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<p>The Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering's report "Shale Gas Extraction in the UK: a review of hydraulic fracturing", published in June 2012 concluded that environmental (and health and safety) risks associated with hydraulic fracturing could be managed effectively in the UK</p><p>“as long as operational best practices are implemented and enforced through regulation”.</p><p>In October this year, Public Health England also published an independent report into the public health impacts of shale gas extraction. The report confirms that the potential risks to public health from exposure to emissions associated with the shale gas extraction process are low if operations are properly run and regulated.</p><p>The Government has been clear that, wherever hydraulic fracturing is conducted, it must be done in a safe and environmentally sound way. There are regulations in place to ensure on-site safety, prevent water contamination, and mitigate air pollution and seismic activity. In addition, all onshore oil and gas projects, including shale gas, are subject to scrutiny through the planning system, which addresses impacts on local residents.</p> |