Kern County releases proposed oil and gas local permitting revisions and Draft Environmental Impact Report

FRAZIER PARK, CA (Wednesday, July 8, 2015 at 10:40 a.m.)—The following is a news release from Kern County Planning Department about changes to the county’s oil and gas permitting process, including the permitting of hydraulic fracturing, also known as ‘fracking.’ You can download the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) here.

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Kern County Planning & Community Development Director Lorelei Oviatt today released the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the proposed Revisions to the Kern County Zoning Ordinance to streamline Oil and Gas Permitting.

The draft EIR, which will undergo a 45-day review period closing on August 24, 2015, is available online at the Kern County Planning and Community Department Web Site http://pcd.kerndsa.com/planning/oil-gas-zoning-amendment.
The draft EIR is a comprehensive project level review of oil exploration and extraction activities including well stimulation (hydraulic fracturing) and UIC (underground Injection Control Program) wells across 2.8 million acres that comprise the San Joaquin Valley portion of Kern County. The document will serve as the basis for amendments to Chapter 19.98 Oil and Gas Production of the Kern County Zoning Ordinance and related changes that address requirements for environmental protection and mitigation of the surface impacts of oil activities on other land uses.

The Draft Revisions to the Zoning Ordinance and the draft EIR were developed at the direction of the Kern County Board of Supervisors to address public concerns regarding environmental protection and to avoid wasteful and lengthy CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) litigation in future permitting.

The Draft Ordinance was developed with participation and discussion by oil industry representatives, agricultural interests and other community stakeholders.

“The draft ordinance is designed to help the oil and gas industry meet California’s tough environmental standards while continuing to produce oil and gas here,” Supervisor Couch said. “This is a landmark document and today we begin the public debate on this document.”

The County has scheduled a series of workshops to gather public feedback on the Draft Environmental Impact Report before it is considered by the County Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

Workshop Locations and Dates

Bakersfield: July 27, 2015
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (break for lunch)
Joint Workshop with Kern County Board of Supervisors
and Planning Commission
Staff Presentation and Public Comment
Kern County Administrative Building, First Floor Board Chambers, and 1115 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA

Shafter: August 10, 2015
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Staff Presentation and public comment
Shafter Veterans Building, Room 2, 309 California Avenue, Shafter, CA

Taft: August 17, 2015
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Staff Presentation and public comment
Taft Veterans Hall, Room 1, 218 Taylor Street, Taft, CA

“A full, transparent and constructive dialogue with the public, the industry and other interested groups is the basis for the public workshops and hearings on this proposal.” Director Oviatt said. “Permit streamlining all forms of energy development is an important focus for Kern County in support of California’s energy goals.”

The Kern County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed Zoning Ordinance revisions and draft EIR on October 5, 2015. Public comments on both documents will be considered until a final decision by the Board of Supervisors at a public hearing that Oviatt said she expects will be held by the end of 2015.

This is part of the July 3, 2015 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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