California Back in Big Oil's Crosshairs as Feds Quietly OK Offshore Fracking
Source: CommonDreams by Staff Writer Nadia Prupis
Environmental activists warned on Friday that kicking off a new round of drilling in the area puts wildlife at risk from chemical-laden wastewater and said they would be willing to file another lawsuit to keep it from happening. "The Obama administration is once again putting California's beautiful coast in the oil industry's crosshairs," said Miyoko Sakashita, director of CBD's Oceans program. "Our beaches and wildlife face a renewed threat from fracking chemicals and oil spills. New legal action may be the only way to get federal officials to do their jobs and protect our ocean from offshore fracking."
Wenonah Hauter, executive director of the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch, criticized President Barack Obama for "doubling down on fracking, instead of providing climate leadership and protecting our communities and our environment." "This move paves the way for offshore fracking permits that were previously frozen and the dumping of toxic wastewater directly into the Pacific Ocean where Californians swim, fish, and surf," Hauter said. The news comes a year after a pipeline rupture in Santa Barbara sent tens of thousands of gallons of crude spilling onto public beaches and into the Pacific Ocean. The operator of the pipeline, Plains All American, has a history of wreaking environmental havoc throughout Southern California and elsewhere.
And it also follows the recent signing of the historic deal reached in Paris last December to keep global temperature rise under 2°C, a goal that climate advocates say can only be reached by keeping fossil fuels in the ground and investing in renewal energy. "It's clear that Americans want an inspiring new vision for our energy system," Hauter said. "The president continues to indicate that he is not the person to fulfill that vision. Its a vision that can only be achieved by keeping fossil fuels in the ground and moving swiftly to a system driven by energy efficiency and renewables."
Read more: http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/05/28/california-back-big-oils-crosshairs-feds-quietly-ok-offshore-fracking
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)Moostache
(9,895 posts)I mean, its not like fracking has caused enormous spikes in tectonic activity in say Oklahoma or anything.
Why not disturb the San Andreas?
It'll be fine...
Trust me.
(says the guy in the silk suit with an Exxon-Mobil business card...)
passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)I hope Cali is successful in renewing the ban.
reddread
(6,896 posts)the entire rest of the state minus a few profiteers would.
lets see what happens.
hollysmom
(5,946 posts)Do oil execs want to see the "last days" in their lifetime?
LiberalLovinLug
(14,168 posts)forest444
(5,902 posts)Healing bed and all.
JudyM
(29,225 posts)stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)Bernie Sanders on record as resolutely anti-fracking, the only candidate of either party who is. Californians need to be warned about
this egregious threat to our coasts asap, while they still have time to vote for the only candidate who will stand against this insanity.
JudyM
(29,225 posts)stuffmatters
(2,574 posts)Maybe #Bernie, Save California's Ocean from Frackers and then copy of the Common Dreams article.
I think these three widely read SoCa journalists(Rosenberg Long Beach & Digby Santa Monica for Salon, Hilzik for L.A. Times) are all still neutral on Bernie vs Hillary and they are aware enough to know that only Sanders unilaterally stands against fracking.
If I were more computer literate (like knew how to make an email out of a news story) or were on twitter I'd do it. Twitter addresses @digby56,@PaulHRosenberg@hiltzikm.
JudyM
(29,225 posts)onecaliberal
(32,811 posts)hopemountain
(3,919 posts)we have so much work to do to stop this fracking business. according to reports, we have 5Xs the oil reserves we will ever need stored around the country - but primarily below ground off the texas shore.
what is the point of continued oil extraction? well, to sell to china, of course!
Triana
(22,666 posts)for EACH fracked well and that water, once used for this purpose is NOT reusable.
Brother Buzz
(36,407 posts)and in most situations, saltwater will work well, although I'd hate to see the rest of the toxic shit they use in their secret 'fracking cocktail' escape into the marine environment.
Person 2713
(3,263 posts)Won't that be the same salt h2O area used in fracking that is a concern regarding marine life ?
They already had a pipe burst yuck
nothanks on tasty toxins
Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Crash2Parties
(6,017 posts)It's not like fracking results in toxic waste pretty much everywhere around the wells, or anything...
jalan48
(13,852 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)dhill926
(16,333 posts)will not take kindly to this. Expect a huge fight...
zalinda
(5,621 posts)when he hits her age. I mean he has that 5 million dollar house to pay for.
Z
olddad56
(5,732 posts)zalinda
(5,621 posts)ANY thinking person would know that this is a disaster waiting to happen, or does no one remember The Gulf of Mexico? At least in the Gulf, it could be some what contained, if something happens here, it's goodbye oceans, because you know, no one would find out about it until it was too late.
Just when I thought he couldn't get much lower than TPP, he does this.
Z
AZ Progressive
(3,411 posts)Something that establishment Democrats seem to approve of.
abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)elleng
(130,820 posts)Jnclr89
(128 posts)legal or not. Fracking of the coast of Santa Barbara, California is another. The ecological effect is uncertain, if not tragic.
freebrew
(1,917 posts)they don't have enough earthquakes in the area?
I thought we elected a Democrat. Who is he really working for?
Certainly not the people's interests.(Well, maybe the rich ones).
RKP5637
(67,101 posts)villager
(26,001 posts)Not quite the "change" I was "hoping" for...