Feds Approve Offshore Fracking
in California

Opponents Vow to Fight

The Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Bureau of Safety & Environmental Enforcement ruled on 27 May that offshore fracking would have no “significant” environmental impact on waters off of California, clearing the way for oil well stimulation practices to resume in federal waters. The determination was based on analysis of fracking and other stimulation practices that occurred at 23 well sites off California between 1982 and 2014.

The agencies had not been considering fracking applications while the environmental review that led to the determination had been taking place. They will now begin considering applications. Protestors stated that they would remain vigilant and opposed to any fracking applications, and rallied to keep a state moratorium on the practice in place. That moratorium prohibits fracking within California’s 3-mile state waters.