California Members Urge Continued Offshore Fracking Moratorium
Press Release
This week, Reps. Lois Capps (CA-24), Sam Farr (CA-20), and Jared Huffman (CA-02) sent a letter urging the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) to maintain the current moratorium on offshore fracking along the California coast. The members note that a complete environmental impact analysis must be completed to show that there are no substantial threats of these well stimulation activities before the activity could be resumed.
In January, BOEM and BSEE settled a lawsuit originated by the Santa Barbara-based Environmental Defense Center resulting in a required temporary moratorium on offshore fracking along the California coast until a comprehensive environmental review of the practices could be carried out. A draft environmental assessment was published in February, which proposed allowing the resumption of the use of techniques commonly referred to as offshore fracking, however, a complete review has not yet been completed.
The letter sent by the California members highlights insufficiencies present in the environmental assessment and urges BSEE and BOEM to continue their examination of the threats associated with these practices. In addition, the letter questions the broader need for these practices to be continued given the potential for these practices to exacerbate climate change and the negative effects of this on California.
"In Santa Barbara, we know all too well how much harm oil extraction can do to our coast," Capps said. "That is why my colleagues and I are urging federal officials to maintain the moratorium on these controversial techniques until they are proven to be safe."
"Offshore fracking poses a serious threat to coastal economies and the millions of jobs that depend on a healthy marine environment," Rep. Farr said. "California has already banned all forms of drilling along our coast. The Department of Interior should follow our lead by developing similar protections further out in federal waters."
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