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<p>The Department has not undertaken such assessments. As part of the assessment of
an application for hydraulic fracturing operations, the Oil & Gas Authority (OGA)
requires operators to have in place the necessary funds or an insurance policy (including
third-party liability) that will cover unforeseen events. In addition to insurance
cover, landowners can bring a claim against a shale gas operator if its activities
caused damage to their property.</p><p> </p><p>Hydraulic fracturing has taken place
at two sites in Lancashire to date. Following a seismic event linked to Cuadrilla’s
operations on 26 August a small number of reports of minor cosmetic damage have been
investigated by the operator’s insurer and this is a matter for the operator and homeowners.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government has always been clear that it will only support the exploration
of our shale gas resources in a safe and sustainable way. The Oil and Gas Authority
is undertaking a scientific analysis of the data from Cuadrilla’s earlier operations
in 2018 which will be published shortly. The Government will set out our future approach
once we have considered the findings.</p>
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