Oil drillers warn incoming setback law will have deep impact in Kern County

 Independent oil and gas producers are backing a proposed referendum to repeal a California law requiring 3,200-foot setback distances between new oil wells and sensitive areas - a measure that could hobble oil-rich Kern County. (The Center Square)Independent oil companies want to repeal California’s anti-pollution law that bans new wells within 3200 feet of sensitive areas

Kern County

• Opponents of the new restrictions are hoping for strong support in Kern County, which produces 70% of the state's oil and ranks in the top seven oil-producing counties in the United States.
• The county is home to 78,000 oil and gas wells, including 40,000 active wells, according to the NRDC.

The bill text says studies have shown "evidence of harm at distances less than one kilometer, which is approximately 3,200 feet."

• Proponents of the referendum argue that the need for oil in California is still present, as Californians consume 1.8 million barrels of oil each day
• All SB 1137 does is curtail in-state production of oil - it does not reduce the demand for oil
• The "arbitrary" setback is going to be "very problematic for a lot of production in Kern County and the rest of the state."

https://www.thecentersquare.com/california/oil-drillers-warn-incoming-setback-law-will-have-deep-impact-in-kern-county/article_1ad2512a-5634-11ed-a17f-2f816a2252d8.html