The favorable environmental report: a step backwards in the fight against fracking.
The recent publication in the Official State Gazette of the environmental impact assessment for the seismic surveys of the "Leo" Project, one of four projects that foresee the future use of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," in the northwest of the Region of Murcia, has once again set off alarm bells. Statements from numerous municipalities and the approval of a regional law that hinders the permitting process have not been enough to dispel the shadow that fracking casts over the Region of Murcia and its northern districts. This news serves as a stark reminder that three projects already granted and a fourth currently under review are proceeding despite the clear and explicit opposition of local councils, environmental groups, farmers, and political parties in the affected areas.
The Ministry for Ecological Transition has given the green light to the companies holding the "Leo" Project to use seismic methods to detect hydrocarbons without requiring a standard environmental impact assessment. This is a decision that we at Podemos regret, as it has failed to consider a fundamental aspect: it makes no sense to evaluate the impact of the prospecting method in isolation if it is geared towards future extraction through hydraulic fracturing. As Ecologists in Action has pointed out, a rigorous environmental assessment should have considered all the activities planned in the "Leo" Project, not just the seismic survey. Other factors that exacerbate the environmental risks include the potential cumulative effect of other projects already granted or under consideration, their proximity to various protected areas, and the possible impact on groundwater and surface water from any drilling that would be carried out if the seismic survey yields a positive result.
Risk of contamination of the waters of the Syncline and the Segura River
In this regard, it is important to remember that the area delimited in the "Leo" Project extends largely over the Calasparra Syncline aquifer, which is connected to the Segura River. Therefore, a potential pollution incident would affect this river and the flows of the Tagus-Segura basin that run through it. Furthermore, the syncline's waters are also used for irrigation. The threat, therefore, has not only an environmental dimension, but also an economic and public health dimension.
It is time to raise our voices and renew the fight
It's not enough to declare Cieza a "fracking-free" territory. We have to make it truly free. And the situation doesn't look good, as the concessionary companies are pressing ahead with their plans and the State Administration isn't showing a clear willingness to oppose them; on the contrary, it's collaborating. We also can't forget that projects like "Leo," with planned activities in different regions, fall under the jurisdiction of the State, not the autonomous communities. The political affiliation of the administrations shouldn't matter when it comes to defending the future of our territory and its inhabitants. We must oppose with all our might the now renewed threat of fracking in the northwest of the region. The people of Cieza, with their City Council at the forefront, and all municipal political forces must raise their voices and shout NO!, and do so as soon as possible and with maximum publicity. At Podemos-Cieza, we are clear on this.