It’s a new year, but California’s still fracked. And during the next few days, we have an opportunity to say something about it to those who are supposed to be in charge of oil drilling in California.
Right now, the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) is accepting public comment on their proposed regulations for fracking and other risky drilling techniques including acidizing for oil.
But the official public commenting period ends soon. You can submit your comment here: http://ecovote.org/Fracking »
And if you live in or near one of these cities, consider delivering your comment in person at one of these public hearings:
Sacramento: January 6, Sierra Room, California Environmental Protection Agency Building, 10th & I streets, 3-7 p.m.
Long Beach: January 6, California State University-Long Beach auditorium, 1212 Bellflower Boulevard, 3-7 p.m.
Bakersfield: January 8, Kern County Administrative Center, first floor board chambers, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 3-7 p.m.
Salinas: January 8, National Steinbeck Center, One Main Street, 3-7 p.m.
Santa Maria: January 13, Santa Barbara County supervisors hearing room, 511 East Lakeside Parkway, 3-7 p.m.
Here’s the bottom line: the proposed fracking regulations are weak and prioritize oil industry profits over protecting our environment. They just don’t go far enough to protect our environment and the health and safety of our communities from risky fracking.
We are asking Governor Jerry Brown to use his authority to impose a moratorium on fracking in California.
The Department’s proposed regulations, which are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2015, address issues such as groundwater testing, monitoring, public notice, and permitting. The Department has emergency regulations in place to address these issues in the interim. The proposed regulations are important steps in the right direction, and are being implemented thanks to efforts by advocates for the environment and public health safety to put a check on the oil industry.
But Californians have already waited far too long for protections from fracking. The fracking bill that passed the legislature and was signed by the governor, SB 4, was severely weakened with last-minute amendments from the oil industry. Many environmental groups that had previously supported the legislation, including CLCV, pulled our support for the bill after the bad amendments were added.
In the absence of adequate legislation to protect Californians from dangerous fracking and acidizing techniques, we ask Governor Brown to use his existing authority to immediately impose a moratorium on fracking and acidizing.
It’s time for all Californians to add their voices to this important public conversation about how to protect California’s people, natural resources, and climate from expanded fracking in our state.
