Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the recent consultation on new standard rules for onshore oil and gas activities related to offering standardised permits to oil and gas companies, what assessment they have made of the safety of flaring which suggests that flow-testing, small-scale fracturing operations and acid washing should only take place 10 metres from any watercourse and 200 metres from the nearest residents.

The proposed standard rules do not cover the flaring of gas. If an operator wants to flare waste gas they will need to apply to the Environment Agency for a bespoke environmental permit.

The separation distances specified in the proposed standard rules relate to surface water, groundwater and European Designations. The Environment Agency considers that these distances provide effective protection.