The Regulation of the Technical, Environmental and Health Aspects of Current Exploratory Shale Gas Extraction in the United Kingdom: Initial Lessons for the Future of European Union Energy Policy

The shale gas revolution has reached the United Kingdom. Licenses for exploratory shale gas extraction have already been issued and a recent independent review commissioned by the British government concluded that shale gas extraction can proceed. However, the regulation of these activities is based on the broader regulatory framework for oil and gas, which does not fully account for the particular technical challenges and environmental and health impacts of unconventional gas extraction, resulting in gaps in authorization and monitoring procedures. This article analyses the relevant EU and domestic provisions regarding the licensing and permitting system, hydraulic fracturing and water management, as well as the mitigation of the risk of induced seismicity.