The last
few years have seen an explosion in the amount of oil and gas
drilling in national forests. In 2004, the federal government
approved a record number of drilling permits, giving away more
than
 40 million acres of our public lands to oil corporations.
A recent analysis of government records shows that two-thirds of
our natural treasures - like national forests, national wildlife
refuges, roadless and wilderness areas, and national monuments -
are suffering from substantial amounts of oil drilling and
industry control.
As oil
and gas drilling spreads, it comes into increasing conflict
with other land uses, such as ranching, farming, and recreational activities. Air pollution (nitrogen oxides, methane, and
particulate matter), displacement of wildlife,
 unpredictable
leaks and spills, and damaged waterways already plague existing
drilling sites across the country.
These impacts are greatly
magnified by
hundreds of miles of roads and pipelines and construction of
massive pumping facilities.
A
network of roads in a portion of the Sespe Oil Field in the Los
Padres N.F., as viewed from 6,800 feet in the air.
Oil and
gas drilling significantly impacts wildlife habitat. Well pads
and compressor station complexes denude the land of vegetation,
causing soil loss, increased erosion, and the
opportunity for
weed
infestation.
Wells typically require many
miles of
access roads,
pipelines, and
power lines, transforming
pristine areas into industrial sacrifice
zones.
Moreover, oil
and gas drilling
can contaminate soil,
groundwater, and rivers.
 All
to quench our country’s growing thirst for oil – Americans
use 23.5 million barrels per day, and it's forecast that our
consumption will increase by 1.8% every year until 2050. Alternatives to increased oil consumption include increasing
fuel economy standards in automobiles, encouraging public
transportation, energy conservation, and promoting alternative fuels that are
less-polluting and not as dangerous to surrounding communities.
The Los Padres
contains the only commercial quantities of oil and gas within
the national forests of California. Currently, there are
240
active oil wells on the Los Padres covering nearly 4,900
acres. In addition, there are 26 pending oil and gas lease
applications covering an additional 23,000 acres.
Most drilling
occurs in the Sespe Oil Field, located right next to the Sespe
Condor Sanctuary and the Hopper Mountain National
Wildlife Refuge in Ventura County. Both of
 these sites are extremely valuable for
the California Condor Recovery Program. The other major oil
drilling area in the Los Padres is the South Cuyama Oil Field in
Santa Barbara County.
During the
last few years, the Forest Service has studied whether to open
up vast swaths of the Los Padres to oil and gas
development. In July 2005, the agency issued its final decision
to allow new drilling across 52,075 acres of pristine forest
lands. The new drilling areas are next to some of the most
sensitive areas of the forest, including the Sespe Condor
Sanctuary, the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge, and
four wilderness areas.
A
proposed drilling area in Quatal Canyon in the Upper Cuyama
Valley.
The plan allows both surface
and slant drilling in this area. Photo
©
LPFW, Inc.
By the
agency's own calculations, this new drilling would produce less
than a day's supply of oil at our nation's current consumption
rates. Such a small amount of oil will do little to bring our
country closer to renewable fuels or energy independence, or
reduce gas prices.
New drilling
threatens vital habitat for at least 13 federally-listed
threatened and endangered species, as well as recreation, clean
water, and
important cultural sites. To date, $35 million has been spent on
the Condor Recovery Program, an investment too great to risk for
a few drops of oil.
One of the
areas targeted by the Forest Service for new oil
drilling, located just
northwest of Ojai. This
13,444-acre area borders the Sespe Wilderness, the
Sespe
Wild & Scenic River, and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary.
ForestWatch worked with private landowners in 2006 to
halt an oil drilling proposal
near the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge and Ballinger Canyon
(pictured) in
the Los Padres National Forest. |
