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Brown releases proposed rules fracking

LA Times: The Brown administration has released much-anticipated proposed rules for fracking, a controversial technique for drilling for oil and natural gas reviled by environmentalists. The process, formally known as hydraulic fracturing, involves pumping water, sand and a mixture of chemicals into geological strata to free trapped hydrocarbons. Supporters say that it is opening up a vast new energy source and creating high-paying jobs. Opponents contend that fracking could pollute underground drinking...

California Legislature passes fracking regulation bill

LA Times: A heavily lobbied bill that would give California the nation's toughest regulation of a controversial oil drilling technique won easy passage Wednesday from the Legislature. The bill now goes to Gov. Jerry Brown, who said Wednesday that he would sign it into law. At issue is the practice of hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. It is a process that involves injecting mixtures of sand, water and chemicals to free oil and natural gas trapped deep underground in shale formations. The...

California passes bill to strictly regulate oil well ‘fracking’

LA Times: A bill that would give California the nation's toughest regulation of a controversial oil drilling technique won easy passage Wednesday from the state Assembly. SB 4 by Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills) cleared the Assembly on a 47-17 vote and went back to the Senate for concurrence in amendments. The Senate previously passed it by a 28-11 vote. The measure had widespread support from most environmental groups, but they pulled their support just before the Assembly vote Wednesday. They argued...

Coalition asks Gov. Jerry Brown to halt fracking in California

LA Times: A coalition of more than 100 environmental and political activist groups is denouncing oil fracking legislation as too weak and calling on Gov. Jerry Brown to order an immediate halt to the controversial drilling practice. "The truth is that there is no proven way to protect California from fracking besides prohibiting this inherently dangerous practice," said the letter delivered to the governor's office Wednesday. Fracking, formally known as hydraulic fracturing, is a drilling technique that...