Oil and Endangered Species Don’t Mix
Efforts to conserve species and promote biodiversity are critical right now as the world faces the threat of extinction of approximately one million animal and plant species—more than ever before in human history. Amphibians in particular play a crucial role in preserving healthy ecosystems and yet forty percent of amphibian species face extinction due to habitat loss, disease, and drought. For more than forty years, the Environmental Defense Center has been working to protect threatened and endangered species, and today, that work remains critical in our fight against dangerous oil and gas proposals that threaten Santa Barbara County. Inspired in part by two proposed projects located in the Cat Canyon Oil Field, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is considering whether to finalize a General Conservation Plan for Oil and Gas Activities in Santa Barbara County (“General Conservation Plan” or “Plan”). The Plan covers 674,220 acres throughout the County, including coastal areas, and would open the door for more dirty fossil fuel energy generation in areas that support a mosaic of natural habitats for protected species.
The Plan would streamline “take” permits for oil and gas projects that would harm or kill three species protected under the Endangered Species Act: the California red legged frog, California tiger salamander, and Lompoc yerba santa. These species and their habitats are under threat from the proposed massive expansion and intensification of oil operations in the Cat Canyon Oil Field, located about ten miles southeast of Santa Maria. Cat Canyon is home to a diverse assemblage of State and federally listed rare, threatened, and endangered species. The projects proposed by TerraCore (formerly ERG) and Aera Energy would drill about 500 new wells through the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin to extract the bottom-of-the-barrel crude oil, expending considerable energy in the process. These risky oil and gas development projects would have devastating impacts on imperiled species by grading over their habitat, polluting streams and groundwater, and killing them during construction, trucking, and spills.
The Santa Barbara County California tiger salamander population is in danger of extinction throughout its range, warranting its listing as “endangered” under the Endangered Species Act. The decline of this species has been linked in part to oil and gas activities, including oil sump ponds acting as toxic sinks, dangerous hydrogen sulfide gas burping out from oil wells and settling into low-lying areas, and oil field runoff contaminating breeding ponds. The California red-legged frog is listed as “threatened,” meaning it is likely to become endangered in the near future, and has been wiped-out from seventy percent of its former range. Lompoc yerba santa is an “endangered” plant that is endemic to western Santa Barbara County and is so rare that it only appears in three areas throughout the County. The limited distribution and small population size of this species makes it extremely at risk of extinction from changes in its environment.
Despite these alarming trends, the Plan would allow TerraCore and Aera Energy to permanently destroy 675 acres of California tiger salamander habitat, at least 355 acres of California red-legged frog habitat, and 27.5 acres of habitat for the Lompoc yerba santa. In addition to habitat destruction, the oil companies would be allowed to injure or kill a number of tiger salamanders and red-legged frogs each year.
The Endangered Species Act was established to halt and reverse the severe trend toward species extinction. To achieve this ambitious goal, the Act prohibits the “taking” of protected species but provides a limited exception, by permit, if it occurs as a result of lawful activities. Prior to issuing this permit, a conservation plan is required to provide a strategy for avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating harm to protected species and their habitats from an applicant’s activities. Unfortunately, the General Conservation Plan for oil and gas activities in the County does not fulfill these conservation obligations and a more protective approach was dismissed in the Plan because it purportedly would not meet the needs of oil and gas operators, like TerraCore and Aera Energy.
For many of us, it is obvious that the conservation of the species and the ecosystems upon which they depend is what matters most. Oil companies should avoid impacts to protected species from habitat destruction, roadkill, spills, fires, and disease. That is the best conservation approach. Unfortunately, no duty is imposed on the oil companies in this Plan to avoid the impacts from their destructive activities. Instead, the Plan relies on the goodwill of the oil companies to decide if they will avoid impacts, and allows them to harm protected species or destroy their habitat through implementation of mitigation measures that are woefully inadequate and illusory. Gambling with our natural resources for the benefit of oil and gas development offers no upside, only risk. The only players set to gain are the oil operators who inspired this Plan from the beginning.
___________
Tara Messing is a Staff Attorney at the Environmental Defense Center. On behalf of its clients, Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter, Santa Barbara County Action Network, and EDC membership, the organization submitted comments opposing the draft General Conservation Plan on May 6, 2020, available here.
Tags: conservation, Endangered Species, Endangered Species Act, Oil, santa barbara county
Amir Articles
| #
Vow nice info. thx
Reply
Saved Jobs LinkedIn
| #
Amir Articles is home for learning blogging, knowledge of Games, and Best Articles in different categories for free.
Amir Articles
Social Bookmarking Sites
Saved Jobs LinkedIn
Games Like Firewatch
Games Like Escape From Tarkov
Games like Age of Empires
Reply
poppy mizzi
| #
Scribble io is a web browser game in which you must guess what other people are drawing. It’s also simple to get started! You have the option of playing with your friends or joining a random game.
Reply
lalisa leee
| #
Since I didn’t know about this resource, I’d appreciate you telling me about it. I am aware now.
papa’s freezeria
Reply
Etibbn77
| #
Though the planned site is atop prehistoric dunes along the Oxnard coast emoji, NRG said there were no rare species there.
Reply
Solar
| #
Thanks for the interesting insights in your blog post. Solar
Reply
Maudie Schaden
| #
Your blog is a constant source of inspiration for me. Your passion for your subject matter is palpable, and it’s clear that you pour your heart and soul into every post. Keep up the incredible work!
Reply
Jarred Hyatt
| #
Your passion for your subject matter shines through in every post. It’s clear that you genuinely care about sharing knowledge and making a positive impact on your readers. Kudos to you!
Reply
Mikayla Mraz
| #
you are truly a just right webmaster The site loading speed is incredible It kind of feels that youre doing any distinctive trick In addition The contents are masterwork you have done a great activity in this matter
Reply
Juana Herzog
| #
Your writing is a true testament to your expertise and dedication to your craft. I’m continually impressed by the depth of your knowledge and the clarity of your explanations. Keep up the phenomenal work!
Reply
Karson Waelchi
| #
Your writing has a way of resonating with me on a deep level. I appreciate the honesty and authenticity you bring to every post. Thank you for sharing your journey with us.
Reply
Jane Corkery
| #
Join the Creator Community
Reply
Kyra Rolfson
| #
Your articles never fail to captivate me. Each one is a testament to your expertise and dedication to your craft. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world.
Reply
Jared Altenwerth
| #
of course like your website but you have to check the spelling on several of your posts A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I in finding it very troublesome to inform the reality on the other hand I will certainly come back again
Reply
Donald Rice
| #
Every time I visit your website, I’m greeted with thought-provoking content and impeccable writing. You truly have a gift for articulating complex ideas in a clear and engaging manner.
Reply
Rodolfo VonRueden
| #
Join our growing community of creators today and start turning your passion into profit. With Pipzr, earning money has never been easier. Sign up now, click the “Become a Creator” button, and you’re on your way to financial freedom. Don’t wait – your next opportunity to earn is just a click away!
Reply
Ava Stroman
| #
Fan Club: Keep your most dedicated fans engaged by regularly updating your private feed with unique content. Build a strong community and keep your fans coming back for more.
Reply
Tyson Cummings
| #
The Easiest Way to Make Money Online
Reply
Gay White
| #
Join our growing community of creators today and start turning your passion into profit. With Pipzr, earning money has never been easier. Sign up now, click the “Become a Creator” button, and you’re on your way to financial freedom. Don’t wait – your next opportunity to earn is just a click away!
Reply
Shawna Weissnat
| #
Custom Content: Cater to specific requests from your community with personalized content. This feature allows you to increase your earnings by offering something truly unique and tailored to your fans’ desires.
Reply
Regan Ratke
| #
Ready to Become a Creator?
Reply
Demarcus Zieme
| #
Ready to Become a Creator?
Reply
Markus Rogahn
| #
Paid Live Streams: Host private, paid live streams tailored to your availability. Whether it’s a workshop, concert, or Q&A session, you can engage directly with your audience and get paid for your time.
Reply
Berniece Homenick
| #
Premium Posts: Got something special to share? With our premium post feature, you can charge a one-time fee for exclusive content. This allows you to choose a price and even offer promotions to entice your audience.
Reply
Bud Waelchi
| #
Private Messaging: Strengthen your connection with your audience by sending private messages. This feature increases interaction and can be a powerful way to build a loyal fanbase.
Reply
Tyra O'Conner
| #
Custom Content: Cater to specific requests from your community with personalized content. This feature allows you to increase your earnings by offering something truly unique and tailored to your fans’ desires.
Reply
Jayne Emard
| #
Ready to Become a Creator?
Reply
Colt Heller
| #
Join the Creator Community
Reply
Tia Kunde
| #
Join the Creator Community
Reply
Cristopher Pouros
| #
Ready to Become a Creator?
Reply
Jerod Paucek
| #
The Easiest Way to Make Money Online
Reply
Ruthie Koch
| #
Paid Live Streams: Host private, paid live streams tailored to your availability. Whether it’s a workshop, concert, or Q&A session, you can engage directly with your audience and get paid for your time.
Reply
Sandrine Hilpert
| #
Why Pipzr?
Reply
Gudrun Emmerich
| #
Personalized Interactions: Meet the specific needs of your community by offering tailored content and private messages, making your fans feel valued and appreciated.
Reply
Desiree Mosciski
| #
At Pipzr, we believe that anyone can turn their passion into a thriving business. Our platform offers a variety of ways to help you generate income while doing what you love. Here’s how you can start earning:
Reply