County Wants to MOnitor Fracking

At a public hearing yesterday Supervisors Steve Bennett and Linda Parks were most vocal in questioning staff and DOGGR regulators about fracking in the County. 

At Bennetts request, Staff will report back with info on how County can get back "authority" over old permit for drilling that have "no end date" and how the County can include the process in their current permitting process thus monitoring fracking. It was noted by County Counsel that they do the power to deny permits and in that way can restrict fracking. 

One item of note was Bennetts exchange with County Deputy CEO Susan Hughes. 

"[This morning there was a hearing on Pavleys fracking bill SB 4] our representatives testified on behalf of the Board and made it very clear that the Board was supportive of disclosure of information where fracking was occurring, where water is disposed of and what those chemicals are, but the Board was not interested in any way stopping fracking in Ventura County."

"I think that is inaccurate," said Bennett. "We took no position on the issue of a moratorium, that's different than saying the Board is not interested in any way. I just want to make that distinction." 

A full story on the hearing is coming soon.