Activities of Corinne LEPAGE related to 2011/2308(INI)
Plenary speeches (5)
Environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities - Industrial, energy and other aspects of shale gas and oil (debate)
Environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities - Industrial, energy and other aspects of shale gas and oil (debate)
Environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities - Industrial, energy and other aspects of shale gas and oil (debate)
Environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities - Industrial, energy and other aspects of shale gas and oil (debate)
Environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities - Industrial, energy and other aspects of shale gas and oil (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction activities PDF (255 KB) DOC (171 KB)
Amendments (29)
Amendment 12 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A
Recital A
A. whereas recent technological advancements have already spurred a rapid, commercial-scale extraction of unconventional fossil fuels (UFF) in certain parts of the world, significantly increasing energy security, strengthening the overall economy and increasing employment, competitiveness and innovativeness ;
Amendment 14 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A a (new)
Recital A a (new)
A a. whereas EU climate and competitivity objectives impose an energetic transition away from fossil fuels, increased efforts for energy efficiency and consistent investments in renewable energies;
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital A b (new)
Recital A b (new)
A b. whereas hydraulic fracturing and extraction of unconventional fossil fuels could have negative impacts on other economic sectors, in particular in agriculture, tourism, and other activities dependent on water and ecosystem services;
Amendment 18 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the two maincombination of two techniques deployed in unleashing the UFF potential of shale gas and coal bed methane, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, have been used for decades; should not be mistaken for well stimulation techniques used for the extraction of conventional fossil fuels due to the combination of these two techniques and the scale of intervention involved;
Amendment 36 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas any type of fossil fuel and mineral extraction involves potential risks for human health and the environment; whereas it is essential that athe prevention and the precautionary principles be applied toin any future development of resources in Europe in order to minimise such risks via continuous research, proper management, regulation and monitoring at all stages of thefossil fuel in Europe for exploration andor exploitation process;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
E a. whereas several Member states, as well as other countries around the world and a number of US states currently have or are considering a ban or a moratorium on the use of hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of oil and gas from shale or other 'tight' rock formations;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1 a. asks Member States given the serious environmental and health risks involved in hydraulic fracturing to extract shale gas, to consider a ban on the use of hydraulic fracturing, and a moratorium on the extraction of oil and gas from shale or other 'tight' rock formations until other less risky techniques are operational;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Believes thatCalls on the Commission, given the relative novelty of UFF to the general public, a thorough assessmentand the unprecedented scale of the techniques used for UFF should be conducted on the basis of the European regulatory framework and improvement measures taken, where necessaryrcing and exploitation, to conduct a thorough assessment of the European regulatory framework for the protection of health and the environment, and to propose necessary changes and specific measures before 30 June 2013;
Amendment 63 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Stresses that prevailing expert opinion indicates thatsome of the inherent risks of UFF extraction, most of which are common to conventional fossil fuel extraction, cand should be containedaddressed including through pre-emptive measures, including proper planning, testing, use of new technologies, best practices and continuous data collection, monitoring and reporting;
Amendment 73 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Stresses that propereffectiveness of regulation of UFF exploration and extraction ultimately depends on the competencewillingness and resources of the relevant national authorities; calls on Member States, therefore, to ensure proper training and international exchange programmes for the staff of the competent national authorities and to establish a coordinating platform to oversee the UFF responsibilities of the various competent authorities;
Amendment 75 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Notes the importance of the work undertaken by reputable institutions, notably the International Energy Agency (IEA), to prepare a comprehensive Best Available Techniques (BAT) reference document on hydraulic fracturing; calls on the Commission to cooperate with the Member States, the IEA and industry associations to this endguidance on best practice regarding regulations for unconventional gas and hydraulic fracturing;
Amendment 79 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7 a (new)
Paragraph 7 a (new)
7 a. Calls on the Commission to include shale gas extraction under the Industrial Emissions Directive and requirements regarding Best Available Techniques, in addition to the waste treatment requirements under Mining Waste Directive;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
Paragraph 9
9. Recognises that industry bears primary responsibility for preventing and reacting to accidents and calls for Member States to require from operators sufficient compulsory financial guarantees for environmental and civil liability for responding to any accidents or unintended negative impacts, at all stages of exploration, exploitation and dismantling; welcomes the progress made by the industry in setting high environmental and safety standards, but notes that strong concerns about the sufficiency of such standards still exists; stresses the importance of monitoring the industry's compliance by means of regular inspections carried out by trained and independent specialists;
Amendment 84 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Calls on the Commission to introduce opportunities for funding research projects in environmentally ameliorative UFF technologies within the framework of EU research and development (R&D) programmes such as Horizon 2020 and the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET)energy companies active in the field of UFF extraction to invest in research in improving the environmental performance of UFF technologies; urges EU-based undertakings and academic institutions to develop relevant cooperative R&D programmes leading to greater safety inunderstanding about the safety and risks in UFF exploration and production (E&P) operations;
Amendment 86 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10 a. Reiterates its call to the Commission and the Member States, expressed in its resolution of 15 March 2012 on a Roadmap for moving to a competitive low carbon economy in 2050, to push for a faster implementation of the G-20 agreement on removing fossil fuel subsidies; considers that exploration and exploitation of fossil fuels sources, including unconventional sources, must not be subsidised from public funds ;
Amendment 89 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Acknowledges that the types of rocks present in each individual region determine the design and method of extraction activities; calls for mandatory pre- authorisation precedingbaseline analysis of groundwater and geological analysis of the deep and shallow geology of a prospective shale play prior to authorisation, including reports on any past or present mining activities in the region;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11 a. Calls on the Commission to bring forward proposals to ensure Environmental Impact Assessment Directive provisions adequately cover the specificities of shale gas, shale oil, and coal bed methane exploration and extraction; insists that prior environmental impact assessment include full life cycle impacts on air quality, soil quality, water quality, geological stability, land use and noise pollution;
Amendment 95 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11 b. Calls on the Commission to include hydraulic fracturing in Annex III of the Environmental Liability Directive and to require compulsory financial security or insurance in case of environmental damage;
Amendment 96 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 c (new)
Paragraph 11 c (new)
11 c. Considers it appropriate, in context of liability, considers it appropriate to provide for the reversal of the burden of proof for shale gas operators, where, in view of the nature of the disturbance and its adverse effects, other possible causes and any other circumstances, the balance of probability indicates that shale gas operations were the cause of the environmental damage;
Amendment 97 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 d (new)
Paragraph 11 d (new)
11 d. Calls on the Commission to bring forward proposals to explicitly include fracking fluids as 'hazardous waste' under Annex III of the European Waste Directive (2008/98/EC);
Amendment 102 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
Paragraph 12
12. Recognises the relativelyIs concerned about the consequences of the use of high water volumes involved in hydraulic fracturing;, points out, however, that such volumes are not as significant in comparison to the needs of other industrial activities; highlights the need for advance water provision plans based on local hydrologyarticularly with regard to the conflicts in use that may result, the consequences of the transport and storage of flow-back water that is not reused and the insufficiency of water treatment capacities; highlights the need for advance water provision plans based on local hydrology, which take into account its particularities, and for dedicated flow- back water treatment systems;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
Paragraph 12 a (new)
12 a. Recalls that Water Framework Directive requires Member States to implement the measures necessary to prevent the deterioration of the status of all bodies of groundwater, including from point sources such as hydrocarbon exploration and extraction;
Amendment 108 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
Amendment 109 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13
Paragraph 13
13. Believes that, given the depth (over 3km) at which hydraulic fracturing takes place, the main immediate concern regarding groundwater contamination is often well integrity and; the quality of casing and cementing, including its ability to resist the high pressure of the liquid injected and the generated earth tremors, in addition to the concern related to the release and travel of hazardous chemicals and naturally occurring radioactive substances to water reservoirs;
Amendment 113 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 13 a (new)
Paragraph 13 a (new)
13 a. Concurs with the Commission analysis that Article 11 (3)(j) of the Water Framework Directive does not allow the injection of flow back water for disposal into geological formations;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. SBelieves that the depth at which hydraulic fracturing occurs, the integrity of the well-bores and the quality of the casing and cementation merit particular attention; stresses that effective prevention requires consistent monitoring of strict adherence to the established highest standards and practices in well-bore construction; underlines that both and maintenance; calls on the Commission to introduce into legislation an obligation on the part of industry and competent authorities shouldto ensure regular quality control, based on common criteria, regular and mandatory quality control at all operational stages for casing and cement integrity;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
20a. Calls on Member States to ensure that local authorities are fully informed and involved, particularly when examining requests for sourcing and exploitation permits; calls, in particular, for full access to impact assessments regarding the environment, residents’ health and the local economy;
Amendment 162 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Believes that public participation should be ensured through adequate public information campaigns before exploration and through public consultation before theeach stage of exploitation stagesand exploration; calls for greater outreach and public education in UFF activititransparency of impacts, of chemicals and technologies used, as well as of all inspections and control measures in order to ensure public understanding, acceptance and confidence in the regulation of these activities;