There will be no more permits to frack oil or gas offshore in California waters, due to a settlement between the Center for Biological Diversity and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Further studies are needed to convince everyone of the potential risks of fracking, and the settlement will force an investigation by the U.S. Department of the Interior to analyze the impacts of fracking on the environment. Their investigation must be completed by May 28.
The Center for Biological Diversity initiated the case after it was found that there were more than 200 fracking operations being conducted offshore in California waters, yielding more then 9 billion gallons of wastewater. That wastewater ends up in the ocean and can be fatal to marine life.
An attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity states:
“Every offshore frack puts coastal communities and marine wildlife at risk from dangerous chemicals or another devastating oil spill. Once federal officials take a hard look at the dangers, they’ll have to conclude that offshore fracking is far too big of a gamble with our oceans’ life-support systems.”
We hope she’s right.
COMMENTS