The final report of the independent review of coal seam gas activities in NSW conducted by the NSW chief scientist and engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane, concludes that the CSG industry should be allowed to go ahead in the state, albeit under much tighter control and scrutiny than anywhere else in Australia. [...] 16-point plan Prof O’Kane issued a raft of 16 recommendations, which she told ABC were aimed at: improving community consultation and increasing transparency and fairness; legislative and regulative reform, including financial arrangements for cover against things going wrong. ‘They’re aimed at managing risk, particularly by harnessing the massive amount of data through monitoring and modelling, and also by harnessing the great amount of expertise we have in our universities, government agencies [and] CSIRO,’ she said. ‘They’re aimed training, certification and education matters and also aimed at legacy and consistency issues that need cleaning up.’ The 16 recommendations to the government are as follows: Make clear its intent to establish a world-class regime for extraction of CSG. Ensure clear and open communication on CSG matters is maintained at all times. Allow affected communities to have strengthened protections and benefits, including compensation to landowners and nearby residents. Cover the cost of government regulation and compliance via royalties, taxes and charges on the companies themselves. Designate areas of the state where CSG is permitted, and where it is not. Replace existing legislation with a single act covering the industry. Separate out departmental responsibilities for granting licences and overseeing compliance. Institute regularly reviewed environmental and safety impacts, appropriate, significant penalties and automatic monitoring systems. Create a robust and comprehensive policy of appropriate insurance and environmental risk coverage. Establish a ‘whole of environment’ repository for all state environment data. Develop a centralised risk management and prediction tool for extractive industries in NSW. Establish a standing, expert advisory body on CSG. Co-ordinate all the regulatory recommendations through a formal mechanism. Ensure mandatory training and certification for all CSG industry employees and subcontractors. Develop a plan to manage legacy issues, including abandoned wells and poor past compliance checking. Look at similar legislation and regulation for other industries that harness methane, including coal mining and other unconventional gas production. echo.net.au/2014/10/csg-risks-can-managed-says-chief-scientist/
Posted on: Wed, 01 Oct 2014 06:09:47 +0000
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