President Trump signed an executive order Friday aimed at expanding offshore oil drilling in U.S. waters, including areas in the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean made off-limits by President Obama. For good measure, and no doubt as a poke in the eye to a state that voted overwhelmingly against him, his directive includes the possibility of new drilling leases off the California coast.

Los Angeles Times, 5-1-17

Anti-oil activists don't know who they're picking on

Why should Kern County worry about an incredibly ill-conceived anti-oil measure passed in Monterey County last year? Because bad ideas are like zombies, they just keep coming until a cheerleader cuts their heads off with a chainsaw. (It’s a thing, go ask a teenager.)

Bakersfield Californian column, 4-29-17

Anadarko Petroleum shuts down 3,000 wells in Colorado after a deadly house explosion

The Martinez house on Twilight Avenue is obliterated. Charred wood, shattered window frames and insulation are strewn about the ground. What survives is the concrete basement where Mark Martinez and his brother-in-law Joey Irwin, both 42, were working on a water heater moments before the house exploded in a fireball.

April 28, 2017

Trump's directive on offshore drilling will face solid resistance in California

President Trump painted a golden future of “great wealth” and “great jobs” powered by oil pumped from the ocean floor as he signed an executive order on Friday to consider new offshore drilling around the country.

Los Angeles Times, 4-28-17

The environmental disaster that changed California — and started the movement against offshore oil drilling

The prospect of allowing new oil drilling off the coast of California is placing President Trump on yet another collision course with the state.

Los Angeles Times, 4-28-17

Trump’s offshore oil plan promises jobs, provokes California protest

President Donald Trump has doubled down on his call for greater U.S. fossil fuel production, setting the stage Friday for expanded offshore oil drilling and potentially rolling back the North Coast’s sole defense against the prospect of oil rigs dotting the scenic shoreline.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 4-28-17

Trump order could open California waters to oil drilling

President Trump signed an executive order Friday seeking to expand offshore oil and gas drilling, a move that triggered an immediate backlash in California, where wounds are still raw from past fights to protect the state’s coastal waters.

San Francisco Chronicle, 4-28-17

New oil drilling off California coast? Trump signs order seeking to expand drilling

In a move cheered by the oil industry and harshly criticized by environmentalists and California’s top elected officials, President Donald Trump on Friday signed an executive order that could expand offshore oil drilling — including off the Pacific Coast — and potentially reduce the size of California’s national marine sanctuaries.

Bay Area News Group, 4-28-17

Santa Barbarans are angered by Trump's order that could lead to new offshore drilling

From a cafe table on a pier overlooking sea lions and passing sailing vessels with bright pennants flapping in the breeze, Pedro Nava recalled that the battle lines were drawn to prevent offshore drilling in Santa Barbara when a marine sanctuary was established here in 1954.

Los Angeles Times, 4-30-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Earthquake Hits Riverside County

An earthquake struck near Banning Sunday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. At about 12:59 p.m., a magnitude 3.0 earthquake was reported about a mile and a half southwest of San Bernardino, USGS officials said.

Banning-Beaumont Patch, 4-30-17

Small earthquake hits near San Bernardino

A 3.1-magnitude earthquake was reported almost 2 miles southwest of San Bernardino just before 1 p.m. Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey website.

Riverside Press Enterprise, 4-30-17

Magnitude 4.0 earthquake in The Geysers

A small earthquake shook the area near The Geyers northwest of Healdsburg early Sunday. The magnitude 4.0 temblor was reported at 3:12 a.m. about four miles southwest of Cobb in Lake County, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 4-30-17

Small earthquake hits near Blackhawk

A small earthquake struck 5.5 miles east of the Blackhawk community in unincorporated Contra Costa County on Saturday evening, according to the U.S. Geological Service.

Bay Area News Group, 4-30-17

3.8-Magnitude Quake Rattles East Bay: USGS

A 3.8-magnitude earthquake rattled the East Bay Saturday evening, according to the USGS.

KNTV (San Jose), 4-30-17

Did you feel Saturday’s NorCal quake?

A minor earthquake hit Contra Costa County on Saturday afternoon, with no injuries reported.

Sacramento Bee, 4-30-17

Magnitude 3.8 earthquake strikes near Blackhawk, California

The United States Geological Survey reports a preliminary magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck near Blackhawk, California on Saturday.

San Francisco Chronicle, 4-30-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Companies would face tighter environmental restrictions in California under new cap-and-trade proposal

State Senate Democrats on Monday will announce a new proposal to toughen California's cap-and-trade program in hopes of providing a more dependable revenue stream and greater incentives for industries to clean up their operations.

Los Angeles Times, 5-1-17

BUDGET

California's budget could miss the mark on April tax revenues by $600 million

California’s most important month for collecting income taxes could end some $600 million short of official projections, based on preliminary data collected Friday.

Los Angeles Times, 4-28-17

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

If you find that a link doesn’t work or is behind a paywall you cannot access, please send us an email at pao@conservation.ca.gov and we’ll provide a Word document of the story.

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Venoco’s Second Bankruptcy Filing Could Leave Beverly Hills High School Oil Well Dry Financially

Fresh on the heels of last week’s Board of Education directive to create a “7-11 Committee” as a first step toward having multiple district parcels declared surplus property, including the site of the Beverly Hills Oil Well, Superintendent Michael Bregy issued a press release stating that the district had been made aware on April 17 that Venoco, Inc., which leases the oil well from the district, had filed for a second bankruptcy.

Beverly Hills Courier, 4-27-17

ALISO CANYON

SoCalGas warns of natural gas shortage to meet surging demand, as Aliso Canyon wells remain closed

Operators of the natural gas wells in Aliso Canyon are warning California regulators they have concerns about meeting energy and electricity demands this summer and for the upcoming winter.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-2-17

WATER

Sierra snowpack is huge and melting fast – what that means for spring flooding

The wettest winter in Northern California history ended the drought and produced an abundant Sierra Nevada snowpack. Now it’s starting to melt, and quickly.

Sacramento Bee, 5-2-17

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Oil drilling site at Westside golf course broke L.A. rules, report finds

An oil drilling site at a Westside golf course has flouted city rules by repeatedly installing new equipment without city approval, according to a recently released report. Community activists say that the reported violations are a symptom of a systemic problem for the city: its failure to adequately monitor drilling sites across Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-2-17

Editorial: California should resist oil drilling plan

So much for President Donald Trump’s promise to focus his presidency on returning “power to the people.” The president signed an executive order Friday that could expand offshore oil drilling off the Pacific Coast despite the fact that 90 percent of Californians routinely say in polls that protecting the condition of the state’s coastline is important to them.

Woodland Daily Democrat, 5-2-17

California Farmer Sues Oil Companies For Allegedly Contaminating Water Supply, Killing Crops

Every day oil companies in California dump millions of gallons of wastewater underground.

CBS SF (KPIX), 5-1-17

ALISO CANYON

SoCalGas warns of natural gas shortage to meet surging demand, as Aliso Canyon wells remain closed

Operators of the natural gas wells in Aliso Canyon are warning California regulators they have concerns about meeting energy and electricity demands this summer and for the upcoming winter.

Los Angeles Daily News, 5-1-07

WATER

The West has a tricky, expensive water problem – and even solving it is controversial

A controversial California irrigation drainage deal designed to resolve one of the West’s trickiest, most expensive and longest-running water problems won approval from a key House of Representatives panel Thursday. But the debate – and uproar over the proposal – is only beginning, and its long-term fate is uncertain.

McClatchy Newspapers, 4-27-17

Biggest May 1 Sierra Nevada snowpack since 1998 raises flood risk

State officials on Monday reported a near-record May snowpack, but the bountiful winter that demolished California’s five-year drought is now increasing the risk of late spring flooding, as temperatures climb across the Sierra Nevada.

Bay Area News Group, 5-2-17

Sierra snowpack is huge and melting fast – what that means for spring flooding

The wettest winter in Northern California history ended the drought and produced an abundant Sierra Nevada snowpack. Now it’s starting to melt, and quickly.

Sacramento Bee, 5-1-07

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Earthquake early warning system nets $10.2 million in Congress' budget deal

he budget deal reached in Congress this week penciled in $10.2 million for an earthquake early warning system for California and the rest of the West Coast for the budget year that ends in September.

Los Angeles Times, 5-2-17

Quake near Canada border jolts Yukon, southeast Alaska

A major earthquake in northwest British Columbia shook up communities in nearby Alaska and Yukon Territory but caused no apparent damage.

Redwood Times, 5-1-17

3.0-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes In Santa Monica

An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.0 struck in Santa Monica late Monday evening, according to the United States Geological Survey.

KABC-TV (Los Angeles), 5-1-17

Earthquake jolts Santa Monica and West L.A.

A shallow magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck Santa Monica and West Los Angeles late Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Los Angeles Times, 5-1-17

M=3.1 Santa Monica Fault Zone earthquake awakens West Los Angeles

Just before 10:30 p.m. local time last night (1 May 2017), a M=3.1 earthquake struck just offshore of Santa Monica, California.

Temblor.com, 5-2-17

More Than 2,000 Report Feeling 3.0-Magnitude Quake Near Santa Monica

A 3.0-magnitude earthquake shook the Santa Monica area Monday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

KNBC-TV (Los Angeles), 5-1-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Reversing Climate Change? California Author Offers 100 Reasons to Hope

Global climate change is a such a dramatic and vast event, it can be hard to find reasons to believe we can change the momentum.

KQED (San Francisco radio/TV), 5-1-17

Kings County’s largest solar farm proposed

An application to build a 2,527-acre, 250-megawatt solar farm is being processed by Kings County in what would be the largest photovoltaic project in the county.

Fresno Business Journal, 5-1-17

Thursday, May 4, 2017

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Is Aliso Canyon needed to keep the power on as summer draws closer?

Southern California Gas Company has sent a letter to state energy officials warning of reliability risks this summer if restrictions on the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage site in the Los Angeles area remain in place.

San Diego Union Tribune, 5-3-17

Deadly house explosion in Colorado traced to uncapped pipe from gas well

An abandoned natural gas line that had been cut but not capped caused an explosion last month that destroyed a home, killed two people and critically injured another in Colorado, investigators said Tuesday.

Los Angeles Times, 5-2-17

Westside oil drilling site facing questions over permits

LOS ANGELES (KABC) --Operators of an oil drilling site at a Westside golf course are facing criticism over alleged violations of Los Angeles city regulations.

ABC 7 LA , 5-2-17

ALISO CANYON

Does LADWP need SoCalGas Co. natural gas? Study it, protesters say

Porter Ranch residents and supporters gathered outside the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power building Tuesday to urge the department’s board to require a study on whether the DWP needs Southern California Gas Co.’s Aliso Canyon methane storage facility to provide power to the utility’s customers.

Los Angeles Daily News, 5-2-17

SOLAR

Kings largest solar farm proposed

An application to build a 2,527 acre, 250-megawatt solar farm is being processed by Kings County. It would be the largest photovoltaic project in the county.

Hanford Sentinel, 5-4-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Landslide Causes Power Outage In Hollywood Hills

HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA -- A landslide caused a transformer to explode Tuesday, knocking out power to a few customers in Hollywood Hills, according to reports from the scene.

Beverly Hills Patch, 5-2-17

Seismologist Lucy Jones explains recent small earthquakes that shook Southern California

Two small tremors stemming from Santa Monica and Corona shook areas of Southern California in two days, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Press Telegram, 5-2-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Cultivating a Century

Visalia – In 1917, the Tulare County farming community — consisting of 850 small farmers — banded together and charged themselves dues to create an organization that would promote, protect and propagate their industry. Now 100 years later, the Tulare County Farm Bureau is still taking time to thank them for their kindness, commitment and cooperation.

The Sun Gazette, 5-3-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

BODIE IS ONE OF COUNTRY’S BEST PRESERVED GHOST TOWNS

If you thought those underwater photos of the Titanic were at once haunting and mesmerizing, there's a place on the Eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada that offers you the same time-capsule view of history. Bodie today is one of the country's best preserved ghost towns and gives you the same sense that you have stepped back into a different time and place.

Oakdale Leader, 5-3-17

Thursday, May 4, 2017

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Is Aliso Canyon needed to keep the power on as summer draws closer?

San Diego Union Tribune, 5-3-17

Deadly house explosion in Colorado traced to uncapped pipe from gas well

Los Angeles Times, 5-2-17

Westside oil drilling site facing questions over permits

LOS ANGELES (KABC) --Operators of an oil drilling site at a Westside golf course are facing criticism over alleged violations of Los Angeles city regulations.

ABC 7 LA , 5-2-17

ALISO CANYON

Does LADWP need SoCalGas Co. natural gas? Study it, protesters say

Los Angeles Daily News, 5-2-17

SOLAR

Kings largest solar farm proposed

An application to build a 2,527 acre, 250-megawatt solar farm is being processed by Kings County. It would be the largest photovoltaic project in the county.

Hanford Sentinel, 5-4-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Landslide Causes Power Outage In Hollywood Hills

HOLLYWOOD HILLS, CA -- A landslide caused a transformer to explode Tuesday, knocking out power to a few customers in Hollywood Hills, according to reports from the scene.

Beverly Hills Patch, 5-2-17

Seismologist Lucy Jones explains recent small earthquakes that shook Southern California

Two small tremors stemming from Santa Monica and Corona shook areas of Southern California in two days, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Press Telegram, 5-2-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Cultivating a Century

The Sun Gazette, 5-3-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

BODIE IS ONE OF COUNTRY’S BEST PRESERVED GHOST TOWNS

Oakdale Leader, 5-3-17

Friday, May 5, 2017

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Limón Authors Bill to Disclose Chemicals in Oil Drilling Operations

Assemblymember Monique Limón recently authored a bill that would require conventional oil and gas companies to issue quarterly chemical reports. The bill, AB 1328, would make the full list of chemicals available to regulators with DOGGR (Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources) and to the public.

Santa Barbara Independent, 5-4-17

Public Interest Groups Urge Senate To Deny Gov's Point Man Confirmation To PUC After He Fired Tough Oil Well Safety Regulators
Public interest advocacy groups Consumer Watchdog, Food & Water Watch, Rootskeeper, Save Porter Ranch, and public interest attorneys Aguirre & Severson LLP, have urged the Senate Rules Committee not to confirm former aide to Governor Jerry Brown, Cliff Rechtschaffen, to the California Public Utilities Commission. Rechtschaffen has record of ignoring federal laws and state regulations to aid the oil and gas industry while jeopardizing the environment and public health.
Consumer Watching dog via PRNewswire, 5-4-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Can state run on sun and wind alone? California weighs aggressive climate change measures

Faced with a presidential administration that’s dialing back climate change policies, California is getting even more aggressive on battling greenhouse gases.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 5-4-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Yolo Land Trust plants concern for local farmland

Michele Clark knows what pulls on the heartstrings of volunteers and donors, but Yolo County’s vast fields, arid soils and cow herds don’t exactly speak for themselves.

Daily Democrat, 5-4-17

Earliest ranches seek conservation easements

Two of Douglas County's earliest ranches have been nominated for conservation in what may be the last hurrah for a federal program that has preserved more than 20,000 acres of agricultural land in Carson Valley.

The Record Courier, 5-5-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Gold Rush town was site of first known Cinco de Mayo

Although many people who live in the Mother Lode these days might not realize it, Cinco de Mayo holds a special significance for the town of Columbia in Tuolumne County.

The Union Democrat, 5-4-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Limón Authors Bill to Disclose Chemicals in Oil Drilling Operations

Santa Barbara Independent, 5-4-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Can state run on sun and wind alone? California weighs aggressive climate change measures

Faced with a presidential administration that’s dialing back climate change policies, California is getting even more aggressive on battling greenhouse gases.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 5-4-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Yolo Land Trust plants concern for local farmland

Michele Clark knows what pulls on the heartstrings of volunteers and donors, but Yolo County’s vast fields, arid soils and cow herds don’t exactly speak for themselves.

Daily Democrat, 5-4-17

Earliest ranches seek conservation easements

The Record Courier, 5-5-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Gold Rush town was site of first known Cinco de Mayo

Although many people who live in the Mother Lode these days might not realize it, Cinco de Mayo holds a special significance for the town of Columbia in Tuolumne County.

The Union Democrat, 5-4-17

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Who's Watching the Oil and Gas Industry in California?

California's well-earned reputation as the nation's greenest state, with cutting-edge policies mandate fuel efficiency and renewable energy, hides a surprising fact: California also produces the third-most oil in the country.

EWG.org, 5-8-17

Commentary: Protecting California’s coast an ongoing effort

In 1985, Santa Cruz County residents faced a dilemma. Vehemently opposed to offshore drilling but unable to set policy in state or federal waters, a group of dedicated residents came up with a novel solution: they proposed a new law that required any zoning changes allowing onshore facilities in support of offshore drilling to go to a vote of the people.

Santa Cruz Sentinel, 5-6-17

Monday, May 8, 2017

If you find that a link doesn’t work or is behind a paywall you cannot access, please send us an email at pao@conservation.ca.gov and we’ll provide a Word document of the story.

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Calif. Court Revives Fight Over Kern County Oil Wells

A California appeals panel sent the Golden State back to court over claims it failed to analyze the environmental and health effects of new oil and gas wells in Central California before greenlighting them for drilling.

Courthouse News, 5-5-17

FRACKING

Legal Settlement Halts Effort to Open 1 Million Acres in California to Oil Drilling, Fracking

Conservationists have forced the Trump administration to halt plans to open more than 1 million acres of public land and mineral estate in California to oil drilling and fracking. The victory preserves a four-year-old moratorium on leasing federally owned land in the state for oil and gas development.

Center for Biological Diversity, 5-4-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Ag’s adoption of the drone deemed inevitable in Watsonville and beyond

If Salinas Valley is separated from Silicon Valley by a mere 50 miles, why is it taking so long for drones to improve the yields and efficiencies of the California agriculture industry?

Santa Cruz Sentinel, 5-7-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Local Schools Along The Coast Will Be Mandated To Do Earthquake/Tsunami Drills

Gov. Jay Inslee signed new legislation on Thursday that requires school safety drills across the state, including mandatory earthquake and evacuation drills for schools in tsunami hazard zones.

KXRO Washington Radio, 5-5-17

Who's Cashing in on California Oil Drilling?

Santa Barbara is dripping with oil. Walk along the beaches of this Southern California city and chances are, tar will stick to your feet from the natural seeps. In 1896, due west of the waterfront, the world’s first experiment in offshore drilling unfolded in the Summerland oil field.

Newsweek, 5-9-17

Royale Energy Signs Drilling Contract For Additional Wells At Rio Vista Field

Royale Energy, Inc., announced it has signed a drilling contract for three additional wells in Rio Vista field in Sacramento basin and expects to begin drilling operations by the end of the month.

World Oil, 5-9-17

State regulators release underground gas storage issues report

A multistate group of oil and gas regulators released a 130-page report about underground natural gas storage that aims to be a resource and address risk management, state permitting, well drilling and construction, well integrity, reservoir integrity, monitoring, emergency response planning, and other issues.

Oil & Gas Journal, 5-8-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Farmers and officials talk about marijuana laws

Although a few farms and nurseries in San Luis Obispo have begun cultivating marijuana in anticipation of the legal sale of weed next year, Ventura County’s strawberry and lemon fields won’t be growing cannabis anytime soon, a local agriculture official said.

The Acorn, 5-11-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Unusual circumstances grant CEMEX additional power source

APPLE VALLEY — Citing unusual circumstances, the Town Council has granted special permission to CEMEX to install an overhead utility line that will deliver more power to the company’s expanding facility in an unincorporated section of the town.

Daily Press, 5-10-17

California Pioneer History Day Returns Our Heritage Matters

On May 20, 2017, California Pioneer History Day is coming back to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park in Coloma. Admission is free, State parking fee is $8 per car. The event opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 3 p.m., with parade at 10 a.m. It is sponsored by the California Pioneer Heritage Foundation and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visitors are encouraged to get into the spirit with period costume, if they wish.

Rancho Cordova Independent, 5-10-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, & GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Environmentalists triumph as Senate upholds drilling rule

Environmentalists notched a rare win in the Republican-led Senate on Wednesday as a GOP effort to reverse an Obama-era rule restricting harmful methane emissions unexpectedly failed.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 5-11-17

SoCal Gas ordered to refill 'depleted' local gas fields

A state agency this week ordered Southern California Gas Co. to quickly refill three depleted natural gas storage fields to reduce the risk of shortages and potential power interruptions this summer.

Southern California Public Radio (KPCC), 5-10-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Not My Fault: A sea change in post-tsunami field investigations

The April 25, 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquake was not the only event of 1992 to impact the emerging Cascadia story. A second 1992 earthquake and tsunami played a pivotal role in tsunami science and in developing the methodology now used to assess tsunami hazards posed by Cascadia and other fault zones.

Times-Standard, 5-10-17

Daytripping to some of the coolest rock formations along the Sonoma-Mendocino Coast

As a geologist prowling the landscape along the coast for the past 40 years, I’m often stopped by folks asking what I’m doing. At the time I might be chipping away with my rock hammer, measuring the dip of the rock strata or collecting beach sand. A geologic conversation commences, and people ask all sorts of questions including: Where can we see the San Andreas Fault? Are there fossils around here? How fast is the bluff retreating? Once I start answering, the next question is often, “Why don’t you write a book?” Hence, “Shaping the Sonoma- Mendocino Coast — Exploring the Coastal Geology of Northern California” (River Beach Press February 2017). The last third of the book is a road log, which utilizes highway mile markers for a self-guided geology tour along a pretty spectacular 85-mile stretch of coastal terrain from Bodega Bay to Elk.

Press Democrat, 5-10-17

ALISO CANYON

SoCal Gas ordered to refill 'depleted' local gas fields

A state agency this week ordered Southern California Gas Co. to quickly refill three depleted natural gas storage fields to reduce the risk of shortages and potential power interruptions this summer.

KPCC radio, 5-10-17

WATER

Why California Can’t Go Back to ‘Normal’ After Drought

California’s five-year drought was officially declared to be over in April. By many measures, it was the worst drought in the state’s recorded history. And it was brought to an end by one of the wettest single winters ever.

Water Deeply, 5-10-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

'Re-wilding' a Santa Monica beach to protect against sea level rise

At the north end of Santa Monica Beach, there’s a fenced off 2-acre section that looks a bit unkempt. It’s an experiment in "re-wilding," or restoring the beach to what it looked like before humans altered it. The pilot project, a partnership of The Bay Foundation and Santa Monica, could also help protect the city from sea level rise.

Southern California Public Radio, 5-9-17

California set an ambitious goal for fighting global warming. Now comes the hard part

When Stanford University energy economist Danny Cullenward looks at California’s policies on climate change, he sees a potential time bomb.

Los Angeles Times, 5-11-17

Bid to revoke Obama methane rule fails in surprise U.S. Senate vote

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday rejected a resolution to revoke an Obama-era rule to limit methane emissions from oil and gas production on federal lands, dealing a blow to President Donald Trump's efforts to free the drilling industry from what he sees as excessive environmental regulation.

Reuters, 5-10-17

Energy state Republicans under pressure on methane rule

Republicans from energy-producing states are under pressure as the Senate weighs whether to overturn an Obama-era regulation to restrict harmful methane emissions escaping from oil and gas wells on public land.

Associated Press, 5-9-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

EPA signs off on North Dakota regulation of CO2 wells

The Trump administration is proposing to make North Dakota the first state with the power to regulate underground wells used for long-term storage of waste carbon dioxide captured from industrial sources such as coal-fired power plants.

Associated Press, 5-9-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

3.2 quake strikes near Redway

A shallow magnitude 3.2 earthquake was reported Tuesday afternoon 22 miles from Redway, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 1:40 p.m. PDT at a depth of 13.7 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-9-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

When feds dilly-dally on water, our ag economy takes a hit

After three years of virtually no water deliveries, the Bureau of Reclamation’s 100% allocation for south-of-Delta agricultural water service contractors was a relief. But even in a year when Reclamation could allocate 100%, the process that resulted in that allocation illustrates there are fundamental problems with the regulatory constraints that restrict Central Valley Project operations.

Fresno Bee commentary, 5-9-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

8 dead, 20 injured after moderate quake in far western China

A moderate earthquake that struck close to the earth's surface killed eight people and injured more than 20 others in far western China on Thursday, the region's earthquake administration said.

Associated Press, 5-10-17

Big Sur: Active landslide keeping parts of Highway 1 closed

While Caltrans officials say the reopening of Highway 1 on the southern end of Big Sur remains scheduled for mid-June, an active landslide closed access for residents last week at Mud Creek and the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce president is prepared for the roadway to remain closed much longer.

Bay Area News Group, 5-12-17

Earthquake fault may force redesign of Seaport Village redevelopment

An earthquake fault has been discovered below Seaport Village, according to preliminary results from a geotechnical study, and that could force a redesign of the redevelopment plan for the 37-year-old specialty retail center.

San Diego Union Tribune, 5-11-17

BUDGET

Cuts are coming,’ Jerry Brown says as he releases revised budget plan

California Gov. Jerry Brown released a revised, $180 billion budget proposal Thursday that closely mirrors his January plan, maintaining a cautious approach amid uncertainty about the direction of the economy and possible federal actions that could hurt the state’s bottom line.

Sacramento Bee, 5-12-17

Brown’s state budget update adds $2.5 billion in spending

Gov. Jerry Brown’s May budget revision pumps about $2.5 billion more into schools, counties, child care and the state pension fund, but he warned that California’s boom times could soon end.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-11-17

Gov. Jerry Brown unveils new state budget proposal with rosier outlook

Amid increasing uncertainty over federal health care funding, Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday unveiled a new, $124 billion budget blueprint that would spend more than he proposed in January — giving more money to child care and schools.

Bay Area News Group, 5-11-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

In Win for Environmentalists, Senate Keeps an Obama-Era Climate Change Rule

In a surprising victory for President Barack Obama’s environmental legacy, the Senate voted on Wednesday to uphold an Obama-era climate change regulation to control the release of methane from oil and gas wells on public land.

New York Times, 5-10-17

California’s climate-change advances could be jeopardized by ill-conceived Senate bill

With the Trump administration turning back the clock on federal climate-change policies and threatening to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, the role played by California is more important than ever.

Sacramento Bee commentary, 5-9-17

Despite doubts and disagreements, Brown still wants a deal on cap and trade in the next month

Gov. Jerry Brown said Thursday there's "a very good chance" of reaching a deal in the next month to extend California's cap-and-trade program for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Los Angeles Times, 5-11-17

ALISO CANYON

If Aliso Canyon remains closed, loss of power could hurt: Guest commentary

Imagine a day where the weather spikes and the county you live in goes completely dark. Think of the problems you’d encounter — lightless schools and hospitals; unusable appliances in homes and businesses; inoperable street lights leaving lines of traffic.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-14-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Evaluating earthquake risks in the Coachella Valley

KESQ's Chief Meteorologist Haley Clawson traveled to the Southern California Earthquake Center in Los Angeles to find out what the Coachella Valley's risk is for a big earthquake.

KESQ-TV (Palm Springs), 5-12-17

Million-Dollar Project Protects Rancho Los Alamitos House From Earthquakes

Layers of roof have come off the historic ranch house at Rancho Los Alamitos, and work has begun on its foundation. Soon, the entire house will be wrapped with a plywood diaphragm. That will allow the adobe portions to "breathe" while protecting the whole house during an earthquake.

Long Beach Gazette, 5-14-17

Earthquake denial gets a lot harder when you stand on top of the San Andreas fault

I had never stood directly on top of the San Andreas fault. Not to my knowledge, anyway, but as a California native, I’ve probably stumbled over it a time or two.

Los Angeles Times column, 5-13-17

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake in northeast Iran leaves 3 dead

Iranian state TV is reporting a strong magnitude 5.7 earthquake has left three people dead and about 200 injured in a remote area in the country's northeast.

Associated Press, 5-14-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

In Napa Valley, Vineyards and Conservationists Battle for the Hills

Kellie Anderson stands in the understory of a century-old forest in eastern Napa County, about 70 miles north of San Francisco. To her left is a creek gully, a rush of the water audible through the thick riparian brush. The large trees here provide a home for deer, mountain lions, and endangered spotted owls, while the stream supports the last remnants of the Napa River watershed’s nearly extinct steelhead trout.

Yale Environment 360, 5-11-17

Salinas Valley ‘green rush’ turns fields from chrysanthemums to cannabis

A beloved but beleaguered landscape is now sprouting new luxury greenhouses, fueled by a dream of marijuana riches that is changing the people and produce of this corner of Steinbeck Country.

Bay Area News Group, 5-14-17

Groundwater repayment coming due early for some valley farmers

Fixing our groundwater deficit will be painful. No way around it. And growers in the massive Semitropic Water Storage District are learning that sooner than most.

Bakersfield Californian column, 5-13-17

Can you trust your land trust? Residents, non-profit, clash in OC canyons

When Linda May lived in the flatlands of Los Angeles she felt as though she always had to be on alert – whether for traffic or muggers – and she could never let her guard down. In 1996, she drew a circle on a map that showed all the quiet neighborhoods within 30 minutes of her work — and moved. That’s how she landed in the rugged, tranquil hills of Orange County’s canyons.

Orange County Register, 5-12-17

WATER

Valley sinking due to groundwater depletion; threat to aqueduct remains

With rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs full to overflowing, it's tempting for Californians to breathe a sigh of relief and stop worrying about water conservation. One season of heavy rainfall was enough to wash away the surface drought. The drought we're still in is for the water we can't see underneath the surface: groundwater.

KXTV (Sacramento), 5-12-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

To Simulate Climate Change, Scientists Build Miniature Worlds

Climate change will alter the ecosystems that humanity depends upon in the coming century. But given the complexity of the living world, how can you learn what may happen?

New York Times, 5-11-17

BUDGET

While California spends liberally, the governor talks like a penny-pincher

California’s status as a far-left state was emphatically reconfirmed by Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget last week — not so much by his proposal, but by his presentation.

Los Angeles Times, 5-15-17

GENERAL

Gov. Brown asks President Trump for help on the California bullet train

Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday appealed to President Trump for help on the California bullet train, which would connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Los Angeles Times, 5-15-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

3.6 quake strikes near Big Bear City

A shallow magnitude 3.6 earthquake was reported Monday morning six miles from Big Bear City, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 11:43 a.m. PDT near the surface.

Los Angeles Times, 5-15-17

An eruption at one of the world’s most dangerous supervolcanoes is closer than we thought

One of the world’s most dangerous supervolcanoes appears to be closer to erupting than we once thought, scientists have warned. Campi Flegrei in southern Italy has been showing signs of reawakening over the past 67 years, and new research indicates the volcano has been building energy throughout this period, increasing the risk that it will erupt.

Newsweek, 5-15-17

ALISO CANYON

Hydro, Solar Boost CAISO Summer Outlook; Aliso Concerns Remain

CAISO should have sufficient generation to meet peak demand this summer, although questions still linger about the adequacy of Southern California natural gas supplies in the face of a heat wave.

RTO Insider, 5-15-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Playa Del Rey Gas Storage Facility Called "An Accident Waiting to Happen

According to La Curbed, in 2016, just months after SoCal Gas Company plugged up the methane leak at its Aliso Canyon storage facility in Porto Ranch, a concern about potential leaks were brewing at the playa del Rey gas storage field.

Santa Monica Observer, 5-15-17

SoCal Gas Creates Notification System for La Goleta

The natural gas storage field at La Goleta — off More Ranch Road and landward of the Goleta Slough sandspit — can hold up to 21.5 billion cubic feet.

Santa Barbara Independent, 5-15-17

Opinion: Climate-smart agriculture

In early April, Governor Jerry Brown officially declared that California’s record-setting drought is over. However, farmers across the state won’t soon forget the challenges it brought, and they know there are ongoing climate challenges to face such as weather extremes, reduced chill hours and increasingly intense drought-flood cycles. Many are ready and willing to do what they can to provide climate solutions on farms and ranches.

BenitoLink, 5-15-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

California Business Group Revives Efforts Against Cap-And-Trade Program

The California Chamber of Commerce will continue to pursue its lawsuit against the state’s signature climate-change program, cap-and-trade.

Capitol Public Radio, 5-15-17

WATER

Editorial: Science is clear — twin tunnel plan will hurt the Delta

Gov. Jerry Brown is never more convincing than when he is blasting President Donald Trump for his failure to make policy decisions based on the best science available.

Bay Area News Group, 5-12-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

A state agency flexes its muscle against Cemex. This time, it’s not a threat. It’s an order.

On May 15, the State Lands Commission sent a letter to Cemex—the Mexico-based cement manufacturing giant—informing the company that is must immediately submit a lease application to the commission to continue operations at its sand mine in Marina, or else shut the mine down.

Monterey County Now, 5-16-17

MINING

These miners won a massive $107 million ruling against Sac County. Will it stand?

Whether government officials became “blinded” and “corrupted,” or if they only demanded regulatory complicity from a rogue gravel-mining operation, the matter of Hardesty and Schneider v. Sacramento County isn’t done yet.

Sacramento Bee, 5-17-17

California cracks down on last beachfront sand-mining operation in U.S.

Moving in on the last coastal sand mining operation in the United States, California regulators are ordering a Mexican-based company to obtain permits and pay state royalties for its Monterey County plant or shut down — amid a chorus of complaints that it’s causing significant erosion of beaches along Monterey Bay.

Bay Area News Group, 5-16-17

How the California gold rush began (and where it is today)

On this day (May 12) in 1848, the California gold rush began when word got out about its discovery on the American River. James Marshall’s discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill on Jan. 24, 1848, was kept quiet until May 12, when merchant and publisher Sam Brannan waved a small bottle of gold flakes in the streets of San Francisco and shouted, “Gold! Gold! Gold from the American River!”

Orange County Register, 5-12-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Experts: Nut prices, not water, account for swing in ag land values

Starting in 1999, prices for agricultural land in the South Valley experienced a decade of steady growth in value, averaging about a 5.5 percent increase on a compounded, annual basis.

The Business Journal, 5-16-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Gov. Brown clashes with environmentalists over fracking

Gov. Jerry Brown was on a roll, enthusiastically preaching to a choir of environmentalists about how carbon use and global warming are a looming catastrophe for California and the world.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-16-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

4.1 earthquake hits near Santa Barbara

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake occurred at 9:42 p.m. Tuesday off the coast of Santa Barbara, shaking a broad area along the coast, said the U.S. Geological Survey. The epicenter was 8 miles west of Isla Vista.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 5-17-17

3.1 quake strikes near Imperial

A shallow magnitude 3.1 earthquake was reported Tuesday morning two miles from Imperial, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 11:19 a.m. PDT at a depth of 8.7 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-16-17

3.5-magnitude earthquake rattles Big Bear area

A 3.5-magnitude earthquake shook the San Bernardino Mountains on Monday morning, May 15, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Riverside Press-Enterprise, 5-15-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Joshua trees’ survival threatened by warming climate

Only four units of the entire 417-part system of national parks, monuments, seashores and historical sites carry the names of remarkable plants and trees. California hosts three of these — Redwood, Sequoia and Joshua Tree national parks.

Orange County Register column, 5-16-17

MINING

These miners won a massive $107 million ruling against Sac County. Will it stand?

Sacramento Bee, 5-17-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Sunset on Holly: Two years after the Refugio oil spill,

Platform Holly has stood alone in the South Ellwood oil field for decades as the Santa Barbara Channel’s last oil rig in California’s state waters. But it may not stay standing for much longer.

Santa Maria Sun, 5-17-17

Farewell, Holly

Legend has it that Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, wrote “The Crystal Ship” one night in Isla Vista during the 1960s when he was dropping acid on the beach and looking out at the bright, glimmering Platform Holly just off the coast.

U.C. Santa Barbara Daily Nexus, 5-18-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Indoor-Surveys, Radon Potential Maps and Their Impacts on Radon Awareness in California

In a presentation at the 2016 International Radon Symposium held in San Diego, California, September 18-21, Ronald Churchill, Ph.D., of the California Department of Conservation, California Geological Survey (CGS), presented findings of the paper “Indoor-Surveys, Radon Potential Maps and Their Impacts on Radon Awareness in California.” The CGS and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) have worked cooperatively on data collection, mapping and analysis of radon potentials in California. CGS radon activities are funded through an interagency agreement, by a portion of the CDPH State Indoor Radon Grant from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and CGS matching funds.

RadonLeaders, 5-17-17

Pair of earthquakes strikes near Santa Barbara County coast

A pair of earthquakes rattled the coastal areas of Santa Barbara County late Tuesday, authorities said.

Los Angeles Times, 5-16-17

M=4.1 Santa Barbara earthquake highlights local quake hazards

At 9:42 p.m. local time last night (16 May 2017), a M=4.1 earthquake struck offshore of Santa Barbara, California. The quake occurred at a depth of 2.3 km, and on the USGS website, over 1,400 people reported feeling the event.

Temblor.com, 5-17-17

Quake Measuring 4.1 Rattles Santa Barbara County’s South Coast

An earthquake measuring 4.1 on the Richter Scale rattled the South Coast of Santa Barbara County Tuesday night.

Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 6-16-17

Many California courthouse buildings are seismically unsafe, state study says

More than 140 courthouses across California are seismically unsafe, a study commissioned by state officials determined, and fixing just the worst dozen would cost more than $300 million.

Orange County Register, 5-17-17

WATER

You could fill Shasta Lake 7 times with farm groundwater lost during state drought

Central Valley farmers created a groundwater deficit large enough to fill an empty Shasta Lake seven times in order to keep their profitable orchards alive during California’s epic five-year drought.

Sacramento Bee, 5-17-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

4.0 earthquake strikes near Petrolia, Calif.

A shallow magnitude 4.0 earthquake was reported Wednesday evening 76 miles from Petrolia, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 8:20 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 0.6 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-17-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Open Space Authority buys 52 acres near Almaden Valley

The Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority has acquired a 52-acre spread of scenic land near the Santa Teresa foothills for future generations to enjoy.

Mercury News, 5-19-17

How’s the Market?: We can complain about housing shortage or support those who want to address it

I attended a meeting on May 4 hosted by property developers Guillon, Inc., where a dozen or so of the 80 neighbors who were invited came to hear Steve Honeycutt present information regarding a proposed development on the north side of Lover’s Lane in Ukiah. Guillon would like to buy 23 acres from the Dolan family and rezone the land so they can build single-family homes in the $325,000 to $375,000 range.

Daily Journal, 5-19-17

A call for residents to make their voices heard

As the Acorn has previously reported, the City of Camarillo, without public disclosure, has planned to move forward with a desalinization project immediately next to the homes of County Lane and Pleasant Valley Hospital.

Camarillo Acorn, 5-19-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Santa Margarita quarry project is back — is it different this time around?

The battle over whether to build a quarry in rural Santa Margarita will start again, two years after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors narrowly voted the plan down.

The Tribune, 5-18-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Rancho Cucamonga gas leak, now in 2nd week, is killing trees, residents say

Residents say a natural gas leak has held a Rancho Cucamonga neighborhood hostage for 11 days, and the Southern California Gas Co. hasn’t really explained to homeowners what’s going on.

Daily Bulletin, 5-18-17

Colorado oil-gas regulators take rules dispute to high court

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado attorney general asked the state Supreme Court on Thursday to settle a dispute over how much weight public health and the environment should have in regulating the booming oil and gas industry.

Lompoc Record, 5-19-17

CA approves new refinery safety rules 5 years after Chevron fire

California regulators on Thursday approved new safety rules for oil refineries, nearly five years after a major fire at Chevron’s Richmond facility sent thousands of East Bay residents to local hospitals.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-18-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Rising sea levels could mean twice as much flood risk in Los Angeles and other coastal cities

The effects of rising oceans on coastal flooding may be even worse than we thought. Scientists have found that a mere 10 to 20 centimeters of sea-level rise — which is expected by 2050 — will more than double the frequency of serious flooding events in many parts of the globe, including along the California coastline.

Los Angeles Times, 5-18-17

California grid sets record, with 67% of power from renewables

A stretch of sunny, windy days, combined with brimming reservoirs at hydroelectric plants across the state, helped California reach a renewable energy milestone last weekend.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-18-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

California Engages World, and Fights Washington, on Climate Change

The environmental ministers of Canada and Mexico went to San Francisco last month to sign a global pact — drafted largely by California — to lower planet-warming greenhouse pollution. Gov. Jerry Brown flies to China next month to meet with climate leaders there on a campaign to curb global warming. And a battery of state lawyers is preparing to battle any attempt by Washington to weaken California’s automobile pollution emission standards.

New York Times, 5-23-17

A New System Could Text You 30 Seconds Before An Earthquake Hits

It's been 23 years since the last major earthquake shook Los Angeles and caused some $10 billion in property damage. Now, a consortium of seismologists from universities along the west coast are working under the U.S. Geological Survey to build an early warning system for future earthquakes.

LAist, 5-22-17

3.5 quake strikes near Tres Pinos, Calif.

A shallow magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Sunday evening six miles from Tres Pinos, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 6:36 p.m. Pacific time at a depth of 2.5 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-21-17

Massive slide covers stretch of iconic California highway

A massive new landslide along California's iconic coastal Highway 1 has buried the road under a 40-foot layer of rock and dirt, the latest hit in winter of crippling slides and flooding.

Associated Press, 5-23-17

ALISO CANYON

California proposes new rules after natural gas blowout

California oil and gas regulators proposed stiff new regulations Friday for underground gas natural storage facilities after a blowout drove 8,000 families from their Los Angeles homes.

Associated Press, 5-23-17

Department of Energy official wants Aliso Canyon gas field to reopen

A top federal official is urging the “near-term reopening” of the Aliso Canyon storage facility after injections were halted in the wake of a months-long disastrous gas leak that began in October, 2015.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-22-17

Summer energy forecast for LA: Cautiously optimistic

Southern California should have enough natural gas for power plants to avoid blackouts this summer if Southern California Gas Company moves quickly to fill three of its four gas storage fields, state energy officials said Monday.

Southern California Public Radio 5-22-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Regulators propose tougher rules for California natural gas fields after Aliso Canyon leak

In the wake of the historic Aliso Canyon natural gas leak, California oil and gas regulators on Friday proposed new rules to ensure safe underground gas fields throughout the state.

Los Angeles Daily News, 5-19-17

Teaching With: ‘Turning Oil Rigs Into Reefs’

Environmentalists disagree over whether outdated oil rigs off the coast of Long Beach, Calif., can become an addition to the marine ecosystem.

New York Times, 5-19-17

How Rollbacks at Scott Pruitt’s E.P.A. Are a Boon to Oil and Gas

FREMONT COUNTY, Wyo. — In a gas field here in Wyoming’s struggling energy corridor, nearly 2,000 miles from Washington, the Trump administration’s regulatory reversal is crowning an early champion.

New York Times, 5-20-17

California Opens Final Comment Period for Enhanced Gas Storage Rules

California oil/natural gas field regulators on Friday opened a nearly two-month comment period for new regulations governing the operation of underground gas storage in the state. Final comments are due by the close of business July 13.

NGI Shale Gas Daily, 5-22-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

How Rollbacks at Scott Pruitt’s E.P.A. Are a Boon to Oil and Gas

In a gas field here in Wyoming’s struggling energy corridor, nearly 2,000 miles from Washington, the Trump administration’s regulatory reversal is crowning an early champion.

New York Times, 5-20-17

Heart of the Valley: The 'Dean of Petroleum Geology'

During the early days of the 20th century, big Bill Orcutt was a familiar sight in the hills of Southern California. Prior to that time, although the world had already shown signs of becoming mechanized, a vehicle was yet to be invented to take Orcutt and his crews deep into the craggy mountains.

Santa Maria Times column, 5-21-17

Regulators propose tougher rules for California natural gas fields after Aliso Canyon leak

In the wake of the historic Aliso Canyon natural gas leak, California oil and gas regulators on Friday proposed new rules to ensure safe underground gas fields throughout the state.

Los Angeles Daily News, 5-19-17

Pipeline remains offline two years after Refugio oil spill

Friday marked the anniversary of the Refugio Oil Spill. On May 19, 2015, a two-foot-diameter underground pipeline named Line 901 ruptured near Santa Barbara County’s Refugio State Beach. By the time the line was shut off, over 100,000 gallons of crude oil spilled over coastal bluffs and into the ocean.

KCBX-FM (San Luis Obispo), 5-19-17

Anti-Fracking Elitists: Rural America Should Remain Economically Stagnant

Anti-fracking activists are resorting to a curious line of argument in their zeal to ban natural resource recovery through hydraulic fracturing: that rural communities are better off with economic stagnation than the ‘harms’ of abundant jobs and a vibrant economy.

Forbes commentary, 5-19-17

California proposes new rules after natural gas blowout

California oil and gas regulators proposed stiff new regulations Friday for underground gas natural storage facilities after a blowout drove 8,000 families from their Los Angeles homes.

Associated Press, 5-19-17

Rancho Cucamonga gas leak not reported to air quality district, spokesman says

Inspectors from the South Coast Air Quality Management District have concerns regarding a gas leak and its aftermath plaguing an Alta Loma neighborhood and have sent inspectors to investigate.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-19-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Second analyst says Alameda school seismically unsafe, should be closed

A second structural engineering firm has recommended closing Donald Lum Elementary School because it may not be earthquake safe, according to the Alameda Unified School District.

Bay Area News Group, 5-19-17

Gulf of California earthquakes highlight zone of rapid rupture

Yesterday, in the southern Gulf of California, there were 11 M=3.4+ earthquakes in the span of a little more than eight hours. The largest of these were two M=4.6 quakes approximately 100 km offshore of both Baja California and Mexico.

Temblor.com, 5-19-17

How would Coachella Valley infrastructure fare in a big earthquake?

News Channel 3's Karen Devine takes a closer look at Coachella Valley infrastructure, specifically, what Caltrans, one school district, and a local hospital are doing to make sure the public is safe when the big one hits.

KESQ-TV (Thousand Palms), 5-17-17

Swarm of quakes sign of Washington's Mount St. Helens 'recharging'

With well over 100 earthquakes detected on Mount St. Helens in Skamania County, Wash. since early April, things are getting a little rumbly up there.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 5-19-17

After years of planning, California likely to roll out earthquake early warning system next year, scientists say

California will likely roll out a limited public earthquake early warning system sometime next year, researchers building the network say.

Los Angeles Times, 5-22-17

Magnitude 3.5 earthquake strikes near Ridgemark, California

The United States Geological Survey reports a preliminary magnitude 3.5 earthquake struck near Ridgemark, California on Sunday.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-22-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Penn Valley ranch applies for easement program

Sue Hoek maintains a 150-year legacy of cattle ranching on her family's land in Penn Valley. Her property, called Robinson Ranch, is over 3,000 acres, and over half of that area may soon be preserved as an agricultural easement through Bear Yuba Land Trust.

Grass Valley Union, 5-22-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Oil Giant Shell Warns U.S. Not To Withdraw From Paris Accord On Climate

Royal Dutch Shell has issued its starkest warning yet to the Trump administration to not pull out of the Paris Agreement addressing climate change.

Huffington Post, 5-22-17

Water Expert Wants Climate Change in Federal Regulations

The 2017 Environmental & Water Resources Congress kicked off Sunday evening at the Convention Center in downtown Sacramento with a panel regarding the Oroville Spillway that failed, causing nearly 200,000 people to evacuate back in February.

KTXL-TV Sacramento, 5-21-17

California Engages World, and Fights Washington, on Climate Change

The environmental ministers of Canada and Mexico went to San Francisco last month to sign a global pact — drafted largely by California — to lower planet-warming greenhouse pollution.

New York Times, 5-23-17

Climate change taking toll on clarity of Lake Tahoe water

Climate change is causing Lake Tahoe to warm sooner in the spring than it has historically, disrupting the normal mixing of shallow and deep water and undercutting gains made in reversing the loss of clarity of the cobalt mountain lake, scientists say.

Associated Press, 5-22-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Aerial Video Shows CA Road Buried By Massive Landslide

An aerial video posted by the Monterey County Sheriff's Office in California shows a blocked road after a massive landslide.

SF Gate, 5-23-17

Big Sur slide part of $1B in damage

A massive landslide that went into the Pacific Ocean is the latest natural disaster to hit a California community that relies heavily on an iconic coastal highway and tourism to survive, and it adds to a record $1 billion in highway damage from one of the state’s wettest winters in decades.

Associated Press, 5-24-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

The history of Edom Hill: Looking for California's next oil boom

63 years ago, in a much different political climate, big Texas Oil Company had their eyes on the oil that they believed might be on one side of the San Andreas Fault. The Andreas Fault extends across the Coachella Valley from Palm Springs down to the Salton Sea.

Desert Sun, 5-19-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Letter: Stop development on farmland south of Chico

The citizens of Stanley Avenue have united to stop a developer from building 16 new homes and paving over some of the richest agricultural land in Butte County. The developer wants the 300-foot agricultural setback to be reduced to 150 feet so he can make a large profit. More than 30 concerned citizens have won the first battle to maintain the 300-foot setback at the county Planning Commission meeting this past March. The developer has appealed this decision to the Board of Supervisors for a June 13 meeting.

Oroville Mercury-Record, 5-23-17

Letter: Farmland needs a buffer from developments

During the 1980s, California enacted the right-to-farm laws establishing a 300-foot buffer zone between actively farming properties and any new residential developments to protect not only the farmer from being sued for noise pollution, air pollution, chemical applications, but also any potential future homeowners from being exposed to those conditions.

Oroville Mercury Record, 5-23-17

ALISO CANYON

A national assessment of underground natural gas storage: identifying wells with designs likely vulnerable to a single-point-of-failure

The leak of processed natural gas (PNG) from October 2015 to February 2016 from the Aliso Canyon storage facility, near Los Angeles, California, was the largest single accidental release of greenhouse gases in US history

IOP Science, 5-24-17

Were There Dangerous Chemicals From Aliso Canyon Before The Big Leak?

Bette Fernandes taught at Castlebay Lane Elementary school in Porter Ranch for 13 years.The school is just miles from where the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas leak occurred. The massive release at the SoCalGas storage facility forced the evacuation of the entire area.

KCBS-TV Los Angeles, 5-25-17

California grid risk greater without Aliso Canyon

Southern California remains more vulnerable to power disruptions during summer months without the use of the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility, according to a new report from several California state agencies.

Argus, 5-24-17

Could the Aliso Canyon natural gas leak happen in Ohio? New study examines the risk

Ohio has the most underground natural gas storage wells of any state and the highest number of those which might be vulnerable to leaks, according to a new study by researchers at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital.

Midwest Energy, 5-23-17

Study uncovers widespread leak risk for US underground natural gas storage wells

With the average well built in 1963, more than 1 in 5 active US underground natural gas storage (UGS) wells could be vulnerable to leaks due to obsolete well designs, according to a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Phys.org, 5-24-17

Terminal Cancer Patient On Aliso Canyon Leak: ‘I Think They’re Lying To People’

Susie Kimmel was in her hospital bed suffering from bladder and bone cancer. She was a teacher for 27 years at Castlebay Lane Elementary School in Porter Ranch.

CBS Los Angeles, 5-24-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

The Big One is going to happen, no matter how much you want to deny it, California scientists say

Fear of earthquakes is part of life in California.

Los Angeles Times, 5-24-17

Big Sur landslide on Highway 1: largest in California state history

The mudslide the crashed on California State Route 1 on Saturday has resulted in $1 billion dollars in highway damage. The weekend slide buried parts of the coastal highway under a 40-foot layer of dirt and rock. Recent aerial shots from above show a massive mud dome that created a wide skirt over the road, down the cliff, and onto the shore below.

Curbed SF, 5-24-17

'One of a kind' landslide buries part of California's iconic coastal highway

A massive landslide buried a section of California's iconic Highway 1 in Big Sur, according to authorities

USA Today, 5-24-17

The World Is Running Out of Sand

The final event of last year’s beach-volleyball world tour was held in Toronto, in September, in a parking lot at the edge of Lake Ontario.

The New Yorker, 5-25-17

Alameda Elementary School to Shutter 'Indefinitely' Due to Earthquake Safety Concerns

Despite opposition from scores of parents, the Alameda Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday night voted to shutter Donald D. Lum Elementary School in June on grounds that the campus is ill-equipped to sustain earthquakes and poses an “enormous” danger to students.

NBC Bay Area, 5-24-17

CA to roll out earthquake early warning system, ShakeAlert

California will roll out a limited public earthquake early warning system next year throughout the West Coast, including Oregon and Washington, according to campus researchers at the Berkeley Seismological Laboratory.

U.C. Berkeley Daily Californian, 5-23-17

DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION

Trump's budget by the numbers: What gets cut and why

President Donald Trump's team released its first full budget proposal on Tuesday, and while lawmakers are likely to dismiss most of it -- as they traditionally do with most White House wishlists -- the document provides fresh insight into the administration's priorities.

CNN, 5-25-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

More than 1,000,000 tons of rock and dirt has to be moved off Highway 1. But how?

Yet another stretch of Highway 1, that improbable serpentine hemming the continent’s western edge, had abruptly disappeared.

Los Angeles Times, 5-26-17

Massive Big Sur slide may keep Highway 1 closed for a year

It will take approximately a year and millions of dollars for Caltrans to repair and reopen Highway 1 at Mud Creek in southern Big Sur following the massive landslide Saturday that covers one-third of a mile of the scenic road.

Monterey Herald, 5-25-17

Missing from President Trump's budget: Funds for California's earthquake early warning system

President Trump’s budget would eliminate federal funding for an earthquake early warning system being developed for California and the rest of the West Coast which, if enacted, probably would kill the long-planned effort.

Los Angeles Times, 5-26-17

3.3 quake strikes near Malibu

A shallow magnitude 3.3 earthquake was reported Thursday morning 12 miles from Malibu, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 7:19 a.m. at a depth of 9.3 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-25-17

Earthquake hits in ocean west of Malibu

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.3 struck 10.6 miles west of Malibu this morning, according to information from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-25-17

Big Sur landslide highlights earthquake vulnerability of magnificent California coast

Over the weekend, a massive landslide in Big Sur left part of Highway 1 covered in 35-40 feet of dirt, with some reports stating that the section of road may remain closed for months.

Temblor.com, 5-25-17

Landslide leaves engineers to ponder options for Highway 1

The massive landslide that swallowed a stretch of Highway 1 on the Big Sur coast over the weekend was still spewing rock and dirt down a remote mountainside Thursday, and state officials say it will probably be next year before they get the wall of mud out of the way.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-26-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Venoco Bankruptcy Ends Major Source of Tax Revenue, Philanthropy — and Eases Environmental Worries

Venoco, Inc. has had an interesting relationship with the Santa Barbara community.

Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 5-24-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Gov. Brown Optimistic on Climate Change, Trump

Gov. Jerry Brown was optimistic about the state of climate change policy at a San Francisco conference on Wednesday, saying he was glad to see President Trump meet with Pope Francis this week.

KQED-TV San Francisco, 5-24-17

Scientists just published an entire study refuting Scott Pruitt on climate change

In a sign of growing tensions between scientists and the Trump administration, researchers published a scientific paper Wednesday that was conceived and written as an explicit refutation to an assertion by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt about climate change.

Washington Post, 5-24-17

California climate program has struggled. Why the billion-dollar rebound?

California’s market-based program for fighting climate change had struggled badly over the past year. On Wednesday, it bounced back sharply.

Sacramento Bee, 5-24-17

State Democrats Have New Leverage in Effort to Curb Greenhouse Gases

When Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Jerry Brown launched California last year toward a new goal of reducing greenhouse gases, they did so without addressing one of the state’s key mechanisms for reaching the goal: the cap-and-trade program.

KQED-TV San Francisco, 5-25-17

California Seeks To Shape International Climate Policies

California has led the nation for years in climate action policies. Now, it may be trying to lead the world.

KPBS radio San Diego, 5-25-17

22 GOP senators want US to pull out of Paris climate accord

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and 21 other Republicans on Thursday urged President Donald Trump to follow through on his campaign pledge to pull out of the Paris climate accord.

Associated Press, 5-25-17

BUDGET

Gov. Jerry Brown's budget team drops its hotly debated plans to redefine the state's spending limit

With questions mounting about the legal justification for omitting some $22 billion in expenses from California's long-standing spending cap, Gov. Jerry Brown's administration dropped the plan Thursday while promising to work on the issue again later this year.

Los Angeles Times, 5-26-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Ag leaders have high hopes for new USDA structure

A reorganization within the U. S. Department of Agriculture by the new secretary could benefit California’s ag industry on immigration and trade, said the president of California Fresh Fruit Association.

The Business Journal, 5-25-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Researchers Say Future Appears Grim for Earthquake Early Warning System Under Proposed Budget

Plans for a West Coast earthquake early warning system, designed to one day give notice of an imminent temblor, would likely be killed under President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget.

NBC Los Angeles, 5-26-17

Before and After: Satellite Photos of Vast Big Sur Landslide

Saturday night, a mountainside gave way along Highway 1, a mile or so down the road from the hamlet of Gorda on the southern end of the Big Sur coast.

KQED (San Francisco television), 5-26-17

California needs an earthquake early warning system — now

It’s good news that California is making progress toward deploying an earthquake early warning system. But, as your article points out, California still lags behind Japan and other earthquake-prone countries …

Los Angeles Times letter to the editor from Senators Hertzberg and Hill, 5-27-17

Golden Gate Bridge replica to test winds for seismic project

A miniature Golden Gate Bridge will be built to test high winds the span sometimes faces, part of the work to protect the 110,000 people who use the span daily as seismic upgrade work continues.

Marin Independent Journal, 5-28-17

3.4 earthquake shakes desert north of Borrego Springs

A magnitude 3.4 earthquake broke at noon Monday north of Borrego Springs, in the Anza area, causing brief shaking in the desert, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

San Diego Union Tribune, 5-29-17

Alaska volcano erupts again; aviation alert raised to red

An Alaska volcano that has been active for nearly six months has erupted again.

Associated Press, 5-30-17

Before-and-after photos of Russian Hill include a striking tale of earthquake survival

The contrast of death and survival, separated a few feet apart, still captivates 111 years later. One side of a steep Russian Hill street lies in ruins in the aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. The other side, like the outlier in a Midwestern tornado, remains remarkably intact.

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-30-17

Earthquake rattles windows near Frazier Park

A magnitude 3.5 earthquake shook Frazier Park and surrounding areas at about 9:15 p.m. on Monday evening.

Frazier Park Mountain Enterprise, 5-30-17

3.5 quake strikes near Frazier Park, Calif.

A shallow magnitude 3.5 earthquake was reported Monday evening three miles from Frazier Park, Calif., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 9:14 p.m. at a depth of 1.9 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-30-17

Landslide piles onto California's infrastructure woes

It's been a brutal year so far for California's infrastructure.

CNN, 5-30-17

Small quake rattles rural area of inland Southern California

A small earthquake has rattled a rural area of inland Southern California.

Associated Press, 5-29-17

DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION

Why does City of Industry want thousands of acres of ranchland in Chino Hills and Diamond Bar? Here’s their plan.

Despite claiming that no such plans existed, the City of Industry has been working quietly and out of public view on a multimillion-dollar proposal to build a massive solar farm amid more than 2,000 acres of undeveloped rolling hills along the shared borders of Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-26-17

This is where Sacramento plans to put nearly 3,000 new homes

More than a decade in the making, a massive community of lakeside homes and apartments on farmland near Sacramento International Airport is up for key city approvals this week, with possible home construction next year.

Sacramento Bee, 5-29-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Fracking Opponents Charge Gov. Jerry Brown with Environmental Hypocrisy

The California governor, known for his outspoken climate advocacy, signed the nation's toughest fracking regulation bill in 2013. His response to those who want to ban fracking is that priority must be on reducing oil consumption.

Planetizen, 5-27-17

California Fracking Boom Set to Lift U.S. Production to New Record

The California Division of Conservation has received a 543 percent increase in “Oil & Gas Notices” this year, as a Golden State fracking is set to lift the U.S. to a production record.

Breitbart News, 5-29-17

OPEC Can Cut Production But Fracking Controls The Oil Price Now

The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, Opec, has agreed to maintain their production cuts for the purpose of supporting the oil price.

Forbes, 5-29-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Budget Guts U.S. Carbon Capture, Storage Research

Capturing carbon dioxide emissions from electric power plants and storing them permanently underground may be among the most important ways countries can prevent climate change from spiraling out of control.

Climate Central, 5-25-17

What if US quits climate deal? Doesn't look good for Earth

Earth is likely to reach more dangerous levels of warming even sooner if the U.S. retreats from its pledge to cut carbon dioxide pollution, scientists said. That's because America contributes so much to rising temperatures.

Associated Press, 5-30-17

Cities may be 8 degrees Celsius hotter by 2100: study

Under a dual onslaught of global warming and localised, urban heating, some of the world's cities may be as much as eight degrees Celsius (14.4 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer by 2100, researchers warned Monday.

Agency France-Presse, 5-30-17

Global Warming Created So Many New Plants They Made Earth Colder

Global warming is spurring so much plant growth that some parts of Earth are starting to cool, according to study released Thursday by Ghent University.

Daily Caller, 5-27-17

The Possible Reasons Big Corporations Are So Eager for Trump to Break His Promise on Paris Climate Deal

European countries and major corporations are pressuring President Donald Trump to remain in the Paris climate agreement despite his promises on the campaign trail to withdraw the United States from the Obama-era deal that never gained congressional approval.

Daily Signal, 5-26-17

CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Missing from President Trump's budget: Funds for California's earthquake early warning system

Los Angeles Times, 5-26-17

3.3 quake strikes near Malibu

A shallow magnitude 3.3 earthquake was reported Thursday morning 12 miles from Malibu, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The temblor occurred at 7:19 a.m. at a depth of 9.3 miles.

Los Angeles Times, 5-25-17

Earthquake hits in ocean west of Malibu

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 3.3 struck 10.6 miles west of Malibu this morning, according to information from the U.S. Geological Survey.

Los Angeles Newspaper Group, 5-25-17

Big Sur landslide highlights earthquake vulnerability of magnificent California coast

Over the weekend, a massive landslide in Big Sur left part of Highway 1 covered in 35-40 feet of dirt, with some reports stating that the section of road may remain closed for months.

Temblor.com, 5-25-17

Landslide leaves engineers to ponder options for Highway 1

San Francisco Chronicle, 5-26-17

Massive Big Sur slide may keep Highway 1 closed for a year

Bay Area News Group, 5-25-17

For California Hospitals That Don’t Pass Quake Test, Money’s Mostly At Fault

With a state deadline looming, some California hospitals still need to retrofit or rebuild so that their structures can withstand an earthquake — and money remains a challenge.

California Healthline, 5-26-17

More than 1,000,000 tons of rock and dirt has to be moved off Highway 1. But how?

Yet another stretch of Highway 1, that improbable serpentine hemming the continent’s western edge, had abruptly disappeared.

Los Angeles Times, 5-26-17

Massive Mud Creek Slide on Hwy. 1 must be seen, heard and felt to be believed

Engineers don’t know how they’re going to restore a nearly half-mile segment of Highway 1 that’s been swallowed up by a falling mountain, but they do know one thing: It won’t happen soon.

San Luis Obispo Tribune, 5-25-17

What triggers rockfalls? Yosemite study shows it’s about the heat

When rocks get hot, they do what people do: shed a few layers.

Bay Area News Group, 5-25-17

DIVISION OF OIL, GAS, AND GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES

Venoco Bankruptcy Ends Major Source of Tax Revenue, Philanthropy — and Eases Environmental Worries

Venoco, Inc. has had an interesting relationship with the Santa Barbara community.

Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 5-24-17

CLIMATE CHANGE

Gov. Brown Optimistic on Climate Change, Trump

Gov. Jerry Brown was optimistic about the state of climate change policy at a San Francisco conference on Wednesday, saying he was glad to see President Trump meet with Pope Francis this week.

KQED-TV San Francisco, 5-24-17

Scientists just published an entire study refuting Scott Pruitt on climate change

Washington Post, 5-24-17

California climate program has struggled. Why the billion-dollar rebound?

California’s market-based program for fighting climate change had struggled badly over the past year. On Wednesday, it bounced back sharply.

Sacramento Bee, 5-24-17

State Democrats Have New Leverage in Effort to Curb Greenhouse Gases

KQED-TV San Francisco, 5-25-17

California Seeks To Shape International Climate Policies

California has led the nation for years in climate action policies. Now, it may be trying to lead the world.

KPBS radio San Diego, 5-25-17

22 GOP senators want US to pull out of Paris climate accord

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and 21 other Republicans on Thursday urged President Donald Trump to follow through on his campaign pledge to pull out of the Paris climate accord.

Associated Press, 5-25-17

Will Carbon Capture and Storage Ever Work?

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is looking into another controversial tactic to fight climate change. This time, it's carbon dioxide removal and sequestration.

Environment & Energy Publishing, 5-25-17

BUDGET

Gov. Jerry Brown's budget team drops its hotly debated plans to redefine the state's spending limit

Los Angeles Times, 5-26-17

BUDGET

California’s $900 million budget program faces a new delay

The biggest technology project in California state government will miss a key deadline in July, postponing the full implementation of a $900 million statewide budget program that has been in development since 2005.

Sacramento Bee, 5-30-17

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