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ARTICLE · 16 OCTOBER 2020

Proposals Involving Fracking Require Referral To The EPA For Assessment

Johnson Winter & Slattery
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The Environmental Protection Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2020 (WA) (Amendment Regulations) have recently commenced, with the effect that all onshore oil and gas exploration and production...

AustraliaEnergy and Natural Resources
Tom Barret
Tom Barret
Lalita Kirilak
Lalita Kirilak
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The Environmental Protection Amendment Regulations (No. 2) 2020 (WA) (Amendment Regulations) have recently commenced, with the effect that all onshore oil and gas exploration and production proposals involving hydraulic fracture stimulation (fracking) in Western Australia will now need to be referred to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for assessment under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (WA) (EP Act).

Background

Fracking is an underground oil and gas extraction process, used to stimulate the flow of oil and gas. It involves the injection of fluids and proppants (solid material such as sand or ceramic beads) under high pressure into low permeability rock to induce small fractures for the purpose of increasing the rock's permeability.1 These fractures enable oil and gas, previously held tightly within the rock, to flow to the well.

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