Fracking

Platform Gail. Photo by Erin Feinblatt Photography.

offshore:
fracking in federal waters

Fracking Home
*SIGN THE PETITION: Regulate Fracking in CA
Chemical Disclosure
Environmental & Public Health Risks
Federal Law: Loopholes & Exemptions
CA State Regulation
Santa Barbara County
Ventura County
Offshore: Federal Waters
Cuyama Valley Seismic Testing

In June 2011, EDC research uncovered that Venoco, Inc., had fracked from an offshore oil platform located in Federal waters in late 2009. Staff with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), since divided into two separate agencies) confirmed that Venoco conducted its frack job from Platform Gail, located off of the Ventura County coast. According to BOEMRE, Venoco’s fracking operation was allowed under existing authorizations, and no further environmental analysis or public disclosure was made prior to the operation, despite the fact that offshore oil development raises its own host of environmental issues. EDC is unaware of any other specific examples of offshore fracking, either locally or nationally, but is working to determine whether more fracking operations are planned in offshore waters, and to advocate for full environmental analysis and disclosure before any future projects are approved.