Introduction
On July 1, 2015, State Oil & Gas Supervisor Steven Bohlen, head of the Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM, formerly DOGGR),
certified the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) titled “Analysis of Oil and Gas Well Stimulation Treatments in California.”
This EIR analyzes the impacts of well stimulation treatments, including hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as “fracking”), performed in a manner consistent with the division’s proposed permanent regulations that would amend California Code of Regulations Title 14, Division 2, Chapter 4, Subchapter 2. This EIR’s analysis assumes that well stimulation treatments could occur either within or outside of existing oil and gas field boundaries. For the purposes of this EIR, the “Project” is defined as all activities associated with a stimulation treatment that could occur either at an existing oil and gas well, or an oil and gas well that is drilled in the future with the intent to stimulate the well, or a well drilled with a reasonable possibility of becoming subject to a stimulation treatment.
On September 20, 2013, Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. signed into law Senate Bill 4 (Pavley) to establish a comprehensive regulatory program for oil and gas well stimulation treatments. Senate Bill 4 also required (DOGGR, now CalGEM) to prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Division 13 of the Public Resources Code (commencing with Section 21000)) in order to provide the public with detailed information regarding any potential environmental impacts associated with well stimulation treatments in California.
The division published a Draft EIR on January 14, 2015, and held a 62-day public review period from January 14, 2015 to March 16, 2015. In addition, the division conducted six public meetings (Bakersfield, Los Angeles, Oakland, Sacramento, Salinas and Ventura) to receive verbal and written comments on the Draft EIR, consistent with State CEQA Guideline Section 15087, subdivision (i).
Access SB4 EIR.
