Documents reveal concerns over US company’s proposed gas fracking in WA’s Kimberley region

Black Mountain Energy is seeking federal approval to drill 20 gas wells for a project located near a creek that flows into the national heritage-listed Fitzroy River in WA. Photograph: Alex Westover/Environs Kimberley View image in fullscreen Black Mountain Energy is seeking federal approval to drill 20 gas wells for a project located near a creek that flows into the national heritage-listed Fitzroy River in WA. Photograph: Alex Westover/Environs Kimberley Documents reveal concerns over US company’s proposed gas fracking in WA’s Kimberley region Federal environment department says Black Mountain Energy has provided insufficient data as it seeks to drill 20 gas wells in part of world’s largest tropical savanna Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The federal government has repeatedly raised concerns about an American company’s bid to frack for gas in Western Australia’s Kimberley region, part of the world’s largest and most intact tropical savanna. Texas-based Black Mountain Energy , through its subsidiary Bennett Resources, is seeking federal approval to drill 20 gas wells for its Valhalla project west of Fitzroy Crossing. Elusive gull drifts thousands of kilometres off course to Australia, turning birdwatching into ‘extreme sport’ Read more The site is located near a creek that flows into the national heritage-listed Fitzroy River, potentially opening WA’s Fitzroy valley landscape to fracking and affecting the region’s endangered species. While WA’s Environmental Protection Authority has recommended approval of the development under state laws, documents released through freedom of information show the federal environment department has repeatedly raised concerns about the standard of the company’s environmental assessments. The department warned the company it had not provided enough information about water resources and ecosystems that could be harmed by its gas drilling plans. Correspondence shows federal officials told Black Mountain Energy on multiple occasions last year that it had not done enough work to identify the region’s surface water and groundwater resources and “characterise” ecosystems in the area that relied on groundwater for survival. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Officials wrote this prevented them from being able to fully assess the impacts fracking could have on the region’s environment and vulnerable species, including the critically endangered northern blue-tongued skink and the endangered largetooth sawfish, which has an important nursery area in the Fitzroy River. The company was also instructed to consult with additional traditional owner groups with cultural and spiritual connections to the Fitzroy River. The department wrote that despite Black Mountain arguing there would be no impact on the Fitzroy River, there was “insufficient evidence” that was the case. Officials said the company therefore needed to “demonstrate assessment of all impact pathways associated with the Rainbow