This morning California State Senators Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Monique Limon (D-Santa Barbara) announced the introduction of Senate Bill 467, which will halt new permitting of fracking and other harmful oil extraction such as cyclic steam injection.
This was the proposed method for oil extraction in the proposed projects at Cat Canyon that were all defeated last year. These extraction methods will be phased out of California entirely by 2027.
The bill will also include a 2,500-foot setback for any oil extraction in California near schools, homes, healthcare facilities and prisons. SB 467 will also begin the process of a just transition in California by directing CalGEM to offer incentives to well remediation contractors to hire identified former oil and gas employees who have lost their jobs.
Currently 7.5 million Californians live within one mile of an oil or gas well, and 2 million live within one mile of an active extraction site. There is no state law requiring setbacks.
Fracking, cyclic steam injection, and acid well stimulation are intense methods of oil extraction that are more energy intensive and dangerous. They threaten groundwater supply, create cancer and asthma-inducing pollutants, and lead to increased earthquakes.
SBCAN supports the principles in SB 467 and appreciates Senators Wiener and Limon in their leadership to protect California's climate, public health, and work towards environmental justice and a just transition.
Click here to read Sierra Club's press release about this bill.
We urge you to let the senators know you support their bill.
Sen. Limon: https://sd19.senate.ca.gov/contact;
Sen. Wiener: https://sd11.senate.ca.gov/contact