Cavan must follow Roscommon's lead on fracking

Dear editor, It was with growing alarm that I read Damian McCarney's article about 'fracking' on page 2 of last week's edition. In the opening paragraph Damian writes: 'Under the latest plans by Tamboran Resources - one of the two companies with licensing options for gas extraction in the northwest'. My understanding was that the companies concerned had a licence to explore for potential gas reserves, but did not yet have a licence to extract the gas. Could you please clarify this issue for me? If they do not yet have a licence to extract, then is Tamboran Resources not a little premature in looking for sites to commence drilling? Or have they been promised extraction rights already? Although Tamboran is initially planning to site its drilling pads in forestry areas to minimise the visual impact of its mining activities, the damage from hydraulic fracturing has the potential to extend far beyond the forest boundaries. This method of mining may result in chemical contamination of our underground and surface water sources. It has resulted in earthquakes in some areas eg Lancashire, England, where operations have now been suspended. A proportion of the gas mined will escape into the atmosphere adding to the build up of green house gases. Due to growing concern over the process, 'fracking' has been banned in France, and there are moratoriums on it in New South Wales, Australia and the Karoo Region in South Africa among others. More recently, and at a local level, the county council in Roscommon has placed a ban on the process, and Leitrim a moratorium. I live in one of the townlands named in the exploration/extraction licence. Last year we received notification that this same townland was to be designated a 'Special Protection Area' as part of the Loch Oughter Complex, to protect several species of birds under the EU Birds Directive. How then, can a company such as Tamboran be allowed to carry out such a destructive mining process in this area when we are not allowed to carry out any activities likely to 'alter, damage, destroy or interfere with the integrity of the site'? I request that Cavan County Council follow the examples of the Leitrim and Roscommon Councils and put a halt to 'fracking' before it is allowed to destroy this beautiful area. Yours sincerely, Jennifer Wilson Mullaghmeen, Belturbet