Proper access to all available data is a prerequisite for a sound evaluation of the potential risks related to future shale gas development in Germany. To improve access to available data, German mining authorities as well as industry should examine further strategies and possibilities for data sharing with third parties. This was one of the findings from the International Conference “Environmental impacts caused by fracking” that was held on 3 December 2012 in Berlin, Germany.

The conference was hosted by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) to support political decision making on shale gas in Germany. The objective of the conference was to present the results of a recent BMU-commissioned expert study and to discuss them in an international context. The conference was intended to give further recommendations to the German parliament which may finalize new legislation on shale gas next year.

The harmonization of German mining and water laws was one of the topics identified to be addressed urgently. Additionally, there is a strong call for an obligatory Environmental Impact Assessment for each shale gas well in Germany. To ensure future safe water supply from groundwater, hydraulic fracturing for shale gas will most probably be prohibited in German water protection areas.

But an important detail to be resolved is the question whether hydraulic fracturing may be allowed in the outer zones (zone III) of drinking water protection areas. This is because German water protection areas may be separated into different zones with different protection requirements. Another topic addressed was flowback disposal. An investigation was called for on whether disposal of flowback from shale gas wells in deep disposal wells is an option in Germany.

The international perspective was covered by speakers from the European Commission (EC), France, and Poland. Florence Limet from EC´s DG Environment presented an initiative for safe shale gas exploration. During the next year there will be a 12-weeks period where the general public is invited for consultation via internet regarding this initiative.

During the final discussion the following crucial points were identified to be addressed in the near future:

• improve transparency with respect to shale gas exploration
• improve the early involvement of local people affected, before major decisions are made.
• decision on areas where shale gas exploration shall be prohibited,
• examine and assess the complete life cycle of shale gas development rather than individual exploration or production phases

Further political discussion

On 13 December 2012, there will be a discussion in the German Parliament on risks and opportunities presentend by shale gas. The topic is also being discussed at the level of German federal states (Länder), which have different positions on future shale gas development. The state governments of North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein urge a suspension of any decisions on applications for hydraulic fracturing by the industry until risks can be properly assessed by further scientific research and analysis of available data.

These governments are to launch an initiative in the German Bundesrat (the upper chamber of parliament) but, according to media reports, the state government of Lower Saxony will not support this initiative. Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia are the states where most of the promising gas shales are located in Germany.