 Yesterday County Planning staff held a public hearing, a normal part of the application process for a modification to a Conditional Use Permit that allows drilling for oil and extraction.
That plan, includes two "test" wells and the company, DCOR Inc. (Dos Cuadros Offshore Resources) says they won't use hydraulic fracturing. But concerned residents say that they may be able to come back at any time and just add that in. The Star's article, printed online yesterday (May 22) is HERE. Photo: May, 2014 - a "rig" at a well. Perha The County heard concerns from the public regarding fracking, cumulative effects, and the close vicinity of earthquake faults in that area. Seneca Resources, deepening wells in Sespe In addition to this project, another larger project submitted by Seneca Resources, involving a proposal to deepen/rework three wells in a field above Piru, hit a small road bump this month when an error in the permitting process was caught by Los Padres ForestWatch. ForestWatch discovered that the applicant had submitted an incorrect CUP with their application, an older one from 1976. That permit had been updated in 1981, requiring a more in depth application process (a minor modification) for the type of work Seneca is proposing. This means that the zoning clearance granted has been revoked, and Seneca will now have to file the proper application for a minor modification. A process which includes a public hearing and environmental review. Seneca Resources, 8 new wells in Los Padres National Forest - The National Forest is accepting public comment until June 4 on this project. These wells are likely to be completed using hydraulic fracturing. For more info click HERE. Other proposals from oil companies are listed HERE.
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The United States department of Agriculture, in it's role as the umbrella agency running the National Forest Service, and thus overseeing the Los Padres National Forest is considering a plan "in cooperation" with the Bureau of Land Management, to allow Seneca Resource Corporation, an oil and gas company to "drill eight oil and gas wells" and "install new facilities" on LPNF land under existing leases. This field is located behind the city of Fillmore, and is adjacent to the Sespe wilderness. Drilling, production. well completion, pipelines, storage, trucks, removal of oil field waste, and more will be part of the project. Including pipeline alonge 285 feet of undisturbed ground. "Like most wells completed previously in the Sespe Oil Field, the new wells would be hydraulically fractured as part of completing the wells for production," says Kenneth E. Heffner, Forest Supervisor in the scoping letter posted below. The company plans to use the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing - injecting a mix of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure deep underground to break up or fracture the rock to release oil and gas - on the proposed wells. The USDA scoping letter is attached below. Public comment is being accepted until June 4, and Comments can be directed to Los Padres National Forest Attn: Jonathan Schwartz 1190 East Ojai Avenue, Ojai, CA 93023 fax: 805-646-0484 Hand delivery: Ojai Ranger District Office at the above address. Oral comments: in person or via phone: 805-646-4348, Ext. 311 during normal business hours. email address: comments-pacificsouthwest-los-padres-ojai@fs.fed.us If sending an email make the subject: Applications for permit to drill (APD's) in the Sespe Oil Field. Note: Comments will become part of the public record. |
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