Judge Rules Feds violated law issuing oil leases in CA

(April 8, 2013) SAN JOSE, Calif.— A federal judge has ruled that the Obama Administration violated the law when it issued oil leases in Monterey County, Calif., without considering the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. The ruling came in response to a suit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club, challenging a September 2011 decision by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to auction off about 2,500 acres of land in southern Monterey County to oil companies.

The court has asked for a joint recommendation on next steps in the case. The Center and the Sierra Club believe the lease sale should be set aside. At a minimum, no drilling or fracking on the leases will be allowed before the completion of thorough analysis of the environmental risks.


To see the press release from the Center for Biological Diversity Click Here

To see analysis at Fulbright's fracking blog Click Here

TODAY: in Ventura County; Board of Supervisors public hearing on fracking at 2pm at County Admin. Building on Victoria Ave.