Media release: BTW breach toxic waste consents

“We are pleased to hear that the South Taranaki District Council has issued two abatement notices to surveying company BTW for consent breaches at two of their landfarms” says Emily Bailey, member of Climate Justice Taranaki.

“The landfarms at Oeo and Kakaramea receive toxic drilling waste from oil and gas operations. The top soil is removed, the drilling sludge is spread on the field and covered again, then resown and cows are put back on for grazing. Landfarming is part and parcel of this dirty industry.”

The landfarm at Kakaramea started operating without having met all of the conditions of the consent. The conditions breached are: that STDC is to be notified prior to operations starting and that an Archeological Authority should be obtained before any earthworks has taken place.

At the Oeo landfarm, BTW went beyond the consented area and failed to notify STDC of issues of non-compliance raised by the Taranaki Regional Council monitoring. TRC also issued an infringement notice. Additionally, they do not have a dust suppression water cart on the landfarm which is a requirement of the STDC consent.

“It is only due to the diligent work of people on the ground that these issues are being picked up by the council. Ngati Haua, a hapu of Ngaruahinerangi, have for several months voiced their concerns and their opposition to the BTW landfarm located only a few hundred metres from their marae. The industry is expanding around the mountain and along the coast as the government is making more and more land available for drilling and landfarming. As this industry encroaches on productive farmlands and disrupts the lives of rural communities, opposition is also growing,” concluded Emily Bailey.

Media coverage:  Two breaches by drill waste firm (TDN, 15 May 2013)

Related story:  Protest at BTW  (TDN, 15 May 2013)

Anadarko – risky business!

Click on photo for full article by Gordon Campbell |May 1, 2013 | ISSUE 39 | Werewolf

Greenpeace summary of Anadarko, who plan to deepsea drill off Taranaki’s northern waters next summer :
1. Anadarko are misleading New Zealanders;
2. They have a terrible safety record;
3. They have been involved in major incidents, including the Deepwater Horizon disaster;
4. They are currently embroiled in several court cases in the US, where they are being prosecuted under, for example, the Clean Water Act and for evading environmental clean-up costs;
5. They are, without a doubt, a bunch of cowboys.

Taranaki Daily News opinion poll 4/5/2013

The message is surprisingly clear as tides are turning in Texanaki… In an ironic statement from our regional council, Director of environmental quality Gary Bedford said the council was concerned its submissions [on proposed government regulations around deepsea drilling in the Exclusive Economic Zone] hadn’t been incorporated. “In our experience self-regulation can fall over. It increases the possibility that if something goes wrong, it goes wrong bigger.” What hypocrisy from a government department that has been operating like this for decades. Read more here.

Read also ‘Black gold, dark clouds’ 4/05/2013 written by Matt Rilkoff for the Taranaki Daily News…”Ben Sarten stepped inside the Tikorangi house he was raised in, closed the door and wondered where he was. ‘This doesn’t feel like home anymore.’”

And ‘One more well is too much’ 24/04/2013

 

Do the Math – The Movie

Please check out this new movie by 350.org

Is Taranaki the new Texas?

Local magazine ‘Live’ has published part two of their story on drilling in Taranaki.

“With over 200 new wells planned throughout Taranaki over the next few years, the face of Taranaki is changing. What will the region look like in ten years time? Proponents of the oil and gas industry want to step things up even more, environmentalists are urging caution, while local residents near the exploration and drilling sites are dealing with the reality of life in the midst of an oil and gas boom.” Click on the photo to read the full article. Click here to read Part one.

Media Headlines (16-30 April 2013)

Environmentalists call foul over ‘draconian’ new law  (Otago Daily TImes, 18 April)

Europe’s climate chief vows to fight on to save emission trading scheme (Guardian, 17 April)

Media Headlines (1-15 April 2013)

Taranaki council says getting tougher on drilling waste  (Radio NZ, 15 April)

Deep seas law ‘a sledgehammer’  (NZ Herald, 9 April)

CSG company suspends NSW operation (ABC News, 2 April)

GAS LEAK!  ABC Four Corners program (2 April) - must watch!