STATE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO CONCERNS OVER CASINO WASTE WATER PONDS
The Hon Chris Hartcher
Minister for Resources and Energy
Special Minister for State
Minister for the Central Coast
Wednesday 20 June 2012
STATEMENT ON METGASCO
The O’Farrell Government has banned the use of evaporation ponds for coal seam gas production.
No coal seam gas evaporation ponds of any type have been approved by the Government since it came to power.
Comments from certain sections of the community refer to a pond which was recently approved by Richmond Valley Council and is currently under construction by Metgasco.
Council is entitled to approve the construction of dams.
The Division of Resource and Energy has advised Metgasco that should it wish to use the dam for CSG activities, it will need further approval from the Division.
Metgasco’s activities remain within the law.
Evaporation ponds are typically used to concentrate salt and are specially contsructed to achieve this.
Temporary storage dams in contrast need to be part of a water management system, whhich includes options for the disposal of water without the use of evaporation ponds.
The NSW Government will not approve any activities which place our natural environment at risk.
This response by the Government seems to be saying that Metgasco can dispose of polluted – sorry I mean produced – water by putting it into a pond – sorry, I mean a dam – and then dumping it back into the environment without any treatment at all. How is this looking after the environment?
Flowback and produced water are considered hazardous waste and must be disposed of safely.They can contain industrial chemicals, hydrocarbons, and radioactive materials, high concentrations of sodium, magnesium, iron, barium, strontium, manganese, methanol, chloride, sulfate and other substances The hydrocarbons can include the toxics benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene which can be freed during the drilling process. The water can carry naturally occurring radioactive materials, referred to by the industry as “NORM.” The radioactive element radium is known to be present in the waste water. When produced water is salty and rich in chlorides, radium tends to be present in higher concentrations. 5 picocuries of radium per litre of drinking water is the maximum amount allowed while produced water has been found to contain radium levels as high as 9,000 picocuries per litre. Clearly Metagsco have no waste water management plan and this stuff will end up on our flood plains and ultimately in our food chain. No plan, no management, no respect for our land air and water. This ad hoc risk taking for corporate profits has to stop.
The next step for state governments and councils to do is to release thousands of rabbits and cane toads near every town and city in the country to complete the destruction.
I thought that WW2 was about stopping this kind of invasion.
Thanks Denise Dean for clarifying what exactly is in the polluted dams. If a dam is currently being constructed, one would imagine Metgasco intends to use it. At what point will the O’Farrell government show some leadership on the issue? Our natural environment is at risk.
If it walks like a duck it’s a duck. Ducks swim in ponds and dams. They are one and the same. So will Hartcher open his eyes and do something about this.
This idiot Hartcher should be hung drawn and quartered for what he is doing to environmental law in NSW. O’Farrell and his cronies will cop a hiding next election but I hope someone shoots them all first
Metgasco does it again. What can you say? Except that I’m waiting for our State Government to get some balls and tell them what for. How ridiculous that it’s being left to local residents to put a stop to this fiasco.
I’m 100% in agreeance with Phil Cullen. What a disgraceful farce.
Stop this nonsense. These PONDS are being built on low lying flood prone land / wetlands. I have physically seen them and it’s an environmental disaster in the sitting.
Get off your hands State Government as a matter of URGENCY.
So, once again we will be creating a situation where the clean up will be so great, if achieved at all, that a whole new industry is created to replace the jobs lost when Metgasco is finally shut down. Clever O’Farrell thinking so far ahead for future generations. I know lest approve a disastrous industry, with inadequate oversight and by the next election we can tout all the jobs we have created in the environmental eradication sector. Cheers all around the party room.
This is a national disgrace. I am not remotely impressed to see that our government and this gas mining company are looking after each other to the detriment of the long term wellbeing of our environment. Metgasco you should be deeply ashamed of yourselves.
This goes to show that the state governments exist only to serve themselves and the bidding of their corporate masters. It shows that the Federal government has no control over the states or perhaps would make the same decisions them selves. Much as I despise the mining companies themselves we should never forget it is our elected governments that have betrayed us & allowed this to happen through pure & un-adulterated greed. And both sides of politics are as bad as each other. Welcome to the new democracy. We need an uprising, a revolution, & many state & federal politicians need to be put to the guillotine (literally). Without this we’re just bending over & taking it. SOLIDARITY!!
Agreeing with all of the above.
Am no expert but WHY are the people left to be the ones trying to stop this devastation! Its disgusting. I am just praying that is does not rain or flood for the residents living near this area where the temporary “dam” is being established! What is their meaning of temporary anyway? How long will the dirty toxic water be left sitting here!
The statement above is a JOKE: “The NSW Government will not approve any activities which place our natural environment at risk.” SERIOUSLY????!!!!!