On July 30, the German Federal Environmental Agency (UBA) published its second survey [available in German] on the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing for the exploration and production of natural gas with particular emphasis on shale gas reservoirs. Part 2 includes a groundwater monitoring concept, a register of hydraulic fracturing chemicals, information on flowback disposal, the current state of research in the field of emissions and carbon footprint, and the topics induced seismicity, ecosystem, landscape and biodiversity.

The Federal Environment Agency recommends performing a comprehensive risk assessment of all hydraulic fracturing projects for gas and oil production. This also applies for all testing measures. These evaluations are to be an essential component of an environmental impact assessment to be legally nominated based on the key points of the BMWi und BMUB [see SHIP news]. Like BMWi and BMUB, the Federal Environment Agency  continues to prohibit any form of hydraulic fracturing in water protection and spring protection areas but also in other sensitive areas such as catchment areas of lakes and reservoirs without exceptions.

Summarised results and recommendations:

• Baseline monitoring of groundwater before fracking processes commence
• Monitoring during the entire fracking process, the exploitation phase and the dismantling phase. Monitoring shall be carried out at groundwater measuring points in four independent aquifers
• Introduction of a register of fracking chemicals by a federal authority with free access for anyone
• Treatment of flowback according to the treatment goal (further use, discharge or disposal, e.g. injection). There remains a substantial need for research.
• Seismological baseline survey in the context of
  environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
• Carbon footprints: further detailed data analyses need to be conducted

“It is generally recommended to perform scientifically supervised testing measures due to the fact that without testing measures, further scientific knowledge on chances and risks of the fracking technology is limited.”

An initial report by the Federal Environment Agency on hydraulic fracturing in Germany was introduced in September 2012. Read more.