Ventura County to Discuss Expansion of SoCalGas Compressor on Westside

—FROM CFROG
On Tuesday, February 1st at 10 am, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors will be discussing the proposed expansion of the SoCalGas natural gas compressor station located in West Ventura. 

As of Friday afternoon, the final agenda has not been posted yet, but the draft agenda includes a recommendation from Supervisor LaVere to request state agencies to further assess the compatibility of SoCalGas’ proposed expansion of the natural gas compressor facility. 

We will be following up with talking points and more details to support this proposal and ensure it is striving to fully protect the health and safety of the community!

CFROG and other Westside Clear Air Coalition members have been advocating against this expansion for over nine months – speak up to ensure the Board recognizes the serious risks this facility has for the health and safety of Ventura County residents!

TO DO:

• Be on the lookout for another email from CFROG with talking points and more details – or visit us here
• Be ready to write a comment to clerkoftheboard@ventura.org by Monday, January 31st at 12 pm AND/OR
• Be ready to register to speak on Tuesday, February 1st at 10 am

Tell the Forest Service to Protect Pine Mountain Ridge (deep in the Ventura County backcountry)

Tags

forest service logging plans 2020, loggin forest service ventura, ojai logging

Tell the Forest Service to Protect Pine Mountain Ridge — The public comment period ends June 30. Submit Comment Here

LINK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

The Forest Service plans to expedite logging in proposed wilderness and across miles of old-growth forest and chaparral, deep in the Ventura County backcountry.
The proposal, located in a popular recreation area, was announced amidst the pandemic, economic crisis, and period of civil unrest. It would allow the logging of centuries-old trees, up to five feet in diameter, and the clearance of rare old-growth chaparral along six miles of the prominent ridge known as Pine Mountain stretching from Highway 33 to Reyes Peak.

Despite the project’s massive scale, the Forest Service will not conduct a detailed study of potential impacts to the area’s unique ecoystems. Instead, officials announced that they will rely on a controversial loophole to bypass these requirements and limit the public’s ability to voice concerns.

The ridge is a remarkable biodiversity hotspot. Pine Mountain has some of the most diverse and unique habitats in the Los Padres National Forest that are home to dozens of rare or sensitive plants as well as animals such as black bears, mountain lions, and bobcats. Roughly one-third of the project area is within critical habitat for endangered California condors.

The project will require the use of mechanical equipment and may involve the construction of temporary roads, all of which can cause significant and lasting damage to soil, water, and plants. It is likely that the Forest Service will allow private logging companies to profit from the timber harvest in exchange for services, which all but ensures that forest health will not remain the primary project goal.
The Forest Service has proposed the timber harvest under the guise of community wildfire protection, but Pine Mountain is miles away from any community. Countless scientific studies demonstrate—and the agency admits—that the remote vegetation treatments are ineffective in protecting communities from fires that occur during extreme weather. These are the conditions under which wildfires cause the vast majority of damage to people and property in California.

Moreover, vegetation clearance projects can increase wildfire risk by removing fire-resistant trees, increasing heating and drying of the forest floor, and spreading non-native invasive grasses and weeds that ignite more easily and spread wildfire more quickly.

Information from IPFW.org
LINK FOR FURTHER INFORMATION https://lpfw.org/forest-service-to-expedite-logging-and-habitat-clearance-in-proposed-wilderness-on-pine-mountain/

There needs to be a full review of earthquake risks before approving additional wastewater injection wells in a fault zone!

Tags

earthquakes and oil drilling ventura, oil drilling ventura, oil drllling ojai

THIS JUST IN FROM CFROG —

Could wastewater injection trigger destructive earthquakes in Ventura County? California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) is requesting public input.

Carbon California oil company wants to drill 3 new wastewater injection wells in a fault zone in Ventura County.

Tell CalGEM that there needs to be a full review of earthquake risks before approving additional wastewater injection wells in a fault zone!

Comment details below

This project above Ojai would inject 3000 barrels per day of wastewater into a seismic active area near the San Cayetano fault.

The San Cayetano fault may be connected to the large Ventura/Pita Point fault which runs through the city of Ventura.

Please join us and urge CalGEM to consider the possible dangers that could result from wastewater injection into an active fault near a major population center.

Wastewater injection in a fault zone can cause fault lubrication, increasing the likelihood of earthquakes. The proposed wastewater wells would be adjacent to several faults, including the Big Canyon and San Cayetano faults, as well as numerous tear faults. These faults connect to the Ventura Fault, and could generate earthquakes in highly populated areas.

MORE DETAILS AND ASSOCIATED RISKS

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

Submit comments through June 10, 2020. ​Comments are welcome in the language with which you are most comfortable. CalGEM will translate comments and include them with all other​ submissions received.

​Email: CalGEMRegulations@conservation.ca.gov​​.

​Online survey:
Go to: surveymonkey.com/r/calgem-publichealth​. Answer two questions to provide your rulemaking input.

Postal mail:
Department of Conservation, 801 K Street, MS 24-02 Sacramento, CA 95814
ATTN: Public Health Near Oil & Gas Rulemaking

CalGEM Public Health Rulemaking Hearing
​​CalGEM is holding a series of online Public Health Rulemaking hearings to get public input as they update public health and safety protections for communities near oil and gas production operations. This is the perfect opportunity to voice concerns about this increased risk of earthquakes.

TODAY: Tuesday, June 2
1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Language: English
Register here to receive your call-in details.

If you do not have the ability to register (no internet access), join the meeting by dialing: ​US Toll Free: 1-877-369-5243​

Access Code: 0333038## (press ‘pound’ twice)

Extend the moratorium protecting water in the Oxnard Plain

Tags

Fox Canyon aquifer, Fox Canyon aquifer protect, oxnard drilling, protect water in the Oxnard Plain, STOP oil drilling Oxnard, stop water contanination oxnard

THIS JUST IN — FROM https://www.cfrog.org/

Help to extend the moratorium protecting water in the Oxnard Plain.

Please contact your county supervisor TODAY and ask them to extend the moratorium which prohibits new cyclic steam projects in the vicinity of the Fox Canyon aquifer. The vote is Tuesday, Nov. 5.

U.S. Geological Survey scientists have found petroleum-related gases in potable water in the Fox Canyon aquifer system near steam injection and wastewater disposal wells in the tar sands there. The study suggests that the oil production may be contaminating the wells. The USGS scientists have asked for more studies.

Contact:
Steve Bennett (805) 654-2703 Steve.bennett@ventura.org
Linda Parks (805) 214-2510 Linda.parks@ventura.org
Kelly Long (805) 654-2276 Kelly.long@ventura.org
Bob Huber (805) 955-2300 Supervisor.huber@ventura.org
John Zaragoza (805) 654-2613 John.zaragoza@ventura.org

We have no reason to trust that oil operations in this area will be conducted properly. The county has found multiple permit violations and nullified the zoning clearance.
Questions? A fact sheet on the ordinance can be found here.

Ask your friends in other districts to call or email before the vote on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.

MORE: https://cfrog.nationbuilder.com/?utm_campaign=p_tar_sands_11_5_19&utm_medium=email&utm_source=cfrog

SUPPORT AN EMERGENCY BAN ON NEW TAR SANDS WELLS UNTIL THE SOURCE OF WATER CONTAMINATION IS EXAMINED

Tags

camarillo tar sands wells, emergency ban on tar sands wells ventura, oxnard tar sands proposed wells, Ventura BAN ON NEW TAR SANDS WELLS, ventura supervisors april ban on tar sands wells, ventura supervisors tar sands

JUST IN FROM CFROG —

We Need Your Help!

WHEN: TUESDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 23 AT 1 p.m.
WHERE: Supervisors meeting in Ventura (800 S. Victoria)

SUPPORT AN EMERGENCY BAN ON NEW TAR SANDS WELLS UNTIL THE SOURCE OF WATER CONTAMINATION IS EXAMINED!

On TUESDAY, Supervisor Steve Bennett will bring back an urgency ordinance for a temporary ban on new wells or re-drilling of existing wells that use steam injection near potable water. It requires four out of the five supervisors to vote YES.

Please contact your supervisors TODAY and let them know you support this action. Ask your friends in other districts to call or email before Tuesday. A fact sheet on the ordinance can be found here.

MORE DETAILS- CLICK HERE

 

Steve Bennett (805) 654-2703
Steve.bennett@ventura.org

Linda Parks (805) 214-2510
Linda.parks@ventura.org

Kelly Long (805) 654-2276
Kelly.long@ventura.org

Bob Huber (805) 955-2300
Supervisor.huber@ventura.org

John Zaragoza (805) 654-2613
John.zaragoza@ventura.org

Per County Counsel:
“The USGS found indications that thermogenic petroleum-related gases are migrating into the potable water aquifers of the Fox Canyon aquifer system in the vicinity of steam injection and wastewater disposal wells. The study suggests that oil production involving steam injection may be causing or contributing to the migration of petroleum-related gases to, and the contamination of, the potable water aquifers. The USGS has indicated that additional study and assessment are needed regarding the issue.”

Please join in this urgent show of concern for our water and our health and safety…the most precious resource of all is at stake.

CFROG is fighting to protect your air, water and climate. DONATE TO CGROG