California politicians constantly portray the state as the nation's "green leader," but in fact California is a major oil and natural gas producer. Since 2011, California regulators under Governor Jerry Brown approved over 21,000 new oil and gas well drilling permits throughout the state, including over 200 offshore wells in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
This afternoon, Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett will call for a motion for a temporary ban on new oil drilling including steam-injection oil wells near Ventura County water sources, according to a news release from Food and Water Watch.
"The call for a motion comes following the discovery by the U.S. Geological Service of explosive thermogenic gases, like methane, in water wells in the Fox Canyon Aquifer," said Tomas Morales Rebecchi.
"Oil developer Peak Operator has a proposal before the board of supervisors to drill 79 new tar sands wells without an environmental review. Sup. Bennett’s motion would hold up this project until a full review of its impact on local aquifers is conducted," said Morales Rebecchi.
Here is Bennett's proposal to the Board of Supervisors: https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/cfrog/mailings/432/attachments/original/BennetProposal.PDF?1554744013
Concerned members of impacted communities, Food & Water Watch, CFROG (Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas) and the Ventura Sierra Club will turn out in support of Sup. Bennet’s proposed motion at the County Board of Supervisors Meeting, today, Tuesday, April 9, at 3:00 pm, at the Government Center, 800 South Victoria Ave., Ventura CA.
For background on steam fracking in the Oxnard tar sands, see this fact sheet.