Case Study on Development Approval Processes Essay

Case Study on Development Approval Processes - Essay Example This project dictates that JDP has to conduct natural gas drilling, transportation, as well as refinery of this natural gas for domestic consumption. Environmental Impact of Natural Gases Exploration The natural effects of the JDP are drilling of the natural gas in the sea might lead to water pollution. This would consequently affect the fishes and as well as marine activities. The natural gas is poisonous to marine life thereby calling for standardized methods of drilling and tapping of the natural gas without influencing marine life (Apache Energy). Further, the project area would be out of bound for other marine activities. Arguably, it will seclude the marine activities to occur in other regions out of the demarcated area. A number of technologies used in natural gas exploration involve a technique known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking. This technology involves mixing of dangerous chemicals with large quantities of water and injected into the well at extremely high pressure. The Jelimar Development Project would affect the clean water supply to the surrounding communities where the transportation gas pipeline would cross. The process of laying the gas transportation pipeline will interfere with existing water supply pipeline in the affected area. This interference will result to water pollution. ... Elsewhere, the transportation of the natural gas from the offshore production area to the inland might result to water population due to gas leaks as well as land pollution due to the same effect (Haward, 2003 pp. 35). Moreover, the laying of transportation pipes from the offshore production unit to the inland terminals results to destruction of natural environment. The construction company has to remove the over burden before laying the pipes to the ground. Largely, the process would destroy plants on the path of the transportation pipeline. The pollutants released to the water, air, and land has potential health impacts on marine life, plants, and human beings. Scientists have established that natural gas pollutants are likely to pose wide health impacts ranging from headache to asthma and cancer (Lagoni, 2009 pp. 216). In marine life, the pollutants would lead to the death of the aquatic life. Similarly, the pollutants would lead to the death of the plants. Moreover, spill of natu ral gas into the vegetation would lead to the death of the vegetation cover. Social-economic Benefits of the Project The Jelimar Development Project has numerous social and economic benefits to the Australian community and the rest of the world. First, the natural oil exploration would create employment to the Australian community. This in turn would reduce the number of unemployed subsequently leading to improved life. The Australian society will experience improved living standards because of the income that the community would derive from the project (Gladwin, Kennelly, and Krause, 2005 pp. 880). Further, the project would reduce poverty level because it will affect the unemployed population. Evidently, when the unemployed population acquires employment