Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he has had a report or assessment on the impact of hydraulic fracturing from the Environmental Protection Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37392/11]

Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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I have requested the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct research and advise on the environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing as a means of extracting natural gas from underground reserves. The EPA is currently funding preliminary background research in the form of a study being carried out by Aberdeen University and a report in respect of this study is expected early in 2012

The EPA proposes to commission a further and more extensive study in 2012 and are liaising with my Department in relation to the scope of same. The final scope, which will be informed in part by the findings of the Aberdeen University study, will be determined by the EPA, which is an independent statutory body.