Public meeting about the risks of unconventional gas

When: 11 June 2012, 7pm-9m
Where: Stirling Methodist Church, Queen Street, Stirling.

This summer, Dart Energy will submit a planning application to extract coalbed methane commercially near Airth. It could be the first of many in the area.

Coalbed methane extraction is a risky process for many reasons. In addition, future wells may involve ‘fracking’, a very controversial technology that has caused serious environmental and health problems in the USA.

Friends of the Earth Scotland hosts a public meeting to inform local people likely to be affected by unconventional gas extraction, and to suggest questions that people should be asking of the company.

Hannah Kitchen, unconventional gas campaigner, Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Dart Energy has a license to explore for gas across a large area, taking in much of the Forth Valley, Stirling, Clackmannnanshire, Fife and West Lothian.

“But relatively little is known about the technologies used. We’ve been doing a lot of research about the extraction processes, and would like to share this with people who may be affected.

“Dart Energy told me it can’t guarantee that fracking, a very controversial process, won’t be used in the area in the future. This means that more applications for wells in the area are likely, and it could become a big issue.

“The company stands to make millions from extracting the gas, so it’s local people’s right to ask tough questions about the process, and decide if they want it to happen at all.”

ENDS

For media enquiries, please contact: Per Fischer, Press Officer, Friends of the Earth Scotland
 t: 0131 243 2719

Notes to Editors

1. Unconventional gas and fracking – public meeting www.foe-scotland.org.uk/publicmeeting

2. Supporter briefing on unconventional gas and fracking www.foe-scotland.org.uk/unconventionalgassupporterbrief

3. Friends of the Earth Scotland is * Scotland’s leading environmental campaigning organisation * An independent Scottish charity with a network of thousands of supporters and active local groups across Scotland * Part of the largest grassroots environmental network in the world, uniting over 2 million supporters, 77 national member groups, and some 5,000 local activist groups – covering every continent. www.foe-scotland.org.uk