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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/dec/16/uk-fracking-planning-policy-faces-court-challenges
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UK fracking policy faces court challenges | UK fracking policy faces court challenges |
| (17 days later) | |
| Ministers face a pair of legal challenges to their planning rules on fracking this week, from a national environmental group and the son of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. | Ministers face a pair of legal challenges to their planning rules on fracking this week, from a national environmental group and the son of fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. |
| The government used its revamped planning rulebook to tell local authorities in July that they should recognise the benefits of shale gas and facilitate its extraction. | The government used its revamped planning rulebook to tell local authorities in July that they should recognise the benefits of shale gas and facilitate its extraction. |
| Business secretary Greg Clark also proposed removing the need for exploratory wells to get planning permission, to speed shale projects through the planning system. | Business secretary Greg Clark also proposed removing the need for exploratory wells to get planning permission, to speed shale projects through the planning system. |
| Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a way of extracting natural gas from shale rock formations that are often deep underground. It involves pumping water, chemicals and usually sand underground at high pressure to fracture shale – hence the name – and release the gas trapped within to be collected back at the surface. | |
| The technology has transformed the US energy landscape in the last decade, owing to the combination of high-volume fracking – 1.5m gallons of water per well, on average – and the relatively modern ability to drill horizontally into shale after a vertical well has been drilled. | |
| The high court will first hear a challenge from Friends of the Earth, which the group hopes will force the government to change its planning policy. | The high court will first hear a challenge from Friends of the Earth, which the group hopes will force the government to change its planning policy. |
| The case hinges on whether ministers and officials unlawfully failed to assess the change’s environmental impact. | The case hinges on whether ministers and officials unlawfully failed to assess the change’s environmental impact. |
| Fracking paused in Blackpool after biggest tremor to date | Fracking paused in Blackpool after biggest tremor to date |
| Will Rundle, the group’s head of legal, said: “The government’s national planning framework, which directs development in every single community in England, has never been environmentally assessed. This makes a mockery of the government’s green credentials and undermines sustainable development.” | Will Rundle, the group’s head of legal, said: “The government’s national planning framework, which directs development in every single community in England, has never been environmentally assessed. This makes a mockery of the government’s green credentials and undermines sustainable development.” |
| The court will also hear an application for a legal challenge against the new planning regime from Joe Corré, the founder of lingerie company Agent Provocateur. | The court will also hear an application for a legal challenge against the new planning regime from Joe Corré, the founder of lingerie company Agent Provocateur. |
| He said: “So desperate are they [the government] to make fracking easier for their friends in the fossil fuel industry – they have have tried to bypass local government objection, scientific facts and the will of the people.” | He said: “So desperate are they [the government] to make fracking easier for their friends in the fossil fuel industry – they have have tried to bypass local government objection, scientific facts and the will of the people.” |
| The entrepreneur argued that the science has moved on since a 2013 official report that has been the basis for the government arguing shale gas can act as a “bridge” in the transition to renewable energy. | The entrepreneur argued that the science has moved on since a 2013 official report that has been the basis for the government arguing shale gas can act as a “bridge” in the transition to renewable energy. |
| The first exploratory fracking in seven years is underway at a site near Blackpool and due to finish later this month. | The first exploratory fracking in seven years is underway at a site near Blackpool and due to finish later this month. |
| But shale gas companies have found themselves bogged down in planning battles and delays with local authorities, prompting repeated efforts from the government to ease projects through the planning system. | But shale gas companies have found themselves bogged down in planning battles and delays with local authorities, prompting repeated efforts from the government to ease projects through the planning system. |
| The two legal challenges will be heard between Tuesday and Thursday. | The two legal challenges will be heard between Tuesday and Thursday. |
| The communities department said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal challenge.” | The communities department said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing legal challenge.” |
| Fracking | Fracking |
| Energy | Energy |
| Fossil fuels | Fossil fuels |
| Gas | Gas |
| Oil and gas companies | Oil and gas companies |
| Energy industry | Energy industry |
| Planning policy | Planning policy |
| news | news |
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