The Ventura County Board of Supervisors yesterday voted unanimously to launch a study about how to address the ongoing problem of antiquated oil drilling permits. These permits—some approved more than seventy years ago—allow oil companies to drill an unlimited number of wells next to the Los Padres National Forest and throughout the county without any public notice or environmental review.
The problem with antiquated permits is perhaps most pronounced in the Sespe Oil Field north of Fillmore, nestled between the Los Padres National Forest, the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, and the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge. Many of the wells are located on private land interspersed with the federal land, and oil drilling on those private parcels are authorized under a mish-mash of 21 different permits issued between 1948 and 1976.
These antiquated permits are problematic for several reasons:
• Only 4 of the 21 permits contain expiration dates; the vast majority of them never expire.
• Most of the permits do not restrict the number of wells, pipelines, tanks, or other facilities that can be developed.
• Most of the permits have never undergone a study of their environmental impacts because they predate modern environmental laws. The most recent environmental review for a permit in the Sespe Oil Field was completed in 1994, a quarter-century ago.
• The permits contain inconsistent—and at times conflicting—provisions. Most of the permits do not contain provisions that incorporate modern techniques to protect public health and the environment.
If an oil company wishes to drill additional wells under an antiquated permit, it needs only to apply for a Zoning Clearance and submit a $315 fee. The County will then issue an automatic ministerial permit without any formal public notice, hearing, or environmental review, even if the proposed drilling or fracking would cause significant environmental impacts. Most oil wells in Ventura County are approved through this lax process, leaving communities and the environment at risk.
On a motion by Supervisor Steve Bennett, seconded by Supervisor Bob Huber, the supervisors voted 5-0 to direct the County’s legal counsel to study the matter. County counsel will return to the Board with a list of options later this summer.
ForestWatch attended the hearing, providing testimony along with a letter of support. Many other local residents and environmental organizations attended, including CFROG, Food & Water Watch, and CAUSE. Opponents of the study consisted primarily of representatives or lobbyists for the oil industry.
We first brought the antiquated permits issue to the attention of the Board in 2014, and we’re thrilled that the County is now exploring options for the best ways to increase oversight of the oil industry in the Los Padres National Forest and surrounding communities.
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