As
representatives of working women and men in Santa Barbara County, Local 114 has
been closely following Aera Energy’s proposal to re-establish its existing oil
field in East Cat Canyon. Based on our extensive evaluation of the project’s
environmental, safety, and economic aspects, we strongly support it.
Aera
has been consistently transparent about the details of its project, and very
responsive to local input. So much so, in fact, that after hearing community
concerns the company went back to the drawing board and worked out a way to
eliminate more than 100 wells — over a third of the number originally
anticipated. In addition, Aera confirmed its proposal to create a 500-acre
Conservation Area on a portion of its site that will not be used for oil
production. The company is working with community groups to ensure the safe use
of this 500 acres for wildlife and woodland habitat preservation, trails, and
open space.
Finally,
the writer of “When
Dirty Oil Is Clean” just got her facts wrong overstating the greenhouse gas
emissions from the project by more than six times. The letter also failed to
mention Aera’s project must comply to state and local climate change laws that
are the strictest in the world.