MAPPING THE EU SHALE GAS LOBBY

Industry Lobby Groups

• European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET)
• European Petroleum Industry Association (EUROPIA)
• European Association for Environment, Health and Safety in Refining and Distribution
• Shale Gas Europe (Launched in 2012, this platform is bringing together industry, experts and academics to collect, share and communicate the interesting science and technology involved in shale gas exploration)
• International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP)

Energy Companies

• Cuadrilla
• Halliburton
• Exxon Mobil
• Total
• Statoil
• Chevron
• GDF Suez
• Conoco Phillips
• OMV
• BP
• Shell
• ENI
• PGNIG
• Lukoil
• Enagas
• Wintershall Holdings

Other Lobby Groups

• Friends of Europe
• Business Europe
• Amcham EU
• Confederation of Danish Industry

Law Firms

• Baker Mc Kenzie
• Covington & Burling

European Commmision

• DG Environment
• DG Energy
• DG Climate Action
• DG Enterprise
• DG Trade

European Parliament

• European Energy Forum (EEF)

European Commission Recommendation for shale gas

The EC Recommendation outlines minimum principles which, if fully applied, would contribute to enabling shale gas activities while ensuring that climate and environmental safeguards are in place. The Recommendation neither implies that Member States are under any obligation to pursue the exploration or exploitation of shale gas activities if they choose not to nor that Member States are prevented from maintaining or introducing more detailed measures matching the specific national, regional or local conditions.

The Recommendation invites Member States, when applying or adapting their legislation applicable to hydrocarbons involving high volume hydraulic fracturing, to ensure that:

• a strategic environmental assessment is carried out prior to granting licenses for hydrocarbon exploration and/or production which are expected to lead to operations involving high-volume hydraulic fracturing in order to analyse and plan how to prevent, manage and mitigate cumulative impacts, possible conflicts with other uses of natural resources or the underground;
• a site specific risk characterisation and assessment is carried out, related to both the underground and the surface, to determine whether an area is suitable for safe and secure exploration or production of hydrocarbons involving high volume hydraulic fracturing. It would inter alia identify risks of underground exposure pathways such as induced fractures, existing faults or abandoned wells;
• baseline reporting (e.g. of water, air, seismicity) takes place, in order to provide a reference for subsequent monitoring or in case of an incident;
•  the public is informed of the composition of the fluid used for hydraulic fracturing on a well by well basis as well as on waste water composition, baseline data and monitoring results. This is needed to ensure that the authorities and the general public have factual information on potential risks and their sources. Improved transparency should also facilitate public acceptance;
• the well is properly insulated from the surrounding geological formations, in particular to avoid contamination of groundwater;
• venting (release of gases into the atmosphere) is limited to most exceptional operational safety cases, flaring (controlled burning of gases) is minimised, and gas is captured for its subsequent use (e.g. on-site or through pipelines). This is needed to mitigate negative effects of emissions on the climate, as well as on local air quality.

 It is also recommended that Member States ensure that companies apply best available techniques (BAT), where applicable and good industry practices to prevent, manage and reduce the impacts and risks associated with exploration and production projects. Industry should strive for maximum transparency in their operations and constantly improve technologies and operating practices.

The Commission is reviewing the existing reference document (BREF) on extractive waste under the Mining Waste Directive so as to cover notably the management of waste from hydrocarbon exploration and production involving high volume hydraulic fracturing, in order to ensure that waste is appropriately handled and treated and the risk of water, air and soil pollution is minimised. It will also propose to the European Chemicals Agency to make certain changes in the existing database of registered chemicals under REACH so as to improve and facilitate the search of information on registered substances used for hydraulic fracturing purposes. This will be subject to consultation with stakeholders.

It is also necessary to continue increasing our knowledge on unconventional hydrocarbon extraction technologies and practices also in order to further reduce potential health and environmental impacts and risks. In this context, it is also essential that information is open and transparent to the public. To facilitate this process, the Commission will establish a European Science and Technology Network on Unconventional Hydrocarbon Extraction, bringing together practitioners from industry, research, academia as well as civil society. The Network will collect, analyse and review results from exploration projects as well as assess the development of technologies used in unconventional gas and oil projects. Further research in the field on understanding, preventing and mitigating environmental impacts and risks of shale gas exploration and exploitation is also announced in the 2014-2015 work programme of Horizon 2020. The latter also announces a grant aimed at supporting the development and implementation of evidence base for research and innovation policies in the area of unconventional gas and oil.

In order to ensure adequate risk management and to avoid administrative burden for operators, Member States should ensure that permitting authorities have sufficient resources and knowledge of the process and that the permitting procedure is appropriately coordinated.

They must consult citizens and stakeholders early on, before operations are starting. Member States and their competent authorities are also encouraged to exchange good regulatory practices and other knowledge. The Commission will facilitate such exchange through the Technical Working Group of Member States on environmental aspects of unconventional fossil fuels.

The Commission will closely monitor the implementation of the Recommendation through a publicly available comparison of the situation in Member States in the form of a scoreboard. This is designed to increase transparency and assess progress in each Member State on applying the principles set in the Recommendation.

Member States and national competent authorities should inform the public on key issues related to the operations in order to enhance transparency and restore public trust. Member States are invited to give effect to the principles set out in the Recommendation 6 months after its publication and to inform the Commission on measures they have taken in response to the Recommendation.

The Commission will review the extent to which this approach is effective in implementing the principles set out in the Recommendation and in providing predictability and clarity to citizens, operators and public authorities. It will report to the Parliament and the Council within 18 months after publication in the Official Journal. It will decide whether it is necessary to put forward legislative proposals.