Santa Cruz County First to Ban Fracking in California
The Board voted last September to enact a 10-month moratorium on fracking and all oil and gas drilling and today’s vote makes the prohibition permanent. Supervisor John Leopold has led the charge since the Board first directed the county planning department to review well stimulation techniques in February 2013.
“Santa Cruz is the first county to ban fracking in California, but it certainly won’t be the last,” said Rose Braz, Climate Campaign Director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “While Governor Brown refuses to protect our health and environment from fracking risks, local communities across the state are moving forward with measures to fight oil industry pollution.”
While Santa Cruz is the first county in California to prohibit fracking, several counties across the state are pursuing their own bans or moratoria, including Butte, Mendocino, Monterey, Santa Barbara, San Benito and Orange. Additionally, many cities across California have moved to stop fracking; Beverly Hills recently became the first city to ban fracking, and Los Angeles and Culver City are looking to do the same.
May 20, 2014
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/pressreleases/santa-cruz-county-first-to-ban-fracking-in-california/
http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/
On a different article, someone made the following comment...
"The reality is the feds and state occupy this subject in law. A local ordinance banning fracking is, I suspect, of dubious legality in California. Push hasn't come to shove yet, but if it does SC's ordinance is toast."
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/04/21/18754606.php?show_comments=1#18754684?/p>
More and more people are waking up to the broad and deep dangers of fracking, which may force Governor Brown to join the parade of people pushing for bans. But there is local precedent, when push comes to shove. In the past, County sheriffs have escorted violators of County Supervisor sentiment to their violations (when asked why, a sheriff said the County ban on PG&E spy meters was "a symbolic law").
Hopefully all of "Food & Water Watch, 350.org, Environment California, Center for Biological Diversity, Californians Against Fracking, Santa Cruz Sierra Club, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and UC Santa Cruz students" are ready to fight, even if the upcoming election puts a more pliable County Supervisor in place...
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