consultant hired by buru re fracking

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-27/farmers-call-for-veto-right-on-fracking/4715310?section=wa Full article has some views from the other side of the coin, but attached here is the details regarding buru. Maybe should have been announced to illustrate how buru is making the processes transparent and allaying some fears held by the public. This is from over a week ago.. British fracking expert Peter Styles believes the petroleum industry has been slow to react to growing community concern about the 'fracking' process. WA-based oil and gas company Buru Energy hired Professor Styles to fly from England to speak with locals in the Kimberley community where the company's project is located. Buru is exploring for shale and tight gas in the Canning Basin in the state's remote north west. Professor Styles says while the project doesn't cover prime farmland like others in the Mid West, it does span traditional Aboriginal country and pastoral land. "I've actually been involved in the process for a very long time," he said. "I monitored the very first hydro frack in the UK in 1988 so we know how to protect the environment from underground processes and that's clearly what we want to do in every country. "So, Buru asked me to come and spend some time with them and the tribal owners of the land where their prospects are to explain to them some of the technical details and what some of the realities are." Professor Styles says across the board, industry could have done a better job at consulting with communities. "The hydrocarbon sector is not very good at putting forward their arguments early in the case," he said. "If you want to be transparent at the beginning you'll have to be transparent during the process and if you're found to not be transparent, it doesn't help you. He says there are a number of steps companies can take. "There are various things you have to do, [including] very good background monitoring before you start one of these because you can't assess environmental impacts unless you know what the environment was in place," he said. "That means monitoring for several months, perhaps even years, so you know what starting from because, if you don't, any consequences will be blamed on you." Mr Ellis says the industry is focussed on the importance of remaining in ongoing discussions with landholders. "APPEA recognizes that consistent and responsible industry standards are vital for the onshore gas industry and that an ongoing dialogue with peak bodies representing local farmers is essential," he said. "We have facilitated the preparation of a code of practice in WA for hydraulic fracturing to set out the sort of standards and operating principles employed by the industry. "One of the principles is a commitment to fair and reasonable land access and compensation negotiations with farmers." However, farmers say the only way to be on a level playing field with gas companies is to have a right of veto legislated by the Government. They say without it, conflicts can only be resolved through the court system which can be a costly and time consuming process. The Government maintains the toughened restrictions are adequate.