.e. what the wells will be made of, and what steps Empire Energy would take to mitigate the risk of well degradation or failure are only detailed in the Well Operations Management Plan (WOMP). The WOMP hasn’t even been completed and the Plan will not be released to the public nor the Environment Minister. This secrecy regarding the details of well construction and operation is dangerous and a clear breach of the Pepper Inquiry’s call for transparency.

Finally, I  express my strong opposition to any Territory or Federal government funding being issued to Imperial/ Empire Energy to advance the proposed Work Program for EP187. Empire Energy is seeking government financial support through the Beetaloo Cooperative Drilling Program to advance this works program, yet has not shown good faith in releasing essential details of its proposed operations in EP187 to public scrutiny.

This fracking project must be subject to the full Federal assessment process and a Territory Environmental Impact Assessment.

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