LEAKED: MLA Members Briefing on Tamboran & Legislative Definition of Minerals

Briefing doc for MLA's in Stormount Assembly in N Ireland. Discusses precisely the issue anti fracking campaigners feel they can nail Tamboran on in court application for injunction if Mark Durkan allows 'permitted development'. Permitted Development in Quarries is limited to the search for minerals and 'substances' which the seeker INTENDS TO EXPLOIT at that location. The document is significant in that it makes clear that 'Minerals'and 'Substances' EXCLUDE Petroleum products including natural gas. TAMBORAN stated purpose is to sample rock to establish presence and level of METHANE GAS. Anyone who tells you METHANE is a MINERAL is a) crazy or b) a blueshirt. Also Tamboran have NO STATED INTENT TO XTRACT ROCK OR GAS AT BELCOO. They want the results to FRACK LEITRIM and avoid having to seek planning permission for test drills south of the border. ROI administration have ALREADY stated they will accept those test samples so Tamboran can leapfrog process in Leitrim.