Narrabri Gas

I care about our water supply for my children and my children's children. Please stop this mining!!!

This absolutely disgusts me to the core. The fact that Santos has already had major spills with CSG toxic water contaminating underground water systems and not to mention the long lasting environmental impact it has. It seems there is no end to the cost in money to opening up new gas plant, when the world is trying to steer away from fossil fuels. What sort of a future will our children and grandchildren have if the government keeps allowing these projects to go ahead and fewer and fewer farmers, water holes and native species are subject to this unthinkable decision. WAKE UP AND SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR COUNTRY!!! This is UNAUSTRALIAN.

People of NSW and Australia and the world need to realise how these large companies are profiting from destroying our planet for their own greed.
It was been proven in so many other countries the permanent affects drilling causes by the contamination of the posionuous chemicals within the earth and water ways not only effecting the plant life but animals and us!
Watch gasland, google other articles that this has happened time and time again. And a lousy $100k doesn't put a dent in this company's profit line so they will continue to destroy everything.
I do not want these proposed additional 850 drills to go ahead not just for myself but for my future children and the people around me.. what do humans needs more than air? Water... then food which we will not be able to get without water. Water is life.

I am strongly Opposed to Coal Seam Gas mining in the Pilliga or anywhere in Australia for that matter. This form of Gas extraction will Kill our country and poison our water systems. It is wrong.
The government and the Santos need to stop this direct war on The citizens of Australia.
I object to coal seam gas mining.

I have uploaded the submission.

It's absolutely disgusting that any member of the human race still thinks acceptable to ravage so much of this countries forests, not to mention the amount of wildlife that will be destroyed in the process.

This should not go ahead, absolute madness and a totally disgraceful.

When are we collectively going to realise we depend on our forests and oceans?! They are to be left alone from our destructive touch - for our future generations sake! And for all living wildlife. Wake up!!!

This land is not for corporate greed

I object strongly to the proposed industrial gasfield, the Narrabri Gas Project, in the Pilliga.

I have the following concerns:
Water
The project will extract 35 billion litres of groundwater and cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin. It will also create draw-down of aquifers as has already occurred with similar projects in SE Queensland, severely impacting other users of water.
The extracted water will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, including almost 50,000 tonnes in the peak year of production. As with all other CSG operations to date there is no safe disposal plan for the salt and toxic byproducts. Hence these byproducts, either by negligence or design, will find their way into surface waterways.
In a dry continent which depends on groundwater for the continued existence of inland agriculture and towns, there is no acceptable level of risk. A project that lasts 20 years cannot be permitted to threaten long-term water supplies in any way.

Greenhouse emissions
According to Santos' EIS the project will produce a maximum of 0.96 Mt CO ²-e of direct emissions annually. This apparently makes up 0.2% of Australia's direct emissions annually.
However, the EIS further states that there will also be an annual indirect emission of 3.77 Mt CO ²-e when the product is consumed. This considerably enlarges the stated amount of emissions and is not consistent with a claim that this gas represents a transition to low carbon economy.
Fugitive emissions, which have proved to be significant in other projects such as those in SE Qld, are barely mentioned and there is no attempt to quantify them. Nor is there any proposal to carry out baseline testing so that fugitive emissions could be calculated. Fugitive emissions are not included in the overall emissions calculation, rendering the calculation valueless.

Conservation and biodiversity
The project will clear almost 1000 ha of the Pilliga Forest, the largest temperate woodland in NSW, and will fragment the remainder. Threatened fauna species will be severely affected. Koalas in particular, which have already declined in the Pilliga by 80% since the 1990's, will be at risk of local extinction.

Health
Evidence from other gasfield regions within Australia and the US confirm that there are significant, and often major, risks to human and animal health from contaminated air, soil and water.
Mental health is negatively affected by the increase in division and conflict between those who benefit financially (largely out-of-towners) and those locals who stand to lose a great deal.
The EIS fails to address the recent evidence of ill health in gasfields and makes no attempt to assess the negative impact on the communities surrounding the Pilliga forest.

Social
The indigenous Gomeroi/Gamilaraay people ,who oppose the project, will be severely affected by the fragmentation and industrialisation of the area. This will inevitably affect their culture and connection to country. Loss of heritage is cumulative and this loss will have a disastrous effect on the original custodians.
Potential gains for some local businesses, such as motels and alcohol outlets, will be offset by the social disruption caused by an influx of young, mostly male, short-term workers who have little interest in or commitment to the local communities. Poorer people and pensioners will be forced out of town due to high rents and with them will go much of the essential volunteer workforce on which most communities depend.
When the construction phase is over the financial gains will be quickly reversed, causing devastating upheavals for those caught on the wrong side of the boom-and-bust cycle. This has clearly been in evidence in towns in Queensland such as Chinchilla and Gladstone.

This project poses enormous risks - environmental, health, social and economic. It has little benefit for NSW, apart from a few ephemeral jobs. It will not alleviate the so-called gas crisis in NSW - in fact it will deepen it. The project should be rejected categorically. It should not be allowed to proceed with "environmental best practice" assurances. No risk is acceptable to the invaluable and utterly irreplaceable resources such as those that exist in and under the Pilliga forest.

Attn: Executive Director, Resource Assessments
Department of Planning and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

This is a submission to the Narrabri Gas Project EIS.


I, Lisa Kerr, am a citizen of Australia. I reside in NSW. I have ancestry in Barradine and I have spent a lot of time in Gunnedah, Mullaley, Coonabarabran, Narrabri and within the Pilliga Forest. I know the beauty of the region and I personally have witnessed its decline through mining over the last 9 years. I have lived in a town dominated by mining and have experienced un-affordable housing costs, limited job availability and resources outside of the mining industry and the rise and fall and fail of local supply and demand.
I am an average citizen with right to vote, a human being with right to clean water and clean air and I reject Santos' EIS as well the project in its entirety. I have listed but a small number of my concerns, they are as follows;

CSG threatens to contaminate the Great Artesian Basin - the water which sustains our lives.
Effectively, Santos are personally threatening our lives. My life. I object to my life-sustaining water being poisoned!


The proposed project is NOT economically viable.
I have no confidence in Santos' figures for the project, nor the economic viability it poses to the Narrabri Region.
Santos have so far been unable of reaching targets in the Pilliga during exploration and I believe it is unlikely that Santos will reach targets efficiently to reach or sustain the proposed profit. I find it a great concern that the citizens of the Narrabri and greater region will be left paying Santos' debt and cleaning their abandoned mess. ( see attachment )
http://www.northerndailyleader.com.au/story/4445614/last-ditch-to-sell-narrabri-project/

Santos mention many times that 'the project has the capacity to produce sufficient gas to meet up to half NSW's gas demand.'
This is irrelevant as the gas being extracted is not destined for the NSW market, and in fact little if any will remain in Australia.

Despite recent claims, we are also NOT experiencing an energy shortage and do NOT need this gas. In any case, the expensive production of CSG will not lower energy prices to the public, instead the public will experience a significant increase in energy prices. I believe this is a tactic to scare the public into fast-tracked approval and ultimately will place the burden of debt from high risk gas extraction onto the public. (see attachments )
http://reneweconomy.com.au/boosting-gas-production-a-false-solution-to-confected-crisis-report-89030/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jan/13/gas-companies-have-manufactured-shortage-myth-economist-says?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Tweet

There is also evidence that the gas resevers under the mapped area have been rated significantly lower than originally thought. The liklihood is there is not enough gas for Santos to reach their profit margin.


Risking Local Economy
Santos are willing to risk local economy when they cant even promise a profit.;

-Massive loss of local income from Agriculture, the areas number one contributor.

-Loss of income via tourism which brings in money from OUTSIDE the region, including but not limited to the detriment of; the Siding Springs Observatory, Sandstone Caves, Pilliga Bore Baths, Koalas, birds and other wildlife Attractions and tours, loss of Gunnedah as the Koala Capital, Pilliga Pottery, Warrumbungle Observatory and Indigenous cultural/heritage attractions.
Income is also largely generated by tourists via accommodation services, cafes, bars, restaurants and local stores.
Narrabri boasts that Bird watching, bush-walking and fishing are top tourist attractors to the area, which will definitely be negatively affected by the project. Flares and mining lights already light up and hinder the natural beauty and tourist attracting view from Mt Kaputar and other places of elevation in the region.
Further more, should the project expand to its entirety, this will cause a negative ripple affect on tourism, agriculture etc as far South West as Dubbo, and east to Armidale. This is NOT just a local issue.

-cost of housing and other resources likely to sky rocket making life un-affordable for current and long term residents of the area.


You cannot compensate the affects of CSG and water/land/air contamination!
Santos' claims to Compensate land-holders are questionable and do nothing to instill faith in public/land holders.
Santos state that 'loss from potential income on agricultural properties would be offset by compensation agreements with landholders, in accordance with the Santos Landholder and Community Compensation Scheme'. With this, Santos claim that a land holder can earn up to 1 million dollars for hosting 4 wells over a 10 year period.
This is not compensation but 'bribe' money used to buy land holders silence across the board, and an insult to farmers, some of whom turn over 1 million dollars per annum in the region. The 'actual' loss far out weighs Santos' speculation on the matter. (see attachment )
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/1-million-payday-for-farmers-who-allow-csg-wells-on-their-land-20150624-ghwhtc.html

Majority of the affects caused by coal seam gas cannot be contained to the well pad area - well pads may only take up a small amount of land space but the noise, smell, site and affect of them travels much further beyond this and is much more invasive than Santos claim.

Santos have shown no provisions or intention to compensate neighbouring property owners or members of public who;
- are affected by noise, smell and sight of offensive flaring
-are affected by noise from machinery/vehicles/drill pads
- experience contamination of water supply
- are affected by pets and live stock dying from contaminated water/feed
-are affected by noise and disturbance during clearing and road maintanence
-are affected by large machinery on the roads
-experience headaches, nausea, nose bleeds, illness and expensivemedical bills?
-loss of ability to work due to CSG related illness/stress
-experience contaminated salt residues after rainfall
-are affected by spillage of contaminated water
-are affected by possible and likely equipment failure

It has also appeared that banks will not loan to people hosting CSG wells on the 'basis that the property is not acceptable as security' - which means land holders are left with nothing but debt and degraded land at the end of the well pads use.
(see attachment )
https://www.marketforces.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Briefing-CBA-and-CSG-loan-refusal.pdf

All in all I have no faith that Santos will take responsibility for any of the above issues, and indeed these are issues that no amount of monetary compensation can correct.


Safety and Risk Assessments.
Santos offer no real time data in their assessments and I do not believe Santos can meet safety standards and regulations in regards but not limited to;

-safe work practices/employee safety/equipment and material use:
Santos have admitted to extremely dangerous $40m gas explosion in 2014, failing to ensure employee safety. (see attachment )
http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/santos-admits-responsibility-for-40m-gas-explosion-in-2004/news-story/54f86d83efc59ddfe2a11fab8b31886d?sv=d673f7bc98ec732491692bab13313616

-Ecological aspects/public health:
Extensive ecological damage due to numerous, over 20, toxic spills. Santos have been fined many times and have also failed to comply with reporting regulations regarding spills. (see attachments )
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/wastewater-spill-at-santos-csg-plant-20140328-35o91.html

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/santos-faces-fines-for-pilliga-coal-seam-gas-salt-spill-20131218-2zkob.html

-Spill sites have not improved with any of Santos' rehabilitation programs
areas outside of spill zones are showing Cypress Pine dying off, proving high intolerance of the alkaline soil levels and toxic gases emitted into the air through flaring. This proves that spills and flaring are unsafe/toxic and cannot be contained to an area. There is no way of preventing the leaching of chemicals through the soil, water or or air. (see attachment )
http://www.csgfreenorthwest.org.au/the_spills

THE FACT THAT SPILL ZONES ARE NOT REHABILITATING IS PROOF THAT ANY CLAIM SANTOS MAKE ABOUT THE PROCESS OF CSG PRODUCTION BEING SAFE AND CONTROLLABLE IN ANY WAY UNFEASIBLE AND UNTRUE.
THIS INDUSTRY CANNOT BE MANAGED SAFELY.


Dis-regard for Ecology and Bio-security
Santos show a complete disregard for, and lack of understanding of even the most basic ecological principles;

Forests and Habitat - Santos want to clear up to 1000 hectares, further stressing and fragmenting the forest.The Pilliga is Australias' largest inland native forest - it has long been regarded and recognised as one of Eastern Australia's, and Australia's most significant sites for biodiversity- it is home and a haven to over 300 species of native fauna, and over 500 species of flora - some of which are already vulnerable,threatened, endangered or critical - it should go without thought that this regions protection is intensified and continual.

Climate - Santos have admitted their business model is based on a global raise of 4 degrees! This proves complete disregard and neglect for not only the Paris Climate Change Agreement, and shareholders, but all citizens and eco systems and every life form across the globe.
Santos have severely underestimated the cost to greenhouse gases. Approval of this project will further that neglect. (see attachment )
https://www.marketforces.org.au/media-release-santos-admit-to-four-degree-climate-policy-backed-by-institutional-investors/

Wildlife - Santos state there are no Koalas near the site. This is incorrect and has been proven by other surveys.
Koalas are already under severe threat from deforestation and logging.
It is illogical of Santos to state and assume that koalas are not/will not enter sites/proposed sites, or be threatened by Santos' actions. There ARE still numbers of Koalas in the Pilliga Forest, not far from Gunnedah, the KOALA CAPITAL, and all throughout proposed sites, and this NATIONAL ICON IS protected and should remain protected.
the Australian Wildlife Conservancys' scientific baseline study proves there are populations of Koala, Black-Striped Wallaby, Barking owl and Superb Parrots. Santos greatly threaten conservation projects of AWC. (see attachments )
http://www.australianwildlife.org/media/275129/pilligathreatenedspecieslist-jan2017.pdf

http://www.australianwildlife.org/media/274947/awc-wildlife-matters-spring-2016-low-res-pages.pdf

Stygofauna - vital to the health of and purity of ground water and aquifer connectivity, Santos have not addressed sensitive ground water species in their EIS - I would think the impact on environment would include this. When will this be addressed?

The Santos project also threatens EVERY other species of bird, mammal, reptile and insect in the vicinity. This is HOME to these animals and Santos' land clearing will only threaten, displace or kill these creatures.


Disregard for and threat to Indigenous People, Places and Religion
Santos has so far ignored the greater Gomeroi/Kamilaroi community in their efforts to protect sacred sites, and instead opted to pay native title to sign the land over. NATIVE TITLE DO NOT REPRESENT THE GREATER SOVEREIGN GOMEROI COMMUNITY.

Planning to create jobs and build and indigenous employee base greatly implies further monetary manipulation for agreement to destruction of sacred lands.

Santos and their employees have prevented access to sacred places by indigenous people, thus interrupting religious ceremonies that have taken place for thousands of years.
In indigenous culture, religion is the water, and during the Land and Environment Court hearing, Walkabout Park vs Rocla 2015, that link was recognised by LAW, therefore Santos is knowingly posing threat to the religious values of the broader indigenous community.

Santos have already destroyed sacred sites in several of their projects including in the Pilliga, where they committed to the killing and removal of scarred trees, the destroying of middens and the most disgusting, offensive act to indigenous people that Santos have so far committed, un-earthing burial grounds and removing bones of ancestors.

It is clear that Santos' claims of working with Sovereign Gomeroi people and respecting sacred sites are completely false, and proven so time and again.
I do NOT believe Santos will adhere to the level of protection/communication/respect they have put forth to the public.

I stand with Sovereign Gomeroi and all Sovereign First Peoples to protect Sacred Lands, the Water that flows above and beneath, and all living beings upon them.
Under First Lore, Santos have no permission to be on Gomeroi/Kamilaroi country.


Recommendations
My recommendations are as follows;

1. That Santos' application for ALL and ANY activity, inclusive of exploration, mining, extraction, deforestation and pipeline construction, be denied and for any current work to cease immediately.

2. That the Santos and the Government listen to the greater community and Sovereign First Peoples and act accordingly on their behalf.

3. That Santos take responsibility and be held accordingly accountable for all untrue and misleading information in their EIS.

4. That the official and Traditional care and management of the Pilliga/Biliga Forest by Sovereign Gomeroi/Kamilaroi People is recognised and respected by Santos, Government and all respective parties.

I urge the Government to reject this project and make the Great Artesian Basin recharge off-limits to gas mining.


Yours sincerely,
Lisa Kerr
1A Reid St, Macksville NSW 2447, Australia

To my knowledge, the sandstone under the Pilliga is a vital recharge area for the Great Artesian Basin, and creeks that flow through the Pilliga provide clean water into the Murray Darling Basin. These water sources are the lifeblood of farming communities throughout the southeast and inland Australia.

Hence the proposed mining and extraction would create imbalance in the under earth echo system and could potentially damage to the water table. This would make a severe impact to the farming and farm dependent communities living in that region.

I object

I wish to voice my total opposition to future fossil fuel developments in Australia. We are an international signatory to the Paris Climate Accord and to authorise this kind of development is likely to breach our international obligations and to threaten untold climate havoc resulting in significant loss of life and property throughout the world.

My objection is simple. I will always oppose any company, business, organisation or person that has no respect for the planet we live on or the inhabitants of this planet and is only guided by profit and greed. If you truly believe that this is a good thing then I am grateful that I dont have any children to see what a god awful place the future will be.

Loss of CSG (methane) to the atmosphere by seepage, leakage etc through drilling, fracking, piping, purifying, distribution and eventual use has rarely, if ever, been shown to be less than 5% when fully assessed. Since methane is at least 25 times as effective a greenhouse gas as carbon dioxide, a 5% loss to the atmosphere will cause more global warming than the carbon dioxide formed by burning the other 95% of the CSG. This alone should cause all further CSG production to be abandoned asap, with no further permits to be granted.
Further to this, the threat to water supplies is very real, as has been proved at least in Queensland and the USA. Fracturing of containg strata threatens artesian water supplies, as does the leakage of fracking solutions, solution of heavy metals from strata, etc, with such polluted water likely to reach the surface and affect stock, native wildlife and even people.

I place myself in opposition to Santos' CSG plan. The negative impact would be felt far and wide. Santos' agenda is just the same in the Territory. Our future needs inspirational, progressive leaders who use their wealth and power to create clean energy solutions and understand the true value country and community.

It will extract over 35 billion litres of toxic groundwater, much of it in the first five years. This water will be treated and in the early years will generate tens of thousands of tonnes of salt, for which there is no safe disposal plan.
It will clear close to 1,000 hectares of the Pilliga Forest, fragmenting the largest temperate woodland in New South Wales, home to unique wildlife.
It will cause significant diversion of water from a recharge aquifer of the Great Artesian Basin, which is a water resource relied upon by rural communities across western NSW.
It will lead to large deliberate and fugitive emissions of methane, adding to climate change.
It will cause more trauma to the regional Aboriginal community because the area of impact is crucially important to the spiritual, cultural and social life of Gamilaraay people.
It is not justified: Santos' own Coal Seam Gas export activities in Queensland have caused gas prices to rise and supply to become unpredictable. NSW should respond to this by investing in more reliable and ultimately cheaper renewable energy, not by letting Santos inflict more environmental, social and economic harm.
It will cause economic upheaval in Narrabri and put agricultural industries at risk, as well as causing light pollution that will ruin the dark night sky needed by the internationally renowned Siding Spring Observatory.
Coal Seam Gas is harmful to health. Neither the NSW Government nor Santos have investigated or dealt with the serious health effects of coal seam gas now appearing in peer-reviewed research in the United States.

I would like big corporations to stop destroying what environment we have left. Just stop please.

1. The Narrabri Gas Project risks precious water sources, including the Great Artesian Basin--Australia's largest groundwater aquifer
The Narrabri gasfield poses a real risk to our two most precious water resources: the Great Artesian Basin and the Murray-Darling Basin. The area of the Great Artesian Basin with the highest recharge rates is almost entirely contained within the Pilliga East forest. In a worst-case scenario, the water removed for CSG extraction could reduce water pressure in the recharge areas--potentially stopping the free flow of waters to the surface at springs and bores across the whole Great Artesian Basin.¹

Creeks in the Pilliga run into the Namoi River--a part of the Murray Darling Basin. This system is vulnerable to contamination from drilling fluid spills and the salty treated water produced from the proposed 850 wells.

2. The Gamilaraay Traditional Custodians are opposed
There are hundreds of cultural sites as well as songlines and stories connecting the Gamilaraay to the forest and to the groundwater beneath. Gamilaraay people are deeply involved in the battle against CSG, and have told Santos they do not want their country sacrificed for a coal seam gas field.

3. Farmers and other local community reject the project
Extensive community surveys have shown an average of 96% opposition to CSG. This stretches across a massive 3.2 million hectares of country surrounding the Pilliga forest, including 99 communities. Hundreds of farmers have participated in protest actions unlike any previously seen in the region.

4. The Narrabri Gas Project has a long history of spills and leaks of toxic CSG water--Santos cannot be trusted to manage the project safely
Santos has already contaminated a freshwater aquifer in the Pilliga with uranium at levels 20 times higher than safe drinking water guidelines, as well as lead, aluminium, arsenic and barium². In addition, there have been over 20 reported spills and leaks of toxic CSG water from storage ponds, pipes and well heads. Santos cannot be trusted.

5. The Pilliga is a haven for threatened wildlife
The Pilliga is one of 15 nationally listed `biodiversity hotspots' and is vital to the survival of threatened species like the Koala, Spotted-tailed Quoll, Black-striped Wallaby, Eastern Pygmy-possum, Pilliga Mouse and South-eastern Long-eared Bat. The forest is home to over 200 bird species and is internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area². The Santos gasfield would fragment 95,000 hectares of the Pilliga with well pads, roads, and water and gas pipelines--damaging vital habitat and threatening the survival of endangered species.

6. Coal seam gas fuels dangerous climate change
Methane is by far the major component of natural gas, and is a greenhouse gas 72 times more powerful than CO2. CSG fields contribute to climate change through the leakage of methane during the production, transport, processing and use of coal seam gas.

7. Human health is compromised by coal seam gas
A range of hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air from coal seam gas operations, including flaring of gas wells. The effects of volatile organic compounds vary, but can cause eye, nose and airway irritation, headache, nausea, dizziness and loss of coordination⁴. These impacts have been documented in human populations nearby to existing gasfields in Queensland, Sydney and in America.

8. The nation's premier optical astronomical observatory is at risk
The Siding Springs Observatory, situated in the Warrumbungles and adjacent to the Pilliga, is under threat from the Narrabri Gas Project due to light and dust pollution⁵. The area has been internationally recognised as a `dark sky park'⁶ and the 50m high gas flares proposed by Santos threaten the viability of the facility.

9. Thousands of tonnes of salt waste will result from the project
Santos has no solution for disposing of the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of salt that will be produced. Between 17,000 and 42,000 tonnes of salt waste would be produced each year. This industry would leave a toxic legacy in NSW.

10. Risk of fires would increase throughout the Pilliga's tinder-box conditions
Methane flare stacks up to 50m high would be running day and night, even on total fire ban days. The Pilliga is prone to severe bushfires. The project would increase ignition sources as well as extracting, transporting and storing a highly flammable gas right within this extremely fire-prone forest.
- See more at: https://www.wilderness.org.au/final-push-pilliga#sthash.g4t3mO8b.dpuf

India has cancelled a huge coal power station, as they recognise the need to focus on renewable energy. Australia continues to fall way behind as the government lacks focus and drives up the cost of renewables due to its reliance on coal. It is no good for the environment. No good for the Australian people. No good for the economy long term. Wake up Govt - both sides of the house share the the blame - you should be ashamed of yourselves. Get behind the right projects and get renewables happening so that everyone can win.

This project must not go ahead.

The destruction of the Pilliga Forest alone, and the devastation to koala and Pilliga mouse population, should be enough to disqualify it
There has not been adequate scientific analysis of fugitive methane emissions, which would have enormous global warming implications; nor how we would deal with the massive amount of salt produced daily.
Disposing of salt in landfill will be totally inadequate as preventing leakage would be almost impossible. This would threaten all surrounding waterways and habitat.
There has not been adequate scientific investigation into the security of ground water. The water of the Great Artesian Basin should not be put at risk without much more rigorous scientific investigation.
We have a world class observatory, which will be compromised by the flaring. To put this at risk for a relatively small amount of gas does not seem sensible.
There is a world glut of gas.This project will not help domestic supply or prices. The risks far outweigh any possible benefits