The Trump administration's plan to open up more than 1 million additional acres of public and private land in California to fracking is raising alarm in the environmental community, which is challenging the proposal as 'dangerous' to humans and iconic national parks nearby, including Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks.
The Trump administration's plan to open up more than 1 million additional acres of public and private land in California to fracking.
California now ranks as the seventh largest state in terms of crude oil production, after being in third place until 2016. "The risks posed to our national parks by further oil and gas development, particularly these iconic treasures that helped to inspire the modern-day conservation movement, is saddening to say the least," Mark Rose, National Parks Conservation Association's Sierra Nevada field representative said in a statement.
The BLM proposal includes additional oil and gas development in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare and Ventura counties. The agency plans to hold hearings in California on its proposal starting May 21 and indicated the 45-day public comment period ends June 10.
"California in particular, we use almost 2 million barrels of oil every day," said Bob Poole, director of production, state and coastal issues for the Western States Petroleum Association, an industry trade group. "We have 40 million people, we have 26 million combustion engines on the road — and so we have a significant challenge in terms of meeting our energy needs."
"One of the problems in California is that it is so seismically active already, that it's been difficult historically to link seismic events to particular injection projects, which is what you see in other states," said Lakewood of the Center for Biological Diversity.Added Lakewood, "There is no reason to believe that the science that shows the disposal of drilling fluids induces seismic events is not also happening in California.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump Speaks With Rabbi Injured in Deadly California Synagogue ShootingPresident Trump said Monday that he phoned to offer his condolences to Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein, who was injured in the deadly California synagogue shooting over the weekend.A 60-year-old woman, Lori Kaye, was killed and three others injured, including Goldstein, at the Chabad of Poway synagogue when
Read more »
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from imposing new rule on family planning clinics in CaliforniaA federal judge in San Francisco barred new restrictions, set to take effect next week, that would prohibit clinics that receive Title X funds from advising patients on how to obtain abortions.
Read more »
Emails show Trump admin had 'no way to link' separated kids to parentsOn the day the Trump admin. said it would reunite migrant families with the help of a 'central database,' an official admitted privately the government only had enough info to reconnect 60 parents with their kids, according to emails obtained by NBCNews.
Read more »
Trump admin seeking to get money to Venezuela's GuaidoThe Trump administration is looking for ways to financially bolster Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who's been recognized by the US as the country's interim president, with an influx of cash, which could involve freeing up frozen assets or loans
Read more »
Trump admin promotes study that calls for long-term detention of migrant familiesTrump administration promotes study that calls for long-term detention of migrant families.
Read more »
Trump admin expands collecting biometric data from migrantsDHS has stepped up the collection of biometric data from migrants families, with a DNA testing pilot program and the fingerprinting of children.
Read more »
Trump admin had no way to link separated families, emails showEmails obtained by NBC News show the Trump administration had 'no way to link' separated migrant children to parents despite claims from the WH it would reunite thousands of families. Jacob Soboroff discusses.
Read more »