Month: January 2015

Draft EIR on Well Stimulation (Fracking)

On January 14th, the Department of Conservation, through its Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, published a Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) titled “Analysis of Oil and Gas Well Stimulation Treatments in California.”

Senate Bill 4 requires the Division to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in order to provide the public with detailed information regarding any potential environmental impacts associated with well stimulation treatments in California.

The public review period for this Draft EIR begins on January 14, 2015 and will end on March 16, 2015. Written comments on the Draft EIR may be submitted and must be received on or before March 16, 2015. During the comment period, the Department and the Division will conduct six public comment meetings throughout the State to receive verbal and written comments on the Draft EIR.

To access the Draft EIR and detailed information on how to provide comments, please see the following link to the Department of Conservation’s webpage:

http://www.conservation.ca.gov

Also:
On behalf of the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA), please see the following information:

Pursuant to Senate Bill 4, the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) commissioned the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) to conduct an independent scientific assessment of well stimulation, including hydraulic fracturing, in California.
On January 14, 2015, CCST released Volume I of the assessment to the public.

Volume I, which is titled “An Independent Scientific Assessment of Well Stimulation Technologies in California: Well Stimulation Technologies and their Past, Present, and Potential Future Use in California”, provides the factual basis describing what well stimulation treatments are, how they are conducted in general and practiced in California, and where they have been and are being used for oil and gas production in the state. The full independent scientific assessment will be issued in three volumes. Volumes II and III will be released in July 2015.

To view or download the report, please visit the CCST website at: http://www.ccst.us/projects/hydraulic_fracturing_public/SB4.php

BSMAAC Meeting Agenda, 1/16/15

AGENDA

10:00 a.m.​I.​CALL TO ORDER​ ​ Congressman Sam Farr

​II.​ROLL CALL AND INTRODUCTIONS

III. APPROVE MINUTES OF October 31, 2104

10:15​IV.​PUBLIC COMMENT ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

10:30​VI.​OLD BUSINESS

11:00​VII.​NEW BUSINESS​
1. Preparing for Wildfires: ​Mike Caplin
“How bad laws hinder preparing for wildfires, threatening lives and homes,
and how to fix the problems.”
11:20​VIII.​REPORTS FROM MEMBER AGENCIES

(please bring written report)

Big Sur Resident Member
Big Sur Chamber of Commerce
Coast Property Owners’ Association
Monterey County Planning Department
Monterey County Board of Supervisors
Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District
California Coastal Commission
Caltrans
State Parks and Recreation
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
United States Forest Service
30th District, State Assembly
17th District, State Senate
United States Congress​
​
12:45 p.m.​IX.​REPORTS FROM OTHER AGENCIES​

1:00 p.m.​ X.​NEXT MEETING:

2015 Meeting Dates:
April 17, 2015
June 26, 2015
October 16, 2015

Highway 9 closure on Feb 9

NOTE: FOR THOSE WHO PREFER NOT TO READ LONG BLOG POSTS: A ONE MILE SECTION OF HIGHWAY NINE WILL BE COMPLETELY CLOSED FOR 6 MONTHS – read the details.

Today’s Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2015
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 9 FULL CLOSURE AT HENRY COWELL STATE PARK BETWEEN FELTON AND PARADISE PARK COMMUNITY NORTH OF SANTA CRUZ FOR CONSTRUCTION BEGINS MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY– Crews will be constructing a retaining wall and viaduct, as well as modifying drainage systems at four locations along Hwy. 9, one location will require an extended full closure of a one-mile section of the highway (Mile Marker 3.55 to 4.4) at Henry Cowell State Park from Felton to the Paradise Park Community north of Santa Cruz starting Monday, Feb. 9 at 9 am, Caltrans officials have announced. Roadwork will be as follows:

Location 1: (Northern Henry Cowell Boundary—from Felton to the Paradise Park Community)
Full, 24-hour closure for five to six months;
10-15 minute delays anticipated for additional travel time due to detour.
No driveways/intersections will be closed at Location 1. There will be access for all residences and businesses.

Locations 2-4: (No full closure, one-way traffic control)
Location 2: between Alba Rd. and Western Ave.
Location 3: near San Lorenzo Ave.
Location 4: north of McGaffigan Mill

Traffic at these locations will consist of reversing one-way traffic control for a duration of one month each Mon-Thurs: 9 am to 4 pm and 10 pm to 6 am; Fri: 12 am (midnight) to 6 am and 9 am to 3 pm 10-15 minute delays anticipated for weekday reverse lane closure. (MAP LINK TO ENTIRE PROJECT BELOW)

There will be electronic message signs alerting motorists of this closure. Motorists can use Hwy. 17 to Mt. Hermon Rd. or Graham Hill Road (bicyclists) as the detour/alternate route. The entire project is expected to be complete by the end of July, weather permitting.

The contractor for this $2 million project is Graniterock Company of San Jose, CA.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving through
highway work zones.

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Boulder+Creek,+CA&daddr=Vernon+St,+Santa+Cruz,+CA+95060&hl=en&ll=37.058191,-122.077332&spn=0.226307,0.527&sll=37.045039,-122.034588&sspn=0.113173,0.2635&geocode=Fap_NgIdNZC4-Cn9WNvMEU-OgDEFCwQpg0kxBA%3BFYVuNAIdoPC5-CnrFBvVS0COgDF3bpLJ3yEIBg&oq=boulder+creek&mra=ls&t=m&z=12

Susana Z. Cruz
Public Information Officer/
Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas
805. 549.3138
805.549.3326–fax
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Foto Friday – Header photo contest

No photos from me, today, but I want to see yours! Header photo contest starts NOW, I already have one that was sent to me. No prize this time, sorry. I’ll pick a few, then put those to the readers for a vote. Remember the size constraints! Some really great photos don’t look good with that long, narrow format. You have two weeks to submit, until midnight January 23.

B-SAGE presents “Queen of the Sun”

Queen of the Sun

Tuesday, January 13, 5:30 – 8:30 pm Big Sur Grange Hall

Hwy 1 & Juan Higuera Creek, Big Sur

Free soup & salad and film screening

Queen of the Sun, What Are the Bees Telling Us? is from Taggart Siegel, director of THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN.

Queen of the Sun follows colorful, alternative and inspiring beekeepers from all around the globe as they keep bees in natural and holistic ways. From Gunther Hauk in the United States to Massimo Carpinteri in Italy, each has unique philosophical and spiritual insights into their bees and is striving to keep their bees safe from pesticides, and the other causes behind Colony Collapse Disorder.

A beekeeper will be there to answer your questions. Local beekeeping resources and contacts will be part of the evening. We welcome your memories of local beekeeper, Jack Koch, who recently passed away.

Please bring a place setting (cup, plate, bowl and silverware) if you would like to join us for a soup and salad supper.

Entertaining and educational, this evening is presented by Big Sur Advocates for a Green Environment and HopeDance Films

Donations gratefully accepted