Enviro Groups Sue Ventura County Over New Oil Wells
Enviro Groups Sue Ventura County Over New Oil Wells
Los Padres ForestWatch, the Center for Biological Diversity, and Citizens for Responsible Oil and Gas filed a CEQA petition challenging Ventura County’s approval of 19 new oil wells near the Santa Paula Canyon Trail. The project garnered strong opposition from hikers and environmentalists.
According to the environmental groups, the supervisors violated the California Environmental Quality Act by relying on an addendum to an “outdated” environmental impact report that did not consider the nuisance, noise and public safety issues the new wells would supposedly pose. The lawsuit alleges that these impacts have “increased in severity” and that there has been “new information” regarding how harmful the project’s impacts are, including impacts to steelhead and the California condor.
The Santa Paula Canyon Trail currently runs adjacent to oil and gas operations, nevertheless, the Petitioners allege that the project will negatively impact tourism and businesses.
Local news story can be found HERE.