Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether shale gas regulators have an agreed process for safe recycling of flowback from hydraulic fracturing operations.

Flowback fluids are deemed to be a mining waste under the Mining Waste Directive and require an environmental permit for management on site.

A company wishing to use hydraulic fracturing would need approval from the Environment Agency on its proposed methods for safe reuse and recycling as part of its Waste Management Plan. The Environment Agency and the European Commission have provided guidance on appropriate methods and techniques. This assessment is made on a case by case basis.

The Environment Agency has adopted a precautionary approach and does not allow the re-injection of flowback fluid for disposal underground.

All environmental and waste permits in relation to Preston New Road can be found on the Environment Agency site: https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/onshore-oil-and-gas/information-on-cuadrillas-preston-new-road-site/.