moratorium ruled out

Lets have some fun with a few paragraphs from the following article from yesterday's Brisbane times:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/mining-moratorium-ruled-out-20101020-16t0h.html


The state government has ruled out a moratorium on mining projects despite the second contamination involving a volatile chemical in three months.

Comment: Wouldn't be a case of double standards would it considering the treatment dealt to UCG in general and Cougar in particular?

Australia Pacific LNG is investigating why BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) was detected in eight exploration wells at its coal seam gas site in the Western Downs' Surat Basin.

Comment: Eight wells you say? Didn't Cougar have barely detectable readings (up to 200 times lower than Australia Pacific LNG) in just two wells?


Activity in part of the exploration program has been suspended while independent testing is carried out and the company investigates the source of the contamination, which was contained to ponds and tanks and has not affected waterways or livestock.

Comment: Ummm, how do you think it got into those ponds and tanks? Well, most likely those ponds and tanks were the source or overflow of fluids pumped into underground coal seams during exploration and/or fraccing operations.


Environment minister Kate Jones ruled out any long-term suspension. "We're not having a moratorium in Queensland and nor do I believe that's necessary," she said.

Comment: Back up there Kate! You mean to tell me 2 ppb transitory benzene in two plant wells at Cougar's Kingaroy UCG operation deserves suspension, derision from you, threats of legal action and public castigation but benzene levels up to 200 times higher in up to 8 wells in Australia Pacific LNG's CSG operations is ok? Worse still, you are saying it is ok before you have any feedback from a panel of scientific experts?

"What we have found and what the company has told us is that there are very small, minute, traces of BTEX chemicals that are isolated, that is, they have not caused any environmental harm and have not spread to ground water or landholder boars."

Comment: You accept verbatim Australia Pacific LNG assurances of probity but you won't listen to a word Cougar management has to say on such issues relating to Kingaroy? How do you know it has not spread to groundwater when the only reason those ponds and tanks are there is either the source or overflow of fluids pumped into underground coal seams during exploration and/or fraccing operations. I know landholders can be difficult but I myself wouldn't call them boars!


She said Australia Pacific LNG had advised her it did not use BTEX and it was being investigated whether the chemicals were naturally occurring.

Comment: Did it not occur to you that 2 ppb transitory benzene at Kingaroy is more likely to be "naturally occuring" than 200 times that level could be "naturally occuring" at Australia Pacific LNG operations? You are a Science Minister?

"The company was surprised to find BTEX ... [because] it does not use it," Ms Jones said.

Comment: Ummm, neither does Cougar.

Western Downs mayor Ray Brown praised Australia Pacific LNG for promptly informing nearby landholders, the government and Western Downs Regional Council

Comment: Let me get this right Ray ... tell them a week or so late that they have 2 ppb drinking water levels of transitory benzene readings is bad (akka Cougar) but tell them straight away they have 200 times that (akka Australia Pacific LNG) is ok?


Shaking my head at the hypocrisy.

Dex