CalGEM Initiates Rulemaking on Fracking Ban in California
Board of Forestry Set to Weaken Wildfire Safety Regulations
The California Geologic Energy Management Division (“CalGEM”), the state’s oil and gas agency, has initiated a public comment period for a draft regulation that would ban all new permits for hydraulic fracturing (also known as “fracking”) starting in 2024.
While the proposed measure is a good first step, to address the urgency of the climate crisis and to protect communities living near oil and gas operations, California must strengthen the measure to move more quickly, and to address a more comprehensive set of extreme extraction techniques.
First, California regulators must move to phase out s new fracking permits sooner than 2024. For the communities living near fracking operations, who face an increased risk of cancer, respiratory problems, and other health risks, this issue cannot wait. As proposed, this rule will allow for a rush of new permit requests leading up to the 2024 end date, further burdening communities that already breathe some of the most dangerous air in the nation.
Second, California must end our reliance on all dangerous extreme extraction technologies. CalGEM’s proposed measure would only apply to fracking, and would not address pollution impacts from other types of equally harmful extreme extractive techniques, such as cyclic steam injection, water flooding, and steam flooding. These extraction methods also release dangerous air pollutants, contaminate ground and surface water, and pose major health and safety risks—they cannot be left out of California’s regulatory effort.
Lastly, to protect communities living on the frontlines of oil and gas operations, California must enact 2,500 safety setbacks to distance oil and gas operations from homes, schools, playgrounds, and other sensitive areas. CalGEM is currently working on a public health rule to protect frontline communities - but the agency has repeatedly delayed the rule’s release, which was originally due in December 2020. California cannot afford any more delays—we need a CalGEM to release its rule calling for no less than a 2,500 setback.
CalGEM is seeking input from the public on its draft regulation. If you are interested in pushing the agency to create a stronger regulation, sign on to our petition and also email CalGEM at CalGEMRegulations@conservation.ca.gov before July 4th.
Sierra Club California’s fight for common-sense wildfire safety continues. Later this month, the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection will consider revised regulations that would drastically weaken road safety standards that have been in place for 30 years.
If adopted, these regulations would make it more difficult for communities to evacuate during wildfires and more dangerous for firefighters to access existing, substandard roads.
Sierra Club California has been a steadfast advocate for fire-safe communities at the Capitol and in state agencies. We have called for more funding for defensible space and home hardening. We have supported legislation that would require wildfire safety planning to be incorporated into cities’ general plans.
So naturally, we’ll be urging board members not to adopt these harmful regulations.
In addition to making it more dangerous to evacuate during emergencies, these harmful regulations could also make it easier to build new homes and buildings in fire-prone wildland areas — putting more families in harm’s way and increasing economic risk from future fire. To make matters worse, the board is unlikely to examine the major environmental impacts that these regulations could have under the Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Without a CEQA analysis, it is much more difficult for the state of California to plan for and avoid these environmental consequences.
California wildfires have destroyed countless homes and taken far too many lives, and the climate crisis will only make wildfires more severe in coming years. The state must take steps that make wildfire-prone communities safer. The proposed regulations would do the opposite.
Join us to fight against these dangerous regulations. Send a message to the Board of Forestry at PublicComments@BOF.ca.gov and tell members to reject the proposed road safety regulations and to complete a CEQA analysis. Click here for a sample email.
Thank you for taking action!
The contentious process of choosing a new general manager to lead the influential Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) came to a close last week, after more than a year of infighting and controversy. At its June 8th meeting, MWD’s Board of Directors officially voted to hire Adel Hagekhalil, an outside candidate with decades of experience in water and infrastructure management.
Beginning in March 2020, when the agency’s current general manager announced he would be retiring, Sierra Club California repeatedly urged MWD to choose a leader who would bring the agency into the 21st Century. Following disturbing revelations about the agency’s toxic culture, our members and volunteers pushed for an external candidate who would foster a respectful work environment, engage with Tribal Nations, and prioritize local water supply projects that are environmentally beneficial and provide local jobs.
We were pleasantly surprised when the Los Angeles Times broke the news last month that the board had chosen Mr. Hagekhalil over five other candidates, including current MWD executives and consultants, in a closed session during its May meeting. His contract was scheduled for adoption in June.
Hagekhalil has more than 30 years of public service in the management of water, environmental and infrastructure initiatives—most recently as the General Manager and Executive Director of the City of Los Angeles Bureau for Street Services. He is known for his collaborative work with communities, environmental and environmental justice groups, unions, industry, and elected officials. A big proponent of recycled water projects and stormwater capture, he served as an executive with Los Angeles’ sanitation department and aided in the development of plans to decrease the city’s dependence on imported water.
MWD received dozens of letters from Southern California elected officials, environmental and environmental justice groups, labor unions, and business groups supporting Mr. Hagekhalil.
But this outpouring of support didn’t stop a hail mary effort from Orange County board members to derail Mr. Hagekhalil’s selection. In the end, these attempts to manufacture controversy were unsuccessful.
During the board’s June meeting to formally instate Mr. Hagekhalil, 64 members of the public - including representatives from labor, environmental justice, and conservation groups - called in to voice support for his candidacy. No members of the public called in opposition. By a slim margin, Mr. Hagekhalil’s contract was approved.
While we are pleased with the outcome, our advocacy for sustainable water policy continues. When Mr. Hagekhalil begins work next month, Sierra Club California will be there, as always, working to reduce the agency’s dependence on imported water and support for the Delta tunnel, and to advance water equity.
The fight against California’s plastic crisis continues at the state legislature. We have seen some bills to reduce plastic waste move forward and others fail to get the necessary votes.
One of the bills that failed was AB 1371 (Friedman), which aimed to phase out certain types of single-use plastic packaging. This bill’s defeat served as an important reminder that our fight to eliminate single use plastic is far from over.
Despite this discouraging development, there are other important plastics bills that still have a shot at becoming law, including SB 343 (Allen), which would prohibit the use of the word “recyclable” on products that are not truly recyclable, and AB 478 (Ting), which would set minimum recycled content requirements for plastic thermoform food containers (i.e. berry boxes).
Visit our priority bill list to stay up to date on which policy committee these and other key bills will be heading to later this month and in July. We hope you will call in to voice your support for our priority legislation.
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