Categories: Environment

Frac’ing in Monterey County

I have posted about this issue before, and if you haven’t seen Gasland, go to this link to review the issues from one perspective Gasland the Movie. I have seen the movie, and it is an eye opener.

Just a few days ago, the Monterey Herald ran this article:

Feds auction prime Monterey County land for oil development

Impact on environment in question
By GARANCE BURKE
Associated Press
Posted: 12/12/2012 04:38:55 PM PST
Updated: 12/13/2012 08:31:46 AM PST

SAN FRANCISCO — The federal government auctioned off nearly 18,000 acres of oil leases on prime public lands on Wednesday in Central California, home to prized vineyards, endangered species and one of the largest deposits of shale oil in the country.

The full article can be found here:
Feds auction prime MoCo land for oil development

I discussed this in January 2011 in a post that provides many links to information about fracking, the BLM, oil development, and the Salinas Valley Aquifer. You can find this post here:
Frac’ing in Monterey County

Radio KAZU reported this, a few days ago:

At his office in Monterey, County Supervisor Dave Potter isn’t looking for compromise. He’s concerned that in this agricultural rich county fracking could contaminate the water supply or do other harm. He wants state regulators to act now. “Quite frankly I’d hope they’d put a ban on it, right now. I suspect when they do look into this, they’re going to find that fracking is having a serious impact on Mother Nature,” said Potter. Potter and fellow supervisor Simon Salinas recently wrote to the federal Bureau of Land Management. The asked the BLM to postpone Wednesday’s auction of oil and gas exploration rights for nearly 18,000 acres of public land in Monterey, San Benito and Fresno counties. By law, the BLM must periodically auction off these mineral rights. So despite this opposition, and a protest outside the auction in Sacramento, the sale went ahead, and all the parcels sold. Supervisor Potter says his constituents are worried. “A lot of concern, a lot of fear of the unknown. And the water supply we have in some areas are very marginal to begin with. They’re concerned they’ll be without potable water,” said Potter.

Here is a fracking map and link a reader sent me: Fracking Map

bigsurkate

Appointed appellate counsel for indigent defendants (retired.) I have lived in Big Sur since 1984, first on the north coast, and on the South Coast since 1989.

View Comments

  • Interesting developing story....
    There doesn't seem to be much up for debate or disclosure on what has a direct effect on the populations subjected to change. Governing in the shadows increases by politicians no longer afraid of constituent reaction.

  • Keep up the info sharing, BSK. Fight the Fracking spin everywhere. The other night on the tv they actually had a POSITIVE ad about natural gas from fracking--though they didn't dare use the word "fracking"--just a visual that was obvious to anyone who has seen Gasland or any of the visual explanations of how fracking works. As if the pill pushing on tv wasn't enough now there's frack pushing too.
    All the best!
    Namaste!

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