Fossil Fuel Extraction Site Proposed in the Setting of National Park

North Yorkshire Council are facing their first test of the Joint Minerals and Waste Plan’s hydrocarbon policies after its long awaited adoption.

Europa Oil & Gas Ltd and its partner Egdon Resources, wants to drill a 1.7km lateral well near Burniston in the former Scarborough District and inject fluid and proppant, such as sand, into the surrounding rocks. The injection operation, known as a proppant squeeze, aims to improve the flow of hydrocarbons.

Regulators regard it as a form of low-volume fracking because the injection pressure is high enough to fracture rocks.

It is not banned by the moratorium on fracking in England because the volume of liquid injected into the rocks is below the limit set by law.

But a proppant squeeze does need consent from the Environment Agency and the North Sea Transition Authority. The operator must set out what it would do to minimise the risk of earth tremors from fracking and how the hydraulic fracturing process would be monitored.

The papers submitted to the Minerals Planning Authority requested information regarding whether the Council deemed there would be potential significant environmental impacts as a result of the proposal and if so, whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required.

CPRENEY commented on the proposals to state our opinion that YES, the proposal would indeed have significant environmental impacts and therefore welcomed the response from the Council who agreed.

The proposed location is within several sensitive landscape sites including the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast, within the setting of the North York Moors National Park and the Coastal SSSI – only 800m away. Furthermore, the Scarborough to Whitby disused railway Site of Importance for Nature Conservation is located 360m from the site which is now also a pedestrian and cycle path (known as the Cinder Track) and the Cleveland Way National Trail footpath is circa 730m.

The nearest residential property is circa 320m from the site, and within close proximity of the villages of Burniston and Scalby, both of which contain a number of Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas.

The National Planning Policy Framework determines that Great Weight should be given to the preservation of National Parks and clearly states that

The adopted Joint Minerals and Waste Plan outlines that a proposed development’s scale, nature, and location could undermine special qualities like tranquillity and dark skies, particularly from public vantage points and Rights of Way.

The Minerals Plan includes specific policies regarding hydrocarbon extraction that applicants must meet for planning permission. Currently, the applicants have not provided sufficient details about the equipment to be used, aside from a possible 30m derrick. We know drill rigs can reach around 55m, and operations may run 24/7 for several months, based on experience from similar sites. There is also insufficient information on how emissions will be managed, raising concerns about impacts on the environment, biodiversity, and the protected landscape.

No technical surveys were submitted, aside from an estimate of 330 HGV movements per day. It is unclear if the local road network, distanced from the strategic road network, can handle such traffic alongside regular tourist, agricultural, and residential vehicles.

Moreover, CPRENEY believes the proposal for a new fossil fuel extraction site contradicts the Global Climate and Environmental Emergency and will continue to monitor it. Once an Environmental Impact Assessment is conducted and the planning application is submitted, we will share the details with our members.

North Yorkshire Cllr Steve Mason commented,

“I’d like to think NYC has moved on from fracking, as it’s clear again that residents simply do not want it. Climate change is at the heart of the new authority’s plans, and this application will conflict with that priority.”

CPRENEY will respond to the planning application at the appropriate time.