The Science Media Centre has gathered comment from scientists and independent experts who have seen the full report. Please contact the SMC for a list of scientists available for media interviews.
Full comments available in the SMC Resource Library along with a copy of the PCE's report.
Excerpts below:
Prof Jenny Webster-Brown, Director of Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management,
University of Canterbury & Lincoln University, comments:
"From a philosophical standpoint, I'm afraid I cannot see why we should risk the environmental effects of fracking, in order to extract every last drop of the non-renewable fossil fuel resource. It is a stop-gap measure at best, and one which we could well regret. Surely the money and ingenuity dedicated to the development of fracking technology would be better redirected into the development of alternative fuels?
"Having said that, and assuming that fracking will inevitably become a more common practice in New Zealand, I found [the PCE's report] to be timely and balanced. As a water quality scientist, I do have concerns about the potential contamination of groundwater aquifers by fracking chemicals and deep oil field saline brines. Such contamination has been reported from countries where there has been a longer history of fracking, who have suffered the consequences of leaking well casings and blow outs. I strongly support the PCE's call for effective regulation, requiring the industry to employ international standard best practice in well drilling and operation, and in fluid containment and management."
Dr Sally Gaw, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Chemistry, University of Canterbury, comments:
"Even if operational best practices are implemented, blow-outs, mechanical failure and human error have the potential to contaminate soil, surface waters and groundwater. The consequences of a contamination incident have been understated in the report as there are limited to no options for remediating groundwater and soil once contamination has occurred."
Dr. Marlène Villeneuve, Lecturer - Rock Mechanics, University of Canterbury comments:
"[The report] emphasises that the geology of potential new fields will be different from the geology in Taranaki. ... It is important to stress that in order for regulators and companies to be able to develop best practices the response of the reservoir rocks to fracking must be understood for each geological area where oil and gas extraction will be undertaken. This understanding will only be achieved through the close collaboration of the Government, industry and research organisations."
Dr Rosemary Quinn, Head of Petroleum Geosciences at GNS Science comments:
"Hydraulic fracturing causes micro-seismic activity as the cracks are formed and held open by the fluid and sand pumped down the well. These events typically have magnitudes in the range of -3.0 to 0.5 and are not felt at the surface.
"Rarely, hydraulic fracturing causes larger seismic events. Three instances have been investigated thoroughly and are referred to by the parliamentary Commisioner for the Environment in her report evaluating the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing in New Zealand. They are: Preese Hall, Lancashire, UK; Eola Field, Oklahoma, USA; and Horn River Basin, British Columbia, Canada. The largest magnitude of the seismic events recorded in these locations were 2.3, 2.8 and 3.8 respectively.
"The magnitude of the anomalous seismic events that have been linked to hydraulic fracturing are such that they would not stand out from the level of natural seismic activity that occurs annually in New Zealand."
Rosalind Archer, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering Science, University of Auckland, comments:
"The interim report from the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has come to a conclusion that "environmental risks associated with fracking can be managed effectively" provided that operational best practices are followed. This stance is consistent with the United Kingdom Royal Society investigation. Phase two of the Parliamentary Commissioner's investigation will address whether international best practice is being followed in New Zealand. I anticipate that fracturing operations currently being conducted in New Zealand will be shown to follow all relevant international standards for well siting, design and construction.
"It is important that oil and gas companies have a social licence to operate. Transparency has been shown to be very important. Todd Energy have fractured several wells in New Zealand and produced a comprehensive submission to the Parliamentary Commissioner's Office that describes their approach to the fracturing process and summaries their fracturing operations to date in New Zealand. The public and the media are encouraged to access the document here.
Dr Julie Rowland, School of Environment, University of Auckland, comments:
"The interim report presents a fair and succinct summary of the challenges and opportunities arising from the use of fracking to extract oil and gas from NZ's petroleum basins. The Commissioner rightly highlights the importance of appropriate government oversight and regulation to enforce operational best practise if environmental risks are to be managed effectively.
"Perhaps less well-articulated is the need for high-quality research to inform best practise in relation to three of the first four findings, which focus on well location, design and construction, and the storage and disposal of waste. In my view, an expansion of fracking in the NZ context must be accompanied by well-resourced research into the 3D geological context of the relevant petroleum basins, particularly on the Hikurangi Margin, and also the interplay between injection of fracking fluid and the generation and reactivation of fractures in the NZ context."
Full comments available in the SMC Resource Library along with a copy of the PCE's report. 
