Written question asked by Baroness Hayman of Ullock (Labour) on Wednesday, 25 September 2019, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 30 September 2019 (named day). It was answered by Rebecca Pow (Conservative) on Monday, 30 September 2019 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Fracking: Methane

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the effect of fracking on trends in the level of methane emissions.

Answer: There is currently only one operational shale gas exploration site in the UK. The Environment Agency (EA) has set legally binding conditions to require monitoring and control of methane emissions at the hydraulic fracturing site in Lancashire. Cuadrilla are required to carry out regular emissions monitoring, including continuous monitoring of methane to air before and during shale gas operations. The results are submitted regularly to the EA. The levels of methane in the ambient air are also monitored independently off site by the EA and the British Geological Survey.

Secondary information