{"id":22848,"date":"2014-10-14T18:09:12","date_gmt":"2014-10-14T07:09:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nofibs.com.au\/?p=22848"},"modified":"2019-04-13T23:56:27","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T13:56:27","slug":"everyone-wants-prompt-government-response-to-csg-review-environment-richardsheggie-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/everyone-wants-prompt-government-response-to-csg-review-environment-richardsheggie-reports\/","title":{"rendered":"Everyone wants prompt government response to CSG Review : #environment @richardsheggie reports"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_22852\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-03-AGL-Camden-RT-RZ-CR.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22852\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-22852\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-03-AGL-Camden-RT-RZ-CR-300x150.jpg?resize=300%2C150\" alt=\"Camden CSG Plant (Photo: AGL Limited)\" width=\"300\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-03-AGL-Camden-RT-RZ-CR.jpg?resize=300%2C150&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-03-AGL-Camden-RT-RZ-CR.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-22852\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Camden CSG Plant (Photo: AGL Limited)<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>The\u00a0long-awaited Independent CSG Review<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0005\/56912\/140930-CSG-Final-Report.pdf\">Final Report<\/a> of the Independent Review of Coal Seam Gas Activities in NSW was released by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer (CSE) on September 30, 2014.<\/p>\n<p>The technical, business and academic qualifications and experience of the Chair of the CSG Review, Professor <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au\/about\">Mary O\u2019Kane<\/a>, make her eminently suitable to have guided this complex, 18 month review<\/p>\n<p>The process produced a series of independent, wide-ranging and comprehensive <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au\/reports\">reports<\/a> which have been broadly welcomed by the government and the major CSG industry supporters and its opponents. With a few exceptions (<a href=\"http:\/\/www.smh.com.au\/nsw\/coal-seam-gas-alan-jones-apologises-to-nsw-chief-scientist-mary-okane-20141007-10rera.html\">Alan Jones<\/a>, who later apologised), most responses recognise the independency of the review process and note its extensive consultation and engagement with experts, government officers, the industry and the community.<\/p>\n<p>For lay-persons who remain undecided or uncertain on overall or specific areas of concern regarding CSG exploration and extraction, summaries in the Final CSG Review Report and the 5 Supplementary CSG Reports from the CSE are readily accessible sources of information. For those wishing to delve more deeply into technical issues, the expert <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au\/coal-seam-gas-review\/csg-background-papers\">background papers<\/a> are published on the CSE website.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Summary of CSG Review conclusions<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Review concluded that the technical challenges and risks posed by the CSG industry \u201ccan in general be managed through:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>careful designation of areas appropriate in geological and land-use terms for CSG\u00a0extraction<\/li>\n<li>high standards of engineering and professionalism in CSG companies<\/li>\n<li>creation of a State Whole-of-Environment Data Repository so that data from CSG industry operations can be interrogated as needed and in the context of the wider environment<\/li>\n<li>comprehensive monitoring of CSG operations with ongoing automatic scrutiny of the resulting data<\/li>\n<li>a well-trained and certified workforce, and<\/li>\n<li>application of new technological developments as they become available.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cAll of this needs to take place within a clear, revised, legislative framework which is supported by an effective and transparent reporting and compliance regime and by drawing on appropriate expert advice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course, as the technologies involved are applied in new regions where the detailed hydrogeology is not yet fully characterised, there could be unexpected events, learnings, or even accidents.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Final Report\u2019s recommendations<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Section 4 of the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0005\/56912\/140930-CSG-Final-Report.pdf\">Report<\/a> presents 17 detailed recommendations, grouped across 5 themes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>intent, communication, transparency and fairness<\/li>\n<li>legislative and regulatory reform and appropriate financial arrangements<\/li>\n<li>managing risk by harnessing data and expertise<\/li>\n<li>training and certification<\/li>\n<li>legacy and consistency matters<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Close reading of these recommendations and the broad commentary from many the industry and community warn that the suite of actions required to reduce CSG risks to socially-acceptable levels are far from trivial. Indeed, some people are sceptical that those responsible for implementation the actions are likely to have the necessary resources, the time or the will and determination to see them through.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Initial responses to the Final CSG Review Report<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The major NSW CSG industry proponents seem to have generally focussed on the Review\u2019s words \u201cthe CSG industry can in general be managed\u201d. There is a risk that they will see the Report as a \u201cgreen light\u201d and discount the Review\u2019s findings that there are potentially significant risks requiring substantial strengthening of the current legislative and regulatory framework. Understandably, the major CSG companies already profess their technical professionalism and their ethical practices, perhaps not recognising (or being ready to admit) that the Review identified the need for appreciable improvement in these areas as well.<\/p>\n<p>Groups generally opposed to the CSG industry have highlighted the risks and uncertainties brought forward in the CSG Review Final Report, including its call for \u201cunprecedented regulation and monitoring\u201d if the risks are to be managed successfully. Some groups, somewhat justifiably in light of initial industry reactions, are fearful that the Final Report will be viewed by the CSG Industry as a \u2018green light\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>Santos (Narrabri CSG project) published a <a href=\"http:\/\/www.santos.com\/Archive\/NewsDetail.aspx?id=1458\">response<\/a> stating that \u201cthe overwhelming message from these reports, including the final report from the NSW Chief Scientist, is that when properly regulated natural gas extraction from coal seams can be done in a safe and sustainable manner. Santos is committed to high engineering standards and best practice approaches, particularly in relation to water, environment and community engagement\u201d.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_22884\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-04-Hunter-Gas-Project-CR-RZ.jpg\"><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-22884\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-22884\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-04-Hunter-Gas-Project-CR-RZ.jpg?resize=300%2C169\" alt=\"Hunter Gas Project (Photo: AGL Limited)\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-22884\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Hunter Gas Project (Photo: AGL Limited)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>AGL (Gloucester and Camden CSG projects) commented on its <a href=\"http:\/\/yoursayagl.com.au\/welcome-to-agls-online-community\/news_feed\/analysis-of-the-nsw-chief-scientists-report-of-csg-activities\">website<\/a> that \u201cthe Review concluded that while the CSG industry has several aspects that need careful attention, as do almost all industries, it is not significantly more likely to be more damaging or dangerous than other extractive industries\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The peak national body representing Australia\u2019s oil and gas exploration and production industry, the Australian Petroleum Production &amp; Exploration Association (APPEA), welcomed the CSG Final Report, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.appea.com.au\/media_release\/appea-welcomes-nsw-chief-scientist-final-report\/\">saying<\/a> the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0005\/56912\/140930-CSG-Final-Report.pdf\">report<\/a>\u00a0\u201cshould give the green light to the responsible development of the state\u2019s natural gas resources\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In responding to the CSG Final Review Report, the Stop CSG! Illawarra group <a href=\"http:\/\/stop-csg-illawarra.org\/2014\/need-for-csg-catchments-ban-clear\/\">called<\/a> on the government for the current ban on CSG activity in water catchment areas to be made permanent, citing support from the Sydney Catchment Authority for this outcome. The group\u2019s position was justified, they said, by the Final Report\u2019s admission that \u201cthere are no guarantees\u201d and that \u201cit is inevitable that the CSG industry will have some unintended consequences, including as the result of accidents, human error and natural disasters\u201d. They were critical of Professor O\u2019Kane\u2019s acceptance that managing these \u201cunintended consequences\u201d would effectively become a \u201clearn as we go approach\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>NSW Farmers welcomed the Report and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nswfarmers.org.au\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0004\/38839\/090.mr.14.pdf\">called upon<\/a> the government to implement all of its recommendations without delay. The spokesperson was encouraged to see the Report\u2019s recommendations in relation to a \u201cpermitted area approach to CSG extraction\u201d as they have always advocated that there should be areas that are \u201coff limits\u201d. They also endorsed the Report\u2019s recommendations in relation to the need for robust insurance and environmental risk management provisions to protect the financial security of affected landholders.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Potential human health impacts in contention<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In a response in The Conversation to the Final CSG Review Report, Professors Melissa Haswell and David Shearman, affiliated with Doctors for the Environment Australia, put forward their view that <a href=\"http:\/\/theconversation.com\/chief-scientist-csg-report-leaves-health-concerns-unanswered-32422\">major health concerns<\/a> remained unresolved. They felt that few \u201cidentified public health representatives\u2019 were invited to the CSG Review\u2019s meetings, risk workshops or consultations\u201d despite formal submissions from their own group and others.<\/p>\n<p>The CSG Review prepared a supplementary report <em>Managing Environmental and Human Risks from CSG Activities<\/em>. In preparing this report, the CES commissioned an independent expert report from Vaneckova and Bambrick from the Centre for Health Research at the University of Western Sydney <em>Approaches to Baseline Studies of Human Health in relation to Industries with Potential Environmental Impact<\/em>. A key finding of this commissioned report was that the authors \u201ccould not find any specific peer-reviewed literature about the effect of CSG-related mining on health. The impact of other types of mining in peer-reviewed literature is documented, but it is uncertain how directly this translates to potential health risks of CSG mining\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>This statement indirectly supports the view of Haswell and Shearman. The CSG Review\u2019s supplementary report of environmental and human risks acknowledges the dearth of reliable epidemiological health risk studies that is an inherent consequence of the presently small scale CSG operations and low exposed population sizes in Australia.<\/p>\n<p>The supplementary report therefore proposes an \u201cenvironmental health risk assessment approach\u201d, based on a better understanding of exposure pathways; the routes from release of a contaminants(s) to a person(s). The human health exposure pathways correlate closely with environmental risk pathways and hence the report\u2019s recommendation in favour of an interim approach using combined environmental and human health risk assessments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Government response now critical<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The APPEA welcomed the Chief Engineer and Scientist\u2019s Final CSG Review Report and interpreted its findings as a \u2018green light\u2019 for the industry.<\/p>\n<p>NSW Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham also welcomed the report, but (conversely) <a href=\"http:\/\/nsw.greens.org.au\/content\/report-highlights-risks-coal-seam-gas-%E2%80%93-it%E2%80%99s-time-permanent-ban-nsw\">said<\/a> that \u201cthis report is a \u2018red light\u2019 for the current coal seam gas projects at Narrabri, Gloucester and Camden, and they should be halted and no new projects should be approved until the government has digested and responded to this report with significant legislative and regulatory reform\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It is likely that many supporters of the CSG industry would (on this rare occasion) generally concur with the sentiments of Jeremy Buckingham\u2019s words regarding the need for a considered and effective government response (but perhaps not shutting down existing operations).<\/p>\n<p>It is now up to the NSW government to introduce legislation and a supporting framework to provide reasonable certainty to the industry and the community. With the next NSW state election only 5 months away, no immediate decisions are likely to be forthcoming.\u00a0 The major political parties should be pressed however to define their respective positions on CSG Industry Reform so that the electorate\u2019s voting is properly informed. <em>No Fibs<\/em>\u2019 task will then be to hold the next government to account.<\/p>\n<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The\u00a0long-awaited Independent CSG Review The Final Report of the Independent Review of Coal Seam Gas Activities in NSW was released by the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer (CSE) on September 30, 2014. The technical, business and academic qualifications and experience of the Chair of the CSG Review, Professor Mary O\u2019Kane, make her eminently suitable to [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":73,"featured_media":22852,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[3434,1236,1469,585,1474,1437],"tags":[2078,1365,2659,1484,2150,2227,2209,1489],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/10\/gallery-img-03-AGL-Camden-RT-RZ-CR.jpg?fit=800%2C400&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t0mw-5Ww","jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22848"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/73"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=22848"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/22848\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22852"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=22848"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=22848"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=22848"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}