That is a jolly good question you ask. Try as I may, I have not found any reference to cattle being contaminated with benzene near Cougar's site on DERM's website or Biosecurity Qld. See if you can find anything - I would be pleased to know if you can.
I appears we have to "rely" on the local newspaper for "information" most of which would have been supplied by the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group anyway.
I feel that shareholders have been let down badly by DERM. They have given the KCCG (a minority group) access to Cougar's submissions whilst there are probably thousands of shareholders in Cougar Energy & they have been denied access to vital information.
I have said it before & I will say it again - IS THIS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD?
Herewith is an item from the local paper I posted a few months ago referring to Benzene being found in 5 of Damien O'Sullivan's cattle. Take particular my note of the important paragraph right at the bottom of the page. The local newspaper did not see fit to print that paragraph though.
This is my original post.
Here is another case of biased reporting in support of the KCCG case against Cougar Energy's UCG operation in Kingaroy. It is the same story that started this thread but note how it takes on a whole new meaning.
The following item is from the South Burnett Times, Tuesday October 12. Front page headline reads:
"COUGAR CONCERNS RESURFACE AFTER CATTLE RE-TESTED".
FULL STORY PAGE 5
CARCINOGENS FOUND IN CATTLE NEAR COUGAR
Questions over Cougar Energy's underground coal gasification project have re-surfaced after Coolabunia dairy farmer Damien O'Sullivan found out his cattle had tested positive to carcinogens benzene and toluene.
The results were made known two months after the pilot plant was shut down because the same chemicals had been detected in groundwater supplies in and around the site.
On September 21, Biosecurity Queensland confirmed five of Mr O'Sullivans cattle had traces of the chemicals in the fat samples that were taken in July. They were then re-tested and the results came back negative.
Mr O'Sullivan's property is only 2km from the plant which has remained closed during the Deparment of Environment and Resouce Management investigation into the effects of UCG plant on the surrounding area.
"To us it demonstrates the many unknowns about UCG technology," Mr O'sullivan said.
"They keep saying there's no danger but who do we know?" (should have read how do we know eh)
He said the Kingaroy Concerned Citizens Group who is opposed to UCG technology in the region would remain committed to ensuring the plant stayed "permanently shut down".
"We're still resolute the whole thing should be closed for the good of the local economy, the communities' health and business." he said.
Cougar Energy remain convinced there was no connection between traces of the chemicals and its UCG plant.
ENDS
There is also a photo of Mr O'Sullivan looking at his heifers & the following wording is adjacent to the photo.
"CHEMICAL REACTION:
Damien O'Sullivan's cattle were tested by the Department of Environment and Resource Management after Cougar Energy's plant less than 2km away was shut down in July when traces of carcinogens were found in groundwater supplies. DERM have informed Mr O'Sullivan five of his cattle had tested positive to benzene and toluene.
