As a landowner and mineral rights owner in Santa Barbara County, I’m concerned about the future of oil and gas drilling in California and Santa Barbara County. Currently the EPA is investigating whether the “F” word causes pollution of underground water sources or earthquakes.
There is far too much untruth about fracking being circulated by people calling themselves “The Water Guardians,” and the EPA study would hopefully put an end to all questions once and for all. The EPA study is ongoing and will be completed sometime in 2016.
As I understand it, no fracking is currently being done in Santa Barbara County, and it is much regulated by county and state statutes. In Santa Barbara County other means to recover oil are being used such as water injection used by the water that is separated from the pumped oil. As I return to California from time to time, I see oil being pumped in the middle of farm fields. This has been the norm for many years; oil and vegetables have coincided for years.
Like many other people, I consider myself an environmentalist, and I oppose all kinds of pollution, but I support high-intensity production because of the impacts on local economies, job creation, energy independence, and [the possibility it] could drive down the price of oil and gas. Vote NO on Measure P.
This article appears in Jul 10-17, 2014.