coal-seam gas threat claims undermined

Coal-seam gas threat claims undermined

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/coal-seam-gas-threat-claims-undermined/story-e6frg6nf-1226440315641

BY: IMRE SALUSINSZKY From: The Australian August 01, 2012 12:51PM

CLAIMS by anti coal-seam gas campaigners that laboratory tests proved CSG posed a "serious threat to humans" in northern NSW have been debunked by the scientist who conducted the tests.

The comments by Graham Lancaster, the director of the environmental analysis laboratory at Southern Cross University in Lismore, are an embarrassment for anti-CSG group Lock the Gate, which has accused mining companies of disseminating propaganda.

Mr Lancaster said yesterday the sample taken surreptitiously by activists from a CSG wastewater pond near Casino contained “extremely high sediment” and proved nothing about the toxicity of water in the pond.

The sample was used successfully in the media by Lock the Gate to debunk a claim by Metgasco, the CSG exploration company that operated the pond, that its wastewater was safe to use for irrigation, or even to drink.


That claim was based on a sample of clear pond water, also analysed by Mr Lancaster.

The sample used by Lock the Gate contained high levels of heavy metals, but Mr Lancaster said there would be similar levels in sediment taken from the nearby Wilsons River.

He said there were 4040mg of sediment in the sample provided by activists, compared with 30mg in the company sample.

“There are separate guidelines (for heavy metals) in water and sediment,” he told The Australian.

“The standard for sediment is 100 to 1000 times higher. You are allowed to have more metals in sediment, because it's attached to the sediment.

“You don't drink sediment sludge hence applying drinking water guidelines is not relevant.”

Metgasco boss Peter Henderson said the result showed “the anti-CSG movement has again been caught out distributing incorrect information and making unsupported and defamatory remarks”.

“The community should take everything stated by these groups with a grain of salt,” he said.

“The Lock the Gate statements about metals are simply incorrect, as indicated by the SCU laboratory.”

Lock the Gate Northern Rivers spokeswoman Boudicca Cerese said the fact the sample the group relied on was contaminated with sludge made no difference.

“The sampling needs to be done in an independent way by the government,” she said. “We shouldn't be relying on self-monitoring.”

However, a press release issued by the group last week simply stated that wastewater taken from the Metgasco facility “has been found to contain high levels of a range of heavy metals toxic to humans and wildlife”.