Find out how you can help make sure California’s upcoming rule on neighborhood oil and gas drilling really protects communities.
After years of struggle by frontline communities — mostly low-income communities of color — the California Geologic Energy Management agency (CalGEM) recently released a draft rule that would ban new oil and gas operations within 3,2oo ft. of “sensitive receptors” (homes, hospitals, schools, shopping areas).
This was a great victory — but the rule as drafted isn’t good enough. The rule bans permits only for new oil and gas drilling operations. But millions of Californians live near existing neighborhood wells, suffering from harmful health problems like cancers, asthma, and reproductive health disorders, as well as the dangers of fires and explosions. The draft rule would allow these drilling operations to continue and even apply for new permits. And research shows that the harmful effects of drilling spread much farther than 3,200 feet.
VISION (Voices in Solidarity against Oil in Neighborhoods), a coalition of these frontline community groups, is leading a campaign to strengthen the draft rule to offer real protection, to ban all new permits and phase out existing wells. They’ve collected more than 65,000 public comments from concerned residents — but there’s more work to do.
Join VISION for a community webinar to learn more about the next steps in the CalGEM rulemaking process, how to influence the process, and how to make sure it is community-led!
WHEN
Wednesday, April 6, 6-7:30 PM
WHERE
Zoom, RSVP here
Questions? Email Kobi at kobi@vision-ca.org