NSW's environment watchdog is demanding answers from AGL about the timing of a release of information after the company detected fracking chemicals in gas well water.
BTEX is a group of chemicals (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) used in the fracking process to extract CSG.
The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) today sent AGL a notice demanding records of monitoring at Waukivory, and said it would not permit the project to recommence until it was satisfied the operations would not pose a risk to the environment.
“Officers from the EPA are at AGL’s Gloucester operations today undertaking inspections and water sampling, after AGL informed the authority yesterday that it had detected BTEX chemicals at its Waukivory operations,” EPA chief environmental regulator Mark Gifford said.
“The EPA will undertake a detailed review of the data and the analysis method that has been used.”
A spokesperson for the EPA said it would investigate if AGL had met the conditions of its environment protection licence for Wauikivory.
The licence requires operators to report pollution incidents immediately if they can cause community health impacts.
AGL said its monitoring detected BTEX in concentration of 555 parts per billion in one instance at Waukivory, more than nine times higher than background levels.
The Department of Resources and Energy also weighed in on Wednesday, informing AGL that Waukivory would remain suspended until it had identified why traces of BTEX chemicals had been detected in CSG wells.
“The report will be made available to the public and published on the (Department's) website,” Resources and Energy Minister Anthony Roberts said.
A spokesperson for AGL said the company analysed results and determined that no public health risks were associated with the BTEX detected in the Waukivory gas wells and water storage.
“After receiving the water monitoring results, AGL assessed whether the BTEX concentrations could harm the environment or affect human health, and concluded that no such harm arose.
“AGL then sought expert advice which confirmed its assessment that the BTEX concentrations found did not harm the environment or affect human health."
The spokesperson said AGL then determined a full review was required and moved to notify the authorities.
"The relevant authorities – Environment Protection Authority, Office of Coal Seam Gas and the NSW Office of Water - were informed shortly after that decision was made.”
“The EPA is very concerned at AGL’s lack of timeliness and transparency in informing us of these results and we will be conducting a full investigation.
“AGL informed the EPA that it was aware of these elevated levels of BTEX chemicals on January 15, but it did not make these results known to the EPA or the public until (Tuesday 27 January).”
Mike Foley
Senior journalist for The Land.
Senior journalist for The Land.
