Tag: fracking

A top official with the California Department of Conservation addressed the county board Tuesday about enhanced oil recovery practices – in light of Measure J on the coming ballot – while noting about half of state oil production is from extraction methods targeted in the proposed ban but that smaller petroleum companies are slow in reporting required well data.

Before the county board OK'd placing Measure J on the ballot, supervisors had the option of delaying the process to conduct an economic analysis but chose to bypass that choice and send the proposal to voters. Without a county economic report to precede the November ballot decision – whether to ban hydraulic fracturing, cyclic steaming and acidizing as extraction techniques along with all petroleum activities in rural residential zones near the two cities – the local farm bureau went ahead and conducted a study of its own.

Although the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau took a vote among board members to officially oppose the Measure J initiative on the November ballot, the organization’s Green Committee has taken the opposing view.

Who are the San Benito County residents involved in the debate over Measure J, a ballot initiative aiming to ban fracking and other enhanced recovery methods used by the oil industry?

Local residents and other stakeholders share their thoughts on changes to the oil and gas ordinance in San Benito County. Some of the speakers include local residents Jim Paxton, Pat Lerman, along with others. Representatives from the California Independent Petroleum Association, the Center for Biological Diversity and Monterey Coast Keepers also shared their thoughts.