Trump-Backed Offshore Fracking Plan Sparks Fears of Oil Spills in California Waters
A California oil company is pushing to revive offshore fracking in the state's waters after a decade-long halt. DCOR LLC, a Southern California-based firm, has submitted a proposal for a new project that would use high-pressure fluid injections at an existing oil platform off Ventura's coast.
The plan, which has drawn criticism from environmental groups and the California Coastal Commission, aims to increase oil production at Platform Gilda fourfold, from 1,100 barrels per day to 4,000 barrels per day. However, regulators are concerned about the potential for an oil spill in one of the most ecologically sensitive areas along the West Coast.
The project has been fast-tracked by the federal government under President Donald Trump's declaration of a national energy emergency. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has completed an environmental review that dismisses many of the concerns about the project, citing low probabilities for catastrophic oil spills and limited impact from toxic fracking chemicals.