Offshore Oil Fracking In Spotlight
Thursday, April 10, 2014
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The controversial practice of offshore oil fracking is taking place along California's coastline, even though most people may not even know it.
Assemblymember Das Williams says it's also being done without the required ongoing review from the Coastal Commission.
He says fracking is essentially taking place without any state regulation even in instances where it's required by law.
"We should not be allowing it before we determine what is safe," he stresses.
Williams and other Central Coast lawmakers are holding an informational hearing in Santa Barbara Friday to discuss offshore fracking.
A state Senate committee earlier this week passed legislation that would place a moratorium on fracking until the state fully studies the impact of the oil extraction on California's air and water quality, public health and economy.
Friday's informational hearing will include a discussion of current oversight and regulations in California and federal waters.
Panelists will come from the state and federal government, the oil and gas industry, and environmental stakeholders.
The hearing is also open to the public.
"It's a chance for the Legislature to be able to interface with those groups so that we can compare notes of how do we make sure there's the proper amount of state oversight over these operations,” Williams says.
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