The Bureau of Land Management on Thursday is set to announce results of a review on well-stimulation technologies in the state such as fracking, according to the BLM in an announcement released Wednesday.
San Benito County voters in November will consider a proposal from San Benito Rising and other supporters to ban fracking and other enhanced recovery methods, along with a ban against all petroleum activities in rural residential zones near Hollister and San Juan.
According to the BLM announcement:
The California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) is releasing an independent science review on well stimulation technologies, including hydraulic fracturing, in California. The report was commissioned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The BLM is also announcing a comprehensive strategy for the federal oil and gas program in California which incorporates scientific information from the independent science review and results from public scoping for oil and gas development on public lands and Federal mineral estate.
WHEN: Thursday, August 28, 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Teleconference
WHO: Jim Kenna, California State Director, Bureau of Land Management
Amber Mace, Deputy Director, California Council on Science and Technology
Jane Long, Chair of the Steering Committee, California Council on Science and Technology, Independent Science Review
BACKGROUND: The speakers will give brief presentations on their individual topics, followed by questions and answers.
In August 2013, BLM California announced plans to commission a third-party independent science review of oil and gas well stimulation technologies in California, and launch a public scoping process on oil and gas development on public lands and federal mineral estate in the Hollister Field Office.
BLM California has developed a comprehensive strategy for the federal oil and gas program in California. This effort is being coordinated with the California Natural Resources Agency and California Department of Conservation, who have contracted for further study of well stimulation technologies by CCST as directed by California Senate Bill 4.
The independent science review and scoping report have been completed and will be made public on August 28th, 2014.
