In a letter to this newspaper (“Dirty oil campaign,” Sept. 14), a Buellton resident recently opened up regarding his concerns related to Aera Energy’s oil extraction plan proposed for East Cat Canyon, all of which were speculative and not directly related to this specific project. Clearly the writer was not familiar with Aera or its reputation as a responsible operator focused on safety and on protecting the environment and human health.
As the owner of a cattle ranch directly opposite the East Cat Canyon project, I have a completely different perspective. I have worked with Aera for many years and have found them to be a company with integrity and that keeps its promises. The company has an excellent safety and environmental record.
Over the years Aera has demonstrated its commitment to being a good neighbor, and has always been transparent and accessible. Based on personal experience, I am confident that they will operate their project safely and responsibly, and as such I strongly support it.
This article appears in Sep 21-28, 2017.