it isn't funnt minister

G'day guys. This should make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up!!!


Independent Member for Nanango, Dorothy Pratt issues a news-letter each quarter, it is titled PRATTLES. In the Winter/Spring edition received yesterday, she is blowing her trumpet about Cougar Energy's UCG operation. The following a is 2 page article which she has headlined:-

IT ISNT FUNNY MINISTER

There are 2 additional pages.


In the middle of page 1, highlighted using black back-ground with white writing is the following statement:-

REMEMBER WHEN I SAID IF YOU HURT MY COMMUNITY IN ANY WAY I WOULD BE YOUR WORST ENEMY?

HELLO!!!


Now the article itself:-

Yes Minister would have had the majority of us laughing till we cried. Over the years each of us could and still can relate to that particular comedy's over the top portrayal of the machinations of those in power. We laughed at their incompetence and lack of understanding of issues whilst at the same time making laws to govern them.

The squirming, wriggling and constant back flipping by the various characters portraying both the politicians and bureaucrats had us recognizing similar antics in our own leaders and we would nod our heads knowingly.

However, while it is hilarious on the small screen, in the bright glare of reality it is not. The incompetence of government officials at any level can seriously impact on individuals, families, businesses and industry.

A simple question, the foundation of which was based merely on gut instinct, can have almost incredulous outcomes.

So it was on Thursday, July 15th 2010 during Qld government budget estimates a process which at times can, dare I say it, be utterly boring with the government ministers and bureaucrats fending off non-government members questions without revealing anything new or surprising.

This particular day was shaping up to be no exception until I asked the Minister for Mines and Energy, Stephen Robinson ..."if there had been and failure to report or any delay in reporting any issues relating to the operating of Underground Coal Gasification and these pilot plants which require immediate reporting? . *

Less then twelve hours later Cougar Energy had been instructed to cease operation. There had been a delay in reporting exceedences (levels of previously known or unknown toxins greater than previously recorded)

The following days revealed not only the extent of the exceedence but also revealed an alarming lack of knowledge by the government Minister and his department (DERM) of the local area, the underground streams, soil stability and many other issues.

The number of answers of I can only apologise, I cant answer that or I dont have that information with me or similar utterance was of no comfort to the large number of local affected residents who attended a closed meeting with the Minister and DERM personnel.

As someone who supported this new technology (albeit with reservations) because it had a tendency to minimize disturbance to prime quality agricultural land, unlike current open cut mining practices, I have now developed a very negative attitude to this UCG industry.

As I warned Cougar Energy employees long ago when the Cougar Energy UCG Pilot Project commenced, if you hurt my community in any way I will be your worst enemy.

HOW IT WORKS

Underground Coal Gasification

In its simplest form, injection and extraction wells are drilled into the coal seam. An oxidant is pumped into the injection well to stimulate combustion and the coal face is ignited, resulting in partial combustion of the coal in the seam. The oxidant may be air, oxygen, steam or a combination of all, depending on the design of the site and the requirements of the product gas. The partial combustion of the coal results in the formation of a combustible product gas consisting of various proportions of hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The gas flows through the porous coal seam, is removed through the extraction well and then cleaned. The concerns which arise from the UCG process are to do with subsidence and contamination of underground water, soil and air.

Subsidence is where the ground above the cavity left by the removal of the coal seam collapses into the cavity affecting the surface at ground level.

Contamination concerns arise from the carcinogenic properties of the remaining residue (ash) which may be carried off site by the flow of water in the water table affecting surrounding water sources and soils.

Air pollution concerns arise with the burning of the flare or raw UCG gas.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PAGE JUST TYPED i.e., PAGE 2 THERE IS A DRAWING OF THE UCG PRODUCTION PROCESS


PAGE 3. IS TITLED TIMELINE OF EVENTS


MARCH 16-20/03/10 Burn in progress (Ken Walker) Len written as Ken

20-31/03/10 Most likely time of blockage & cracking of bore casing.


APRIL 28/04/10 45PPB @ Bore 38 DERM

MAY 04/05/10 4ppb @ Bore DERM

11/05/10 2ppb @ Bore DERM

27/05/10 2ppb @ Bore DERM

JUNE 02/06/10 1ppb @ bore DERM

09/06/10 0ppb @ Bore DERM

16/06/10 1ppb @ Plantation Bore

29/06/10 84ppb @ Bore DERM

30/06/10 DERM informed (Estimates

JULY 13/07/10 CE notified DERM re Gays Bore 38

14/07/10 CE met with DERM

15/07/10 Estimates DP questions Minister

23/07/10 Red River announces intention to open

----- ASX concern. CE raise capital alledgedly without full disclosure

----- CE knows of issues for 4 mths does not inform community

----- Govt knows for 2 wks does not inform community

This timeline is subject to change at any time. Information gathered from DERM/Mayoral Office/Electorate office was believed correct at time of publishing and was not disputed by any persons as of date of print.

(My comments) This page was typed using coloured ink with a red dot against the date where there was an exceedence & a blue dot when DERM was notified.

Make of it what you will, but Len certainly would not be happy that she is still distributing misleading information. This is the same information which was distributed at the 27th July meeting held at the Kingaroy RSL Club apart from a few words missing from the end of about 5 lines. It is obvious that the original document was not positioned properly on the copier resulting in a few words being "cut off", not that they make any real difference as the dates & ppb are the same.

It would appear that Mrs Pratt has ignored Len's announcement dated 12.08.10 where he referred to misleading statements made or published in the public arena in relation to alleged threats of toxic contamination to water supplies resulting from the Companys operations at Kingaroy.


PAGE 4.

IS YOUR TOWN NEXT?

The contamination scare centred around Cougar Energy has prompted many to find out exactly how the Kingaroy Town area and its community were situated when it comes to Mineral Development Licences.

The adjacent map shows two companies which hold MDLs and which have openly admitted an interest in pursuing UCG mining.

These MDLs are areas where any mining exploration can occur. There is no guarantee that mining in any of its forms would not go ahead 100 metres from our houses.

Find out if your community could be at risk of UCG.

THERE IS A MAP OF THE KINGAROY AREA ADJACENT TO THE ABOVE TEXT AND BELOW THE MAP IS THE FOLLOWING WORDING.

WHY WOULD ANY GOVERNMENT APPROVE THESE MINING EXPLORATORY PERMITS AND MINING DEVELOPMENT LICENSES?

* MAP SUPPLIED BY THE KINGAROY CONCERNED CITIZENS GROUP

FINALLY, THE FOLLOWING TEXT

This portrayal of the Environmental Protection Agency by Clay Bennett of the USA represents the opinion of the vast majority of Queenslanders, the USA and perhaps the rest of the world. If Cougar Energys UCG project is permitted to restart when it appears to have disregarded government, community and investors right to damaging information then even this image is an exaggeration of their authority.

ADJACENT TO THE PRINT IS A STUFFED TOY PUPPY WITH A (EPA) TAG ON ITS COLLAR. ABOVE THE PUPPY IS THE CAPTION:

THE ENVIRONMENTAL WATCHDOG

ARTICLE ENDS