On Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee shelved two bills relating to fracking, AB 972 and AB 591. AB 972 would have placed a moratorium on fracking in California pending issuance of state regulations governing the practice (See August 14 post). AB 591 would have required operators to disclose fracking activities and chemicals (See
Hydraulic Fracturing
State Senate Postpones Vote on Bill to Ban Fracking
By Robin Seifried on
Posted in Energy, Oil and Gas
After the California Senate Appropriations Committee cancelled an August 13 hearing on AB 972 (see August 8 post), the Committee moved the bill to the suspense file to take up again this Thursday, August 16. The bill would place a moratorium on fracking in the state until the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal…
Report Highlights Weaknesses in EPA’s Fracking Study
By Mike Mills on
Posted in Energy, Oil and Gas
The American Petroleum Institute (API) and America’s Natural Gas Alliance (ANGA) recently issued a report from Battelle Memorial Institute pointing out the weaknesses in U.S. EPA’s proposed study of hydraulic fracturing operations. For example: “Congress requested a study ‘relying on best available science and independent sources of information.’ It appears questionable, because of its genesis…
California Senate Committee Advances Bill for Fracking Moratorium Pending Further Regulation
By Mike Mills on
Posted in Energy, Oil and Gas
The Senate Committee on Environmental Quality on July 3rd advanced a bill (AB 972) that would prohibit the State Oil and Gas Supervisor from approving the drilling of a fracking well until the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) adopts fracking regulations. Existing law requires a well operator to obtain approval…
California Senate Votes Against Fracking Notification Bill
By Mike Mills on
Posted in Energy, Oil and Gas
On Wednesday, the California Senate voted 17 to 18 against SB 1054, which would have required notification to nearby property owners of planned fracking operations. See the April 19, 2012, blog post for more details on the bill. The Senate granted the bill “reconsideration”, which would allow another vote before Friday’s deadline for bill advancement.…
California Senate Committee and President Obama Act on Fracking
By Mike Mills on
Posted in Energy, Oil and Gas
Last week, the California Senate’s National Resources Committee advanced a bill requiring notice to nearby property owners of planned fracking operations, and President Obama issued an Executive Order setting up an interagency working group to support safe and responsible fracking.
California law requires the operator to file a written notice of intent to commence drilling…
Proposed California Legislation To Regulate Hydraulic Fracturing Stalls In State Senate With A New Hydraulic Fracturing Bill Poised for Introduction In 2012
By Mike Mills on
Falling victim to a Legislature pre-occupied with massive budget deficit issues and last minute wrangling over the Governor’s corporate tax package on out-of-state companies, AB 591, California’s legislative foray into the charged arena of hydraulic fracturing regulation, stalled in the State Senate’s Appropriations Committee. In its current form, the bill embodied a fairly comprehensive…