Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said this week that projects assessed under the Commonwealth’s Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act were tested.

If a well was found to be connected to an adjoining aquifer water must be reinjected into it.

But Lock the Gate Alliance president Drew Hutton said the procedure had not been successfully tried in Australia.

‘‘The Minister makes it sound easy but it’s not. It requires enormous amounts of pressure and energy,’’ Mr Hutton said.

The issue would have major implications for a potential coal seam gas project in Tomago sandbeds catchment area.

Mr Burke also called for consistent regulations between the states and federal government for coal seam gas projects.

But Mr Hutton said it was unlikely more consistent regulation would lessen the environmental risks.

‘‘The state governments are too close to the industry; they are beneficiaries and regulators,’’ he said.

‘‘The federal government doesn’t have the manpower to effectively regulate the industry.’’

A spokeswoman for state Energy and Resources Minister Chris Hartcher said the government had already announced tough conditions for coal seam gas exploration and production.

‘‘Ultimately, we are pursuing a tripartite approach with both Queensland and federal governments to achieve conformity between states dealing with coal seam gas exploration and production,’’ Mr Hartcher said.