List reveals toxic chemicals used in coal seam mining

Sydney Morning Herald, 19.10.10

AUSTRALIAN mining companies are using highly toxic chemicals to extract coal seam gas during the controversial process known as ”fracking”, documents obtained by the Herald show.

A government list of 36 chemicals used in coal seam gas extraction in Australia includes hydrochloric and acetic acid, and napthalene- an ingredient once used in napalm as well as more mundane items such as mothballs – and many other hydrocarbons.

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, involves injecting a mixture of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure underground in order to fracture rock formations and release coal seam gas.

The proposed use of fracking near watercourses, including a plan to deploy fracking next to Warragamba Dam, has fed concerns that drinking water could be contaminated if gas extraction goes ahead.

The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association, which represents coal seam gas extraction applicants, said the process has been used for many years and is completely safe.

But the Queensland government introduced legislation last week to ban some chemicals that can be used during fracking, including BTEX, a mixture that contains highly toxic benzene.

Last month in the US, the Environmental Protection Agency asked nine companies that use fracking to disclose the ingredients of the chemicals they use, some of which are regarded as trade secrets.

One of the companies, BJ Services, is a supplier of fracking chemicals to coal seam gas operators in Australia.

A study by the EPA in 2004 found no ”confirmed evidence” fracking fluids have contaminated drinking water, but new research prompted it to reopen its inquiries.

”The secrecy surrounding many of the proprietary chemicals used in fracking needs to be fully disclosed to the public,” said the director of the Total Environment Centre, Jeff Angel. ”We continue to be extremely concerned about the lack of environmental consideration in gas drilling. The gold rush might be leading us to gas, but that should not blind us from the gold that is our pristine water catchments.”

http://www.smh.com.au/business/list-reveals-toxic-chemicals-used-in-coal-seam-mining-20101018-16qt5.html

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