BTEX chemical nightmare spells end for AGL’s Gloucester fracking
MEDIA RELEASE – 27 January 2015
The Greens NSW mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham today said that AGL should pack up and leave the Gloucester Valley following the detection of highly toxic BTEX chemicals at about 10 times the background levels in their flowback water. AGL have announced the voluntary suspension of their Waukivory pilot program following the pollution incident, but Mr Buckingham says this does not go far enough.
“BTEX chemicals in the water are an absolute nightmare and the Greens want a permanent ban on coal seam gas and fracking in NSW. Coal seam gas is unsafe, unnecessary and unwanted,” Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham said.
“AGL should pack up and leave the Gloucester Valley for good following this latest pollution incident before they do any more damage to either their battered corporate reputation or our precious water.
“How many more spills, leaks and accidents will it take before the government acts to ban coal seam gas?”
“The Baird Government and the National party are now out on a political limb by backing this toxic industry, it is past time that they listened to the community and put our land and water ahead of their donors and corporate mates.”
“A moratorium on coal seam gas is no longer good enough; the Greens’ policy of a permanent ban is the only responsible policy to protect our communities and environment,” Mr Buckingham said.
Contact: Max Phillips – 9230 2202 or 0419 444 916
Thanks Jeremy and Max for all you do in supporting getting the truth into the public arena……we need AGL to leave the Gloucester valley alone and for the Baird government to say no to the highly risky CSG industry in NSW.
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Please pour your money into less detrimental alternatives; stop stuffing up our beautiful and precious country!
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Good on you, Jeremy. I hope the EPA will show more courage than they usually do when investigating/fining corporate polluters.
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Wanting some info on the chemicals in BTEX, and at what levels they are deemed to be a danger to human health. I’d like to make an informed judgement on this, as 10 x background might still be low, overall.
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Fracking is the worst method of mining! It should be banned everywhere! ! Especially Australia!
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The origin of the BTEX found in flowback tanks will be interesting. From what I understand, it did not penetrate public water systems?
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