Burniston Gas Drilling Firm Commits to Environmental Study

Europa Oil & Gas has pledged to conduct a thorough environmental impact study for its proposed drilling operation at Burniston, even though a government minister has determined that such an assessment is not mandatory.

The company had previously appealed to the government after North Yorkshire Council decided that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was necessary for the gas exploration project at Burniston, near Scarborough. The council maintained that the plans would have "significant impacts on the environment" and any application should include an environmental statement, a product of an EIA.

However, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government recently issued a directive stating that the proposal was not an EIA development and an EIA was not required.

Despite this ruling Council Leader - Carl Les - says the company have now said they will undertake an environmental study.

Europa's decision to voluntarily undertake an environmental assessment has been met with mixed reactions. While some applaud the company's commitment to environmental responsibility, others remain sceptical, particularly regarding the potential long-term impacts of gas extraction from the site.

Chris Garforth, a spokesperson for Frack Free Coastal Communities, a group formed by residents concerned about the proposed gas extraction, expressed disappointment that the council's decision, based on their Minerals and Waste Plan, had been overruled. He also pointed out that the "temporary" nature of the exploration phase should not overshadow the potential climate and environmental impacts of extracting 192 billion cubic feet of gas over the next 20 years, a figure Europa has reportedly cited to its investors.

Anti-fracking residents from Burniston organised a demonstration at North Yorkshire Council’s full meeting yesterday.

Susanne Robinson, who lives just a few hundred metres away from the site proposed by Europa Oil & Gas for a proppant squeeze or fracking project to explore for gas on North Yorkshire’s heritage coast, was one of dozens of locals who gathered at County Hall in Northallerton to make their views known.

Residents from Burniston in Scarborough, where a 30m high derrick for the testing is proposed, were joined by activists from East Yorkshire ahead of the full meeting of North Yorkshire Council.

Ms Robinson, who lives “very, very close” to the proposed site, said she feared the impacts of “noise, light pollution, toxic gas smells” and how it would affect the nearby Cinder Track and North York Moors National Park.

Europa has said that “no one’s going to notice” due to the “small volume” of the scheme and has sought to alleviate local concerns alongside the promise of economic benefits were the project to proceed.

Despite political opposition from local Labour MP Alison Hume and North Yorkshire’s elected mayor David Skaith, in November the Government ruled that the company would not have to submit an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) alongside a planning application, contrary to the council’s ruling.

When the Local Democracy Reporting Service raised the issue with Europa’s CEO William Holland, in September, he said that the company would not apply for an exemption to the EIA.

At NYC’s full meeting on Wednesday, leader of the authority, Coun Carl Les, reiterated Europa’s promise to still submit an environmental assessment, but concerns were raised by members about the nature of that assessment.

Fracking campaigner, Coun Steve Mason, told the meeting that “the Government’s decision could significantly change the planning time needed to assess the application,” and asked whether the authority would challenge the decision.

He also called on NYC to ensure that “appropriate timescales are given for the community to respond”.

Leader, Councillor Les, said that an appeal by the council would be limited to a judicial review of the decision-making procedures and “that would be a difficult argument to pursue”.

He added that residents would have an opportunity to comment as “standard procedure”.

Chris Garforth, a member of the Frack Free Coastal Communities Group, also attended the demonstration outside the council HQ to “make sure that all the councillors are aware of the plans” and said he had received “an extremely positive reaction”.

He added:

“What we need to do is make sure the planners are aware of their legal responsibilities to take into account all the potential downstream environmental impacts of the gas that could eventually be produced from underneath Burniston, Cloughton, and Scalby and to uphold their own very robust planning policies on hydrocarbon extraction.”

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