UK Environment Chief - We Must Frack In National Parks - It's Safe, And We KNOW What We're Doing! [View all]

[hatrack]

Fracking in national parks should be permitted because the visual impact can be limited when the process is "done properly", the outgoing chairman of the Environment Agency has declared.

Chris Smith, who is due to step down from the post next month, waded into the debate over fracking by dismissing the claims of those campaigning against the impact of the controversial drilling at particular sites.

"Provided it is done carefully and properly regulated, those fears are definitely exaggerated," Smith said in an interview with the Times. He went on to reject the arguments of other anti-fracking campaigners who want to see greater emphasis placed on developing renewable energy sources rather than another fossil fuel.

"I don't agree with that analysis because we aren't yet ready to see 100% of our energy requirements being produced from renewables," he said. "Over the next 10-20 years we are going to have to use fossil fuels still and it's much better to use gas than coal."

EDIT

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jun/28/allow-fracking-national-parks-environment-agency