Coal Seam Gas Exploration Licence Application at Hartley’s Doorstop

This information was sent to us from the Captertee Environmental Group via the Lithgow Environment Group.

It’s not just Capertee that is quaking in its boots. Look at the maps (links below). The Ceemac Application borders Hartley and impinges on the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area:

There is a Petroleum Exploration Licence Application 158 lodged by Ceemac P/L (PELA 158).

Petroleum Exploration means Coal Seam Gas Exploration (CSG).  PELA 158 covers part of Capertee and part of Capertee Valley and much more !!

The Department’s website states that public exhibition of PELA 158 has been extended until Thursday 13 March 2014.

For those who prefer to write a letter, fax or email direct, address to: – The Manager Coal & Petroleum Titles and Systems Postal Address:

PO Box 344, Hunter Region Mail Centre NSW 2310        Facsimile: 02 4931 6776

Email: webcoal.titles@industry.nsw.gov.au

Here is a link to information about the PELA – it now includes a diagram of the area covered by the PELA:  (Also, see attached map, the Department’s diagram superimposed upon a Google map.)

http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/titles/current-coal-and-petroleum-exploration-licence-applications/current-petroleum-exploration-licence-applications

Here is the page where you can make submissions about the proposed exploration:

http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/community-information/comment/titles

Here is the page about public comment:

http://www.resources.nsw.gov.au/community-information/comment

There is some information on Enviromental Defenders Office’s website about how to write effective submissions:

http://www.edonsw.org.au/having_your_say_before_a_decision_is_made

There is information about exploration in Chapter 2 of EDO’s mining book:

http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/edonsw/pages/111/attachments/original/1379482506/Mining_Law_in_NSW.pdf?1379482506