The US Forest Service has canceled oil company Carbon California’s applications to drill and frack in the Los Padres National Forest.
Jeff Kuyper with Los Padres ForestWatch, an environmental group, explained the decision will protect the area.
“We’re basically assured that there will be no more fracking in the Sespe Oil Field, or anywhere in the lowest Padres National Forest, while the statewide ban is being finalized,” Kuyper said.
Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a method used to extract oil and gas from deep underground. This is done by injecting water, sand, and chemicals into the ground.
In February, state officials drafted a plan to phase out fracking to minimize its negative effects on both human health and wildlife.
Lisa Belenky, with the Center for Biological Diversity, noted that the Los Padres National Forest is ecologically sensitive.
“The chemicals from oil and gas drilling and fracking get into the ecosystem and can get into both groundwater and surface water,” Lisa Belenky said.
Carbon California did not respond to KCBX’s request for comment in time for publication.
