I pulled this letter from the TKAG website, as it was filed earlier this month to the Department of Mineral Resources. Basically, TKAG wants these actions put in place since the current restrictions provide a legal loophole for those who filed for exploration rights prior to 1 Feb 2011. Falcon filed in 2010!

If you want to read the enitre letter you can fine it here: http://www.treasurethekaroo.co.za/news/breaking-news

Here are the major points:

In view of the above objections our client calls for the Honourable Minister to amend the Notice so that:

(a) the nature of the proposed restrictions is adequately detailed so as to provide for a
meaningful notice and comment procedure; and

(b) the restrictions are extended temporaneously to apply to those applications received prior to 1 February 2011 and geographically to apply to the country as a whole and not only to the Karoo region.

The extensive environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, a subject of escalating international concern, cannot apply only to those applications received in the Karoo post 1 February 2011. The Honourable Minister has provided no details of the nature of the precautionary approach suggested in the Notice nor any reasoning at why this precautionary approach should not also apply to those applications received prior to 1 February 2011.