Robin Seifried

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This month, California State Senator Fran Pavley introduced significant amendments to her bill to regulate hydraulic fracking activities (SB 4), including a ban on fracking until completion of a study on its impacts and a permit requirement specific to fracking activities.
Continue Reading California Lawmaker Demands Another Fracking Study, Threatens Industry with Moratorium

Last month, California legislators introduced three bills that relate to hydraulic fracturing. On February 20, 2013, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson introduced SB 395 to regulate water produced during fracking operations. The other two bills were introduced in the Assembly and relate to DOGGR’s approval of well drilling activities. On February 11, 2013, Assembly Member Marc Levine introduced AB 288 to require fracking-specific approval. On February 22, 2013, Assembly Member Das Williams introduced AB 982 to require an agency-approved groundwater monitoring plan for fracking operations.
Continue Reading Three New California Bills Proposed to Further Regulate Fracking

The Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) today announced the second of three public workshops on its draft discussion regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. The agenda includes pre-fracking well testing, advance notification, monitoring, and disclosures, trade secrets and handling relating to fracking fluids.
Continue Reading DOGGR Schedules the Second of Three Public Workshops on its Fracking Regulations

On February 12, California lawmakers convened a joint legislative hearing to discuss the proposed regulations governing hydraulic fracturing in California. For further information about the proposed regulations, see the December 19 post. The lawmakers heard from four panels, including the Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR), Department of Toxic Substances Control, State Water Resources Control Board, Air Resources Board and various local agencies, stakeholders and environmental organizations.
Continue Reading California Lawmakers Discuss Proposed Fracking Regulations

The Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) announced it will hold the first of three stakeholder workshops next week for input on the discussion draft regulations governing hydraulic fracking that it released in December. The first workshop will be held on February 19 in Los Angeles. DOGGR also plans to hold workshops in Bakersfield and Sacramento.
Continue Reading DOGGR to Hold the First of Three Public Workshops on its Fracking Regulations

The Center for Biological Diversity filed another lawsuit yesterday in Alameda County Superior Court against the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) challenging permits issued for oil and gas well operations that allow hydraulic fracturing. The Center alleges in the complaint that DOGGR’s issuance of permits for well operations that include fracking violates the state’s Underground Injection Control (UIC) program and Public Resources Code.
Continue Reading Center for Biological Diversity Files Another Fracking Suit Against DOGGR

On December 20, the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (AOGCC) released proposed regulations governing hydraulic fracturing. The regulations would require AOGCC approval to conduct fracking activities. This is in contrast to the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources Division (DOGGR) recently proposed “discussion draft” of potential fracking regulations (see…

Yesterday, the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) released what they are calling a “discussion draft” of a rule regulating hydraulic fracturing. The draft rule imposes new requirements specific to fracking operations, including testing, monitoring, disclosure and fluid handling obligations.
Continue Reading DOGGR Releases Draft Fracking Rule

New bills were introduced in the state Assembly (AB 7) and Senate (SB 4) to require disclosure of the chemicals and the amount of water used in hydraulic fracturing operations. This is at least the third attempt at fracking disclosure legislation, the last of which was tabled during the last session (see August 17 post).
Continue Reading Another Attempt at Fracking Disclosure Legislation in California

In an action plan provided to EPA on November 16, the California Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) committed to initiate rulemaking in 2013 to increase groundwater protection relating to fracking through its underground injection control (UIC) program. DOGGR developed the plan in response to EPA’s request to address concerns relating to EPA’s 2011 review of DOGGR’s UIC program. In the plan, DOGGR indicates the rulemaking will address the UIC program as well as well construction and plugging and abandonment regulations.
Continue Reading DOGGR Announces Plans for UIC Rulemaking re Fracking

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