top
Santa Cruz IMC
Santa Cruz IMC
Indybay
Indybay
Indybay
Regions
Indybay Regions North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area North Coast Central Valley North Bay East Bay South Bay San Francisco Peninsula Santa Cruz IMC - Independent Media Center for the Monterey Bay Area California United States International Americas Haiti Iraq Palestine Afghanistan
Topics
Newswire
Features
From the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature

Santa Cruz County Adopts Temporary Moratorium on Fracking

by Santa Cruz Progressive Newswire
On September 10, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors adopted a temporary ban on the hydraulic fracturing method of gas and oil extraction, also known as fracking. Additionally, the board will be amending the county general plan to include a permanent ban on fracking. The new ban specifically covers land based fracking as the county of Santa Cruz already requires a vote of the citizens to approve the building of any onshore development that facilitates offshore oil production. (PDF: September 10 county board meeting agenda packet on fracking, which includes the letter of the Planning Director, dated August 15, 2013, County Code Section 16.55.020, interim ordinance establishing moratorium, the Draft General Plan Amendment (clean and strike-through/underline versions), and public comments)
agenda_september_10_2013_santa_cruz_county_fracking_moratorium.pdf_600_.jpg
In February of this year, the board of supervisors first adopted a resolution expressing concern over proposed fracking regulations by the state, and on March 29, the board received a report from the county planning department which addressed the potential for oil and gas drilling in Santa Cruz County, including the use of well stimulation techniques such as hydraulic fracturing.

The planning department wrote in March that hydraulic fracturing in Santa Cruz County was unlikely, due to the strong industry push for fracking in the more lucrative deposit areas of Southern California. However, the report stated that at some point in the future it could not be entirely ruled out locally, saying "technically feasible and economically viable approaches may be discovered by the oil industry to tap the shale oil potential in the Monterey formation, and interest could turn from the developed resource areas in southern California to the Monterey formation in other parts of the State, including in Santa Cruz County."

The planning department was then directed to work with county counsel to consider amending General Plan Policy 5.18.4 to clearly prohibit onshore oil and gas production and to consider the specifics of regulating fracking.

Public comments in the September 10 agenda packet included expressions of concern over the pollution of the local water supply by fracking, including that of personal wells, and at least one member of the public expressed concerns over the possibility of fracking disturbing the stability of fault lines through the county.

Here is a sampling of the comments submitted (See above PDF for more):

Nancy Abbey of Santa Cruz: "Please pass the moratorium. There are clearly many concerns about the process of fracking, so until we have definite answers about the chemicals used, how the vast amount of water needed for fracking would impact our water supply, and what effect the run-off from fracking would have on the quality of our water, we shouldn't allow it in Santa Cruz County."

Sue Reynoldson of Santa Cruz: "Please pass this referendum. I'm sorry I cannot be there to speak, because I have studied both sides of the argument and feel very strongly that the dangers of fracking to our water supply outweigh any possible benefits."

Joy Binah: "By all means, vote on a moratorium on fracking. I am not in favor of this approach to energy due to the chemicals used, the amount of water needed for the process, the impact on our meager water resources, the possibility of disturbing the fault line, the pollution of our groundwater, etc. This in NOT the answer! There are so many other alternatives waiting in the wings!"

Nikki Taylor of Santa Cruz: "We support this moratorium to prevent fracking in Santa Cruz County. It is too great a risk for our meager water supply. We have a well and fear intrusion of chemicals."

Signe Frost of Watsonville: "Please vote to extend the moratorium on any oil investigation or fracking in the waters of our precious ocean. It will only lead to deadly mishaps that will poison our water and our sea life. I know you will vote to protect us!"

Ellen Fitzgerald Murtha: "Board of Supervisors, Thank you for considering a moratorium on fracking in Santa Cruz County. There are too many questions that have not been answered for it to be allowed in our community. Industry refuses to disclose the chemical mixtures used along with the water to frack. What we do know about fracking is frightening. We know it is a terrible waste of our precious water. We know it has a destabilizing impact in an area with known earthquake faults. Thank you for protecting the people and the environment of Santa Cruz."
§March 29 Report from Planning Department
by Santa Cruz Progressive Newswire
fracking-in-santa-cruz.pdf_600_.jpg
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!

Donate

$80.00 donated
in the past month

Get Involved

If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.

Publish

Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.

IMC Network