Geology
300: CRC Physical Geology Lecture
Geology
300: ARC Physical Geology Lecture
Geology
301: CRC Physical Geology Lab
Geology
301: ARC Physical Geology Lab
Geology
305: ARC Earth Science Lecture
Geology
306: Earth Science Lab
Instructor: Arthur Reed
January 2020 Earth Sciences topics/events making news…
...with emphasis on California news
Remember
the principles of the scientific method when evaluating news 
stories!
|
· (link to 2014 news articles) |
|||
|
· (link to 2010
news articles) |
· (link to 2015
news articles) |
|
|
|
· (link to 2011
news articles) |
· (link to 2016
news articles) |
|
|
|
· (link to 2012
news articles) |
· (link to 2017 news articles) |
|
|
|
· (link to 2013
news articles) |
· (link to 2018
news articles) |
|
|
CA. GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Oxnard
oil field waste site closed | Anterra disposal wells shut after violations
According
to a letter dated Dec. 17, 2019, posted on the website for Anterra Energy
Services, LLC, the facility on Wooley Road in Oxnard is temporarily closed and
is not receiving any fluid for disposal. The company has previously been subject to
a district attorney investigation, and later paid a $500,000 fine. Last year
the company’s injection wells failed pressure tests and the state issued
violations.
Ventura County Reporter, 1-15-20
Local
state and environmental watchdogs have used the aftermath of the Oct. 23, 2015 natural
gas explosion at Aliso Canyon’s underground gas storage facility near
Porter Ranch as a cautionary tale of what can happened at other gas storage
facilities, including the 58-year-old Southern California Gas Co. Playa del Rey
site.
Culver City Argonaut, 1-15-20
PHMSA
finalizes rules for underground natural gas storage
The
U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA) soon will issue a final rule for underground
natural gas storage facilities to prevent another Aliso Canyon natural gas
leak/blowout. The new standards will apply to about 200 interstate facilities.
Kallanish Energy, 1-15-20
Iraq
oil supplies vulnerable as Mideast tensions flare, IEA says
Oil
supplies from Iraq, the Middle East’s second-biggest producer, are
“potentially vulnerable” amid rising political risks in the country
and the broader region, the International Energy Agency warned. Still, the
clash between Washington and Tehran hasn’t yet caused any supply disruption,
and protests inside Iraq have had only minimal impact on oil operations, the
agency said. Global oil markets have a “solid base” of ample
inventories and swelling U.S. shale-oil output to weather any shocks it said.
Bloomberg, 1-16-20
Environmental
groups are suing to stop the Trump administration from fracking in California.
The suit, filed in Los Angeles Tuesday, comes in response to the Bureau of Land
Management’s (BLM) decision to open more than a million acres of public
lands to oil and gas leasing. The decision was finalized in December and covers
eight Central California counties as well as land bordering national parks.
EcoWatch, 1-15-20
Lawsuit
filed against plan to open 1.2 million acres of CA land to fracking, drilling
A
lawsuit was filed Tuesday challenging the Trump Administration's plan to open
up more than 1.2 million acres of land in California to drilling and fracking.
The plan includes land in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties.
The lawsuit
was filed in Los Angeles by several conservation groups and said the Bureau of
Land Management violated federal law by not considering the potential impacts
of fracking on public health and recreation.
KEYT (Santa Barbara television), 1-14-20
Air
pollution from oil and gas production sites visible from space
Oil
and gas production has doubled in some parts of the United States in the last
two years, and scientists can use satellites to see impacts of that trend: a
significant increase in the release of the lung-irritating air pollutant
nitrogen dioxide, for example, and a more-than-doubling of the amount of gas
flared into the atmosphere.
Phys.org, 1-15-20
Chinese
imports of U.S. oil to pick up following Trump’s trade deal
American
crude oil shipments to China are poised to pick up again after the two economic
superpowers signed a landmark trade deal. Under the terms of the agreement,
U.S. energy exports to China will jump over the next two years, with the
promise of an additional $18.5 billion worth of additional purchases in 2020
and $33.9 billion in 2021.
WorldOil, 1-15-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Ten
years after Haiti's deadly earthquake, country still recovering: 'Keep praying
for us'
A
decade after Haiti’s most deadly earthquake that claimed 316,000 lives,
left 1.5 million homeless and another 1.5 million injured, the Caribbean
country has seen little progress after billions of dollars were promised in
aid.
Fox News, 1-14-20
Displaced
by the earthquake, Puerto Ricans cope with constant aftershocks and uncertainty
Ana
Sofia Rivera would have started first grade this week. But classes have been
postponed by a string of earthquakes that have struck Puerto Rico over the past
two weeks, killing at least one person and damaging at least 800 homes islandwide.
NBC News, 1-16-20
MINING
Canadian
firm pushing to reopen Idaho Maryland mine
A
Canadian company, Rise Gold Corporation, aka Rise Grass Valley, has filed an
application for a permit to reopen the Idaho Maryland Mine.
Yuba Net, 1-14-20
WATER
California
governor restarts giant water tunnel project
California’s
governor has restarted a project to build a giant, underground tunnel that
would pump billions of gallons of water from the San Joaquin Delta to the
southern part of the state. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration on
Wednesday issued a Notice of Preparation for the project, which is the first
step in the state’s lengthy environmental review process. The new project
will have only one tunnel, and it will carry less water. State officials
don’t know how much it will cost.
Associated Press, 1-16-20
California
moves toward single water tunnel under delta
California
is moving forward with its biggest water project in decades, a single tunnel
beneath the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta that will help move Northern
California water south to cities and farms, state water officials said
Wednesday. The proposal piggybacks on plans by former Gov. Jerry Brown, who
wanted to build a pair of 30-mile-long tunnels through the delta but was
stymied by funding shortfalls and controversy.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-15-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
California
is behind on its 2030 climate goals. What’s at stake if it doesn’t
catch up?
California
has done surprisingly well over the past decade meeting many of its big climate
change goals, even as its economy has steadily grown. But now, as Australia
burns, global temperatures continue to rise, and the Trump administration
prepares to take the final steps this year to pull the United States out of the
Paris Climate Agreement, California is falling short of where it needs to be to
hit its more ambitious 2030 targets, according to a new report released Thursday.
Bay Area News Group, 1-16-20
KERN COUNTY OIL INITIATIVES MEETING
Record
crowd shows up at Kern County supervisors meeting in support of oil industry
If
the Kern County oil industry wanted to send a message, it did. At the
invitation of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, more than a thousand oil
workers, executives and individuals associated with the industry packed the
Kern County Administrative Center on Tuesday, filling the building completely.
An estimated
850 people watched the meeting inside the building, with around 250 relegated
to listening to the proceedings on speakers that were set up just outside the
entrance.
Bakersfield Californian, 1-14-20
County
supervisors take aim at state oil policies
Kern
supervisors joined oil industry representatives, local politicians and
residents Tuesday in warning state officials that Gov. Gavin Newsom's
regulatory crackdown and moves to wind down in-state petroleum production
gravely threaten the county's economy and tax base.
Bakersfield Californian, 1-14-20
Hundreds
turn out for passionate Board of Supervisors meeting on oil
At
least 800 people attended the Kern County Board of Supervisors meeting on oil Tuesday.
There, many who work in the industry voiced concerns over new regulations
imposed by Governor Gavin Newson, including a ban on new permits for
steam-injected oil drilling, and a mandate that any new fracking projects must
be reviewed by an independent panel of scientists.
KGET (Bakersfield television), 1-14-20
Governor's
office reps hear frustration from Kern County oil industry
Tuesday’s
afternoon session at the Board of Supervisor was packed house, with hundreds of
members of the public gathered in the main auditorium, and overflowing to
listen from outside. The reason? To address the guests from Sacramento in
attendance, representatives from Governor Gavin Newsom’s office, invited
to hear presentations from oil industry leaders about how their clean energy
initiative is stifling Kern’s economic future.
KBAK (Bakersfield television), 1-14-20
Hundreds
turn out as Governor's office meets with Kern Board of Supervisors
Hundreds
turn out as Governor’s office meets with Kern Board of Supervisors
KERO (Bakersfield television), 1-14-20
Hundreds
turn out as Governor's office meets with Kern Board of Supervisors about oil
For
months, many in Kern County’s oil business have felt attacked and
frustrated as California Governor Gavin Newsom has taken major steps to squash
the industry. Today, the governor’s administration was in town to discuss
their plans, and to hear from locals about how the potential loss of the oil
industry would impact Kern.
KGET (Bakersfield television), 1-14-20
CA. GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
The
best case for and against a fracking ban
Researchers
and analysts have been studying fracking for years and still continue to debate
its merits. It’s a microcosm of the broader policy discussion about the
role of fossil fuel industry in the carbon constrained future, whether it
should be fought as an adversary or embraced as a partner. Here is a summary of
the best arguments for and against a ban on fracking.
VOX, 1-15-20
Groups
sue to stop California oil leases, citing dangers of fracking
Environmentalists
sued the Trump administration Tuesday for approving new oil-drilling leases on
federal land in eight Central California counties and the Sierra foothills,
including sites near Yosemite National Park. Six groups led by the nonprofit
Center for Biological Diversity filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los
Angeles accusing the Bureau of Land Management of illegally failing to consider
public health concerns, groundwater contamination, increases in greenhouse gas
emissions and the potential for earthquakes from the drilling method known as
fracking.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-14-20
Conservation
groups sue BLM over California fracking plan
A
coalition of conservation organizations filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of
Land Management on Tuesday, challenging a plan to open more than 1 million
acres of public lands and mineral estates in California’s Central Valley
and Central Coast for new oil drilling and fracking permits.
USA Today, 1-14-20
Green
groups sue Trump administration over California fracking plans analysis
Environmental
groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday over its fracking plans in
California, arguing that a federal analysis it adopted didn’t adequately
review “serious environmental and health impacts.”
The Hill, 1-14-20
Trump
Administration Sued Over Plan to Open California to Fracking
A
consortium of conservation groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday to try
and stop it from opening a million acres of public lands in Central California
for oil and gas drilling.
Courthouse News, 1-14-20
U.S.
oil production hits estimated record 13 million barrels per day
U.S.
crude oil production rose to an estimated record-high of 13 million barrels per
day last week as the nation's energy growth crossed a new threshold, according
to a weekly report from the U.S. Energy Department.
Huston Chronicle, 1-15-20
Improved
economic outlook in 2020 bodes well for oil demand, supply growth: OPEC
A
rise in oil demand growth this year will be offset by a sharper increase in
non-OPEC supply, the producer group said in its monthly oil market report
published Wednesday.
S&P Global, 1-15-20
County
supervisors take aim at state oil policies
Kern
supervisors joined oil industry representatives, local politicians and
residents Tuesday in warning state officials that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s
regulatory crackdown and moves to wind down in-state petroleum production
threated the county’s economy and tax base. The opportunity to impress
upon Sacramento regulators the local impact of the state’s oil-unfriendly
policies drew an audience estimated at about 1,000 industry supporters.
The Bakersfield Californian, 1-14-20
Up
to 2,000 show up to discuss Governor Newsom’s oil regulations
About
1,500 to 2,000 people showed up for the Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday
afternoon, where a six-hour discussion about the oil industry took place. Hours
before the meeting started, it was already standing room outside the chambers.
KGET, 1-14-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Empowering
the public with earthquake science
Risk
communication in the aftermath of an earthquake can provide actionable information
to help vulnerable societies prevent further damage. It is most effective when
scientists convey what they know about earthquakes and earthquake risk, instead
of focusing on the unknowns.
Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1-13-20
Philippine
volcano still threatening massive eruption, forcing residents to flee
Thousands
of people in the Philippines were being warned to stay away from their homes on
Wednesday as experts said a massive eruption of the Taal volcano could be
imminent. Taal spewed ash and hot lava high into the sky on Tuesday, darkening
skies and causing the ground to tremble.
CBS News, 1-15-20
Galapagos
volcano eruption spews lava on uninhabited island, photos show
A
volcano erupted on an uninhabited island in the Galapagos over the weekend,
spewing lava across the ecologically sensitive and diverse environment. The La
Cumbre volcano, one of the youngest and most active in the Galapagos
archipelago, began erupting Sunday night on Fernandina Island, Ecuador’s
Galapagos National Park said.
FOX, 1-14-20
This
firm spent big to see if ‘earthquake lights’ could warn of
temblors. It didn’t work
Aerospace
engineer Tom Bleier tramped up a Bay Area hill on a recent weekday to inspect a
sensor designed to detect whether the nearby San Andreas fault was about to
shake the earth. It was part of a network of 115 sensors deployed along the
California coast to act as ears capable of picking up these hints, called
electromagnetic precursors. If they exist, they could serve as an early warning
system for earthquakes. After
spending 20 years and $30 million, he and other engineers at Stellar Solution
Inc.’s QuakeFinder.com project never snared a clear indicator of a deadly
seismic hazard. But that didn’t keep them from trying.
Los Angeles Times, 1-15-20
WATER
Growers
still unclear on how much groundwater they can use
The
first question asked at the Eastern Tule Groundwater Sustainability Agency
Board meeting on Friday represented the frustration of growers who are still
facing the unknown. “It’s 2020,” the grower said, who went on
to ask the board, referring to growers, “what can they pump?”
Porterville Recorder, 1-13-20
Balancing
water supply for all is 2020 priority
California
water policy leaders say balancing the supply of groundwater by implementing
the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, or SGMA, and addressing policies
related to water supply and water quality, will continue to be priority issues
in 2020.
California Farm Bureau, 1-14-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
BLM
approves large-scale solar project in eastern Riverside County over local
opposition
The
Bureau of Land Management on Wednesday gave the go ahead for a large-scale
solar plant in eastern Riverside County that would cover 3,000 acres southwest
of Blythe. Although
the project faces some local opposition, regulators hailed its progress.
Palm Springs Desert Sun, 1-15-20
Draft
Report Says Rising Seas Will Significantly Affect Santa Barbara Beach Areas
Santa
Barbara's shoreline, beaches and bluffs face serious levels of erosion over the
next 80 years. The City Council on Tuesday
discussed the potential impacts as part of a larger effort to prepare for
sea level rise. The city in 2018 started on its Draft Sea-Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment.
Santa Barbara Noozhawk, 1-14-20
2019
Was the Second-Hottest Year Ever, Closing Out the Warmest Decade
The
2010s were the warmest decade on record, government researchers announced on
Wednesday, as global surface temperatures continued their rise linked to
greenhouse gas emissions. The five warmest years on record occurred in the last
five years, the researchers said, including 2019, which was second-warmest,
exceeded only slightly by 2016.
New York Times, 1-15-20
CA. GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Meeting
on oil to take place at Board of Supervisors Tuesday afternoon
Representatives
from Kern’s oil industry are expected to attend and present about oil in
the Golden Empire at the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. Members
of Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration also are set to be in
attendance.
KGET (Bakersfield television), 1-13-20
California’s
offshore oil rigs could turn into windmills and dive hotels
Long
a scourge to environmentalists, California’s offshore oil rigs may be
transformed into ecological trophies. A dozen or more of the state’s 27
offshore platforms could be decommissioned in the next decade. Rather than
tearing them down, many would like to preserve the incidental artificial reefs
– and the enriched marine habitat – that have formed on their
underwater pilings.
East Bay Times, 1-14-20
Part
four: Since the blowout occurred, the topic of whether Aliso Canyon is needed
for energy reliability has been a discussed and debated topic every year. While
SoCalGas and regulators had presumed the need of Aliso Canyon to be in
operation, many residents and environmental groups felt that SoCalGas was
deliberately using the broken pipelines as a means to manipulate supply to
justify the use of Aliso Canyon.
Knock LA, 1-13-20
Texas
processing drilling permits at record pace
For
two years in a row since 2018, Railroad Commission of Texas staff have set a
historic record of taking just two days on average to process standard drilling
permits, one day below the legislative requirements. During Calendar Year 2019
the RRC processed a total of 11,654 new drilling permits.
World Oil, 1-13-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Magnitude
3.3 earthquake jolts Gilroy, Aromas area
A
magnitude 3.3 earthquake rattled the residents southwest of Gilroy early Monday
morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Bay Area News Group, 1-13-20
Assemblyman
Rudy Salas introduces bill to strengthen seismic safety on residential gas
lines
Assemblyman
Rudy Salas introduced legislation that would require the installation of
seismic gas shutoff devices on any newly constructed or renovated homes. The
new bill came as a response to last year’s major earthquakes that struck
the Ridgecrest area, during which gas lines leaked and multiple homes caught
fire.
KERO (Bakersfield television), 1-13-20
MINING
Jeff
Ackerman: There they go again, but not very far when it comes to mining
(Commentary)
If
history repeats – and it generally does – we’ll probably
spend a good chunk of 2020 reading and hearing about meetings and studies and
promises and permits relating to the most recent bid to reopen the Idaho-Maryland
Mine. The Union archives are filled with stories from the last time someone
tried to reopen the mine. The difference this time is the anti-mining
sentiment, or better stated, the concerns with climate
change.
Grass Valley Union, 1-12-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
2019
was a record year for ocean temperatures, data show
Last
year was the warmest year on record for the world’s oceans, part of a
long-term warming trend, according to a study released on Monday. The study,
published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, follows an
announcement last week by European scientists that Earth’s surface
temperatures in 2019 were the second-hottest on record.
New
York Times, 1-13-20
California
ranks high for states at risk of negative climate change, study shows
With
images of the Australian brushfires being broadcasted and shared throughout the
world, folks are talking about climate change, and the impacts it has on the
planet. In a recent study conducted
by Safe Home, a security-research company, California ranked among the top 10
states for negative climate-change risks.
Signal Hill Signal Tribune, 1-13-20
An
ounce of prevention: Australia and California could benefit from forest
management
The
fires raging in Australia present a sadly recognizable scenario, a new normal
that, after two years of devastating wildfires in California, we in the United
States have become all too familiar with. Policies intended to return forests
to a more “natural” state with less proactive human management have
created disastrous conditions that allow fires to burn hotter, longer and leave
more destruction in their wake.
The Hill commentary, 1-14-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Alameda
County officials call for statewide phase-out of fossil fuels
A
group of mayors and elected officials from around Alameda County plan to gather
next week to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom to phase out the burning and production of
fossil fuels in California.
KTVU (Oakland television), 1-13-20
Ballona
Wetland Conservation supporters slam restoration project
On
Dec. 20, environmental and community leaders who have long been involved with
protection efforts for this 600+ acre coastal oasis in Los Angeles have blasted
the release — just days before Christmas — of an environmental
review (Final EIR) for plans that would be harmful to wildlife, protection of
which is one of the key mandates for the CA Department of Fish & Wildlife,
which ironically released this report.
Culver
City News, 1-10-20
Let's
be rational about moving away from fossil fuels (Commentary)
In
California we are so reliant on our cars to get from here to there. Yes, we
want to move toward a world where we lower our carbon emissions and complement
our use of fossil fuels with renewable sources because we all share the same
future. But we need to be rational about how we get there.
Ventura County Star, 1-11-20
CalGEM
issues Notice to Operators regarding cyclic steam moratorium
Nearly
two months ago, on November 19, 2019, the Department of Conservation’s
Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (“DOGGR”) announced a
moratorium on approvals of new oil extraction wells that use a high-pressure
cyclic steaming process to break apart a geological formation to extract oil.
Finally, on
January 7, 2020, the California Geologic Energy Management Division
(“CalGEM”) (formerly DOGGR) issued its long-awaited Notice to
Operators regarding the moratorium that offered industry some guidance on how
the moratorium will be put into place and how it will be tailored over time.
JD Supra, 1-10-20
Huge
turnout expected for Kern supervisors oil meeting with state regulators
Kern
County’s oil industry is expected to put forward a strong showing at a
meeting between industry representatives, state officials and the Board of
Supervisors on Tuesday. Hundreds connected to the oil industry are expected to
attend the meeting, which will offer a unique chance for dialogue between oil
leaders, local government officials, and state department heads whose jobs
could include the managed decline of Kern County’s leading industry.
Bakersfield Californian, 1-10-20
County
supervisors to discuss pushing back on new state oil regulations
Representatives
from Kern’s oil industry are expected to attend and present about oil in
the Golden Empire at the upcoming Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday. Members
of Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration also are set to be in
attendance.
KGET (Bakersfield television), 1-9-20
The
oil platforms off the Santa Barbara coast are a familiar sight to local
residents. The structures tower above the ocean surface like industrial
factories. But below the water, the rigs are like high-rise apartment
buildings, providing homes to a vibrant community of sea life.
The Current (UC Santa Barbara), 1-13-20
Emails
reveal U.S. Justice Dept. working closely with oil industry to oppose climate
lawsuits
In
early 2018, a few months after the cities of Oakland and San Francisco sued
several major oil companies over climate change, attorneys with the U.S.
Department of Justice began a series of email exchanges and meetings with
lawyers for the oil companies targeted in the litigation. The messages were
among 178 pages of emails exchanged by government and industry from February
through May 2018 as they worked together to oppose the cities' lawsuits.
Inside Climate News, 1-13-20
Experts
fear Trump’s weakening of environmental policy could expose North Coast
to drilling
A
move by the Trump administration to roll back landmark environmental policy
intended to ensure vigorous scrutiny of federal infrastructure projects has
struck alarm in the hearts of California conservationists, particularly those
striving to safeguard North Coast waters from offshore energy exploration and
production.
Santa Rosa Press Democrat, 1-13-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
'Sad,
worried, inconsolable': Earthquakes trigger anxiety in Puerto Rico,
post-Hurricane Maria
After
the worst earthquake in more than a century killed one person and triggered an
island-wide blackout in Puerto Rico, many people couldn't find the strength to
go back into their homes. As if the 6.4-magnitude quake on Tuesday that
destroyed schools, churches and homes wasn't enough, it has been followed by
more than 80 aftershocks. The biggest aftershock happened on Saturday morning.
NBC News, 1-8-20
Philippines
warns of 'explosive eruption' after Taal Volcano spews ash near Manila
Philippine
authorities have urged a "total evacuation" of nearly half a million
people near the capital Manila, after a volcano spewed ash up to nine miles (14
kilometers) into the air Sunday prompting warnings of a possible
"explosive eruption."
CNN, 1-13-20
New
Zealand volcano eruption: Death toll rises one month after disaster on White
Island
Another
person has died after a volcanic eruption in New Zealand last month that sent
tourists scrambling as ash rained down. Police confirmed on Monday the 18th
official fatality from the eruption. Two other people are missing and presumed
dead, though their bodies may never be recovered.
USA Today, 1-13-20
DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
A
fight over the management of a diked island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River
Delta is shining a light on a growing conundrum for California water managers,
farmers and environmentalists over the best way to restore natural habitat on
cropland created more than a century ago by draining marshes. The suit, filed
in 2018 by a group called the Wetlands Preservation Foundation, accuses the
California Department of Water Resources and the Nature Conservancy of failing
to adequately protect wildlife or employ sustainable agricultural practices on
the property, one of the largest of 57 reclaimed islands and tracts in the
delta.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-12-20
Environmental
group sues Placer County to block major 8,000-home development off Highway 65
An
environmental group is suing Placer County over a recently approved housing
development near Highway 65, arguing that the project would destroy thousands
of acres of seasonal wetlands crucial to wildlife, undermining
California’s climate goals.
Sacramento Bee, 1-10-20
DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION
On
the Cemex Mine, Public Deserves a Real Voice
The
Cemex mine, the proposed mega-mining operation slated for our back yard, would
be the second largest aggregate mine in the country. For those of us who live
in the Santa Clarita Valley, it is one of the biggest threats to our local
environment and will upend traffic on Highway 14.
Santa Clarita Signal commentary, 1-12-20
Save
the San Joaquin? Fresno County should reject Cemex proposal for deeper gravel
mine
Remember
Jesse Morrow Mountain from a few years ago? This time it’s the San
Joaquin River north of Fresno that needs saving from a destructive gravel mine
expansion.Yes, aggregate mining on the San Joaquin has been going on for more
than a century. But with production tapering off and newer operations opening
on the nearby Kings River,
it was generally assumed the poor San Joaquin would finally be given a break
and allowed to return to something closer to its natural state.
Fresno Bee column, 1-13-20
BUDGET
Farm
Bureau gives nod to Newsom's draft budget
The
proposed $222 billion budget submitted Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom follows through
on his pledge to elevate issues affecting farmers, ranchers and rural
communities, according to the California Farm Bureau Federation.
Western Farm Press, 1-13-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
Greenhouse
gases from oil and gas projected to continue to increase
The
fracking boom across the country has resulted in greenhouse gas emissions
steadily climbing each year since the United States has become the largest
producer of oil and gas in the world. That expansion will result in greenhouse
gas emissions across the U.S. totaling 990.5 million tons per year by 2025,
according to a study by the Environmental Integrity Project.
Chicago Tribune News Services, 1-11-20
Rising
sea levels threaten California beaches. Here’s how we can help protect
them (Commentary)
I
recently returned from Kiribati, the low-lying Pacific Island nation that is
projected to be the first country lost to sea-level rise. The I-Kiribati are
people who smile easily, laugh often and dance before dinner. It’s
difficult to comprehend sea-level rise displacing this or any culture, although
our California beach culture faces a similar threat.
Sacramento Bee, 1-11-20
Editorial:
Fighting climate change in California will take more than a bond measure
As
the wildfire bills stack up and the PG&E bankruptcy drags on, California
leaders have become all too aware of the costs of climate change — both
now and in the future. But is a climate bond the best way to pay for it?
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-12-20
GENERAL
Conservationists
raise $16M to buy world's largest private sequoia grove in Tulare County
Donations
flooded in from around the country — and the globe — to purchase
the largest private grove of giant sequoia in the mountains of Tulare County.
Save the Redwoods League raised nearly $16 million — half of it in the
past four months alone — to rescue Alder Creek, a 530-acre property
containing hundreds of ancient giant sequoia.
Visalia Times Delta, 1-10-20
California
Wants To Buy Huge Ranch To Create New State Park
A
pristine, 80-square-mile ranch within an hour’s drive of San Francisco is
up for sale for the first time in 85 years and California wants to acquire the
property to create one of the largest state parks in decades. When Gov. Gavin
Newsom announced his $222 billion proposed state budget on Friday, he mentioned
that he wants legislative leaders to dedicate $20 million from a one-time
surplus to help purchase new public parkland. Newsom declined to say where the
new park might be, suggesting the asking price could “go up” if he
revealed details.
Associated Press, 1-11-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
The
number of U.S. oil and gas drilling rigs plunged by 15 this week, bringing the
nation's total to 781, according to the Baker Hughes rig count. The rig count
is back at its lowest point since March 2017, when the industry was recovering
from the previous oil bust. The drop was led by the Permian Basin, which saw a
net loss of six rigs this week.
Houston Chronicle, 1-10-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
After
being buried by mudslides, two communities chart very different recoveries
In
the surfer's paradise where Mike Bell has lived for four decades, talking about
rain is blasphemy. "We have sprinkles, we have showers, we have mist, but
we don't use the 'r' word, because the 'r' word is what kills people," he
says. Fifteen years ago, after 18 inches of it fell in just over two weeks,
terrain that slopes through his small, tightknit town morphed into a massive
mud avalanche and buried several dozen houses. Ten people died, including three
young sisters.
Washington Post, 1-10-20
MINING
Wilk
Introduces Measure to Combat Cemex Mega-Mine Project
In his first order of
business for the 2020 legislative session, Senator Scott Wilk, representing the
21st Senate District has introduced Senate Bill 797 (SB 797), a measure that
would give the public the opportunity to weigh in before the Cemex mega mine
can proceed.
Santa Clarita Signal, 1-10-20
BUDGET
Gov.
Gavin Newsom’s budget envisions an activist agenda but limits on higher
spending
For
the seventh time in eight years, California’s government is poised to
collect a sizable cash surplus under projections in the $222.2-billion state
budget Gov. Gavin Newsom submitted to the Legislature on Friday — a
remarkable streak even in the face of steadily higher spending, most notably on
K-12 education and healthcare for low-income residents.
Los Angeles Times, 1-10-20
Gov.
Gavin Newsom unveils new housing funding in 2020 budget
Reiterating
that housing affordability remains one of his top priorities in the new year,
Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday unveiled a budget proposal that builds upon last
year’s historic housing investments. After securing an unprecedented
$1.75 billion for housing production last year, Newsom this year plans to
allocate another $500 million annually for the state’s housing tax credit
program — a key source of funding for affordable housing.
Bay Area News Group, 1-10-20
California
state budget breaks record, tops $220 billion
California
Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled a $222.2 billion budget proposal Friday with
plans to spend part of a projected $5.6 billion surplus on green technology and
homeless aid. Newsom’s plan would steer more money to Medi-Cal, the
state’s health care program for low-income people. Part of that expansion
would boost assistance for homeless people and mental health care.
Sacramento Bee, 1-10-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
Rising
sea levels threaten California beaches. Here’s how we can help protect
them
I
recently returned from Kiribati, the low-lying Pacific Island nation that is
projected to be the first country lost to sea-level rise. The I-Kiribati are people who smile easily, laugh often and
dance before dinner. It’s difficult to comprehend sea-level
rise displacing this or any culture, although our California beach culture
faces a similar threat.
Sacramento Bee commentary, 1-10-20
Editorial:
Trump drills into bedrock environmental protections
Undeterred
by the raging Australian wildfires attesting to the consequences of global
warming just months after California’s stopped burning, President Trump
rolled out another effort to roll back fundamental environmental safeguards
Thursday. The administration’s proposed paring of the landmark National Environmental
Policy Act, which subjects infrastructure and other projects to environmental
and public review, could allow coal, oil and gas projects to proceed heedless
of their effects on climate change or other consequences.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-9-20
California’s
‘hydrogen highway’ never happened. Could 2020 change that?
California
has been dreaming of a clean, modern hydrogen
highway since 2004, when former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger ordered
preparations for a traffic jam of zero-emission, hydrogen-fueled cars, buses
and trucks. That revolution, part of the battle against climate change,
never materialized.
CalMatters, 1-9-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Supes
vote to expedite Aliso Canyon closure
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved
a motion to accelerate the closure of the Aliso Canyon Natural Gas Facility in
Porter Ranch on Tuesday morning. Los Angeles County supervisors approved
sending a five-signature letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Los Angeles County
legislative delegation in support of a proposed expedited closure of the Aliso
Canyon Natural Gas Facility, according to Supervisor Kathryn Barger’s
news release.
Santa Clarita Valley Signal, 1-8-20
How
a gas-leak crisis points to air filters for classrooms
An
intriguing new paper from the United States suggests that high-quality air
filters installed at relatively low expense deliver an impressive boost in
student performance by reducing air pollution within the classroom.
That’s what Michael Gilraine of New York University found when he looked
at what happened in Los Angeles following the Aliso Canyon gas leak – an
event that prompted authorities to install the filters.
Sustainability Times, 1-9-20
CLIMATE
CHANGE
California’s ambitious renewable
energy targets helped drive a substantial drop in greenhouse gas pollution that
propelled the state past its 2020 climate change goals early, according to a non-partisan
analysis released this week. Yet one California lawmaker confirmed Tuesday he
wants to put a stop to the mandate, for now.
CalMatters, 1-8-20
Friday’s
Bay Area king tides offer a hint of what rising sea levels look like
King
tides, a naturally occurring phenomenon that received a common name only a
decade ago, are heading to California shorelines this weekend — and with
them, a series of public events intended to show people the dangers posed by
sea level rise.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-9-20
WATER
Underappreciated
Effects of Sea-Level Rise on Groundwater Levels
When
most think of the possible impacts of sea level rise, they think of coastal
flooding and the growing risks to shore-based infrastructure — but
there’s another sea level rise-related threat that is much less talked
about. As sea level rises, so too will groundwater levels in coastal
aquifers, and some recent studies have concluded that in some coastal areas, as
much or more land could flood as a result of rising groundwater tables than
will flood directly from rising tides.
Maven’s Notebook, 1-9-20
GENERAL
Group
raises nearly $16 million to buy Alder Creek giant sequoia grove
The donations ranged from $1 to several
million. The money came from across the country and around the world. Save the
Redwoods League raised nearly $16 million — more than half of it in four
months — to close a deal for 530 acres of the Alder Creek Grove of giant
sequoias.
Los Angeles Times, 1-8-20
Trump
proposes change to environmental rules to speed up highway projects, pipelines
and more
President
Trump on Thursday proposed a change to 50-year-old regulations that would speed
the development of new mines, pipelines and hundreds of other projects around
the country, including some that could harm the environment and accelerate
climate change. The move also could prevent communities from having as much say
about what gets built in their backyards.
Washington Post, 1-9-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Magnitude
3.1 earthquake jolts Hollister area
A
magnitude 3.1 earthquake jolted residents awake in the Hollister-Gilroy area
for the second time in two days, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Bay Area News Group, 1-7-20
Mystery
of weird hum heard around the world solved
Mysterious
seismic hums detected around the world were likely caused by an unusual
geologic event — the rumblings of a magma-filled reservoir deep under the
Indian Ocean, a new study finds.
Live Science, 1-8-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Anti-fracking
group proposes limiting Colorado oil and gas drilling
A
Colorado environmental group on Tuesday launched a fresh push to curtail
drilling in the fifth-largest oil-producing state, citing concerns over health
and safety.
Reuters, 1-7-20
LA
County calls on governor to expedite closure of Aliso Canyon
The
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously called on Gov. Gavin Newsom
Tuesday to expedite the closure of the Aliso Canyon natural gas storage
facility in Porter Ranch -- the site of the largest methane leak in U.S.
history.
NBC Los Angeles, 1-7-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
How
Can Agriculture Be a Part of the Climate Solution?
“Agriculture
might just be the single most important industry on the planet for
creating negative carbon emissions under current economic policy,” said
Professor Benjamin Houlton, director of the John Muir Institute of the
Environment and champion of the One Climate Initiative.
UC Davis Magazine, 1-7-19
California
energy policy has reduced carbon emissions. By exactly how much, nobody knows
The
California Legislative Analyst’s Office released a report Monday on how
well the state's energy policies are working in terms of reducing greenhouse
gas emissions. The analysis found that the state requirement that utilities
continually increase the amount of renewable energy they provide has been a
"significant" driver in curbing emissions. The LAO, however, was not
able to determine exact figures for how much the cut in emissions is
attributable to state law versus other factors, and the agency cited as
problematic a lack of specific research that evaluates California climate
policy.
KQED (San Francisco TV-radio), 1-7-20
Bloomberg
sees California as model on climate change, guns
Mike
Bloomberg’s plan for California - export it. The Democratic presidential
candidate and former New York City mayor likes a lot of what he sees in the
Golden State and thinks its efforts on climate change, gun control and criminal
justice reform seta benchmark for other states to emulate.
Associated Press, 1-7-20
WATER
Valley
land has sunk from too much water pumping. Can Fresno County fix it?
The
Fresno County Board of Supervisors adopted a plan on Tuesday meant to maintain
groundwater and keep users from pumping too much from underground basins.
Fresno Bee, 1-7-20
Establishing
groundwater allocations under SGMA
As
groundwater sustainability agencies prepare their plans to meet the
requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), they will
likely utilize a variety of tools to achieve sustainability.
Maven’s Notebook, 1-7-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
Judge
orders Public Health officials to release data related to 2015 Aliso Canyon gas
leak
A
judge ordered public health officials to release data related to the Aliso
Canyon gas leak on Monday, Jan. 6. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Carolyn
Kuhl instructed the Los Angeles Department of Public Health to produce data
collected in the Porter Ranch area following the 2015 blowout.
Los Angeles Daily News, 1-6-20
Price
spike after Mideast drone attack not expected to boost local oil activity or
gas prices
Barring
further escalation in Middle East tensions, the modest surge in oil prices that
followed Friday's U.S. drone strike against Iranian military officials in Iraq
isn't expected to have much impact on Kern County's economy, property tax
revenues or local gasoline prices.
Bakersfield Californian, 1-6-20
How
fracking changed America forever
The
combination of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and horizontal drilling has
revolutionized U.S. energy. The country has gone from heavily relying on
foreign oil to producing enough for its domestic consumption and international
exports in less than two decades. However, the process of fracking is controversial.
CNBC, 1-7-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Puerto
Rico declares state of emergency after quake rocks residents awake
People
across southern Puerto Rico awoke to find broken brick walls and felled power
lines Tuesday, after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck before dawn. The major
temblor hit a coastal stretch near the communities of Ponce and Guanica at
about 4:24 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
NPR, 1-7-20
Deadly
Puerto Rico earthquake leaves close to 300,000 homes and businesses without
water
A
6.4 magnitude earthquake jolted southern Puerto Rico on Tuesday morning,
killing at least one man, damaging homes and cutting power and water service to
swaths of the island a day after a 5.8 magnitude quake shook the US territory,
officials said.
CNN, 1-7-20
Sound
Off: Do you recommend buyers get earthquake insurance, why or why not?
We’ve
learned that earthquake insurance is one of the least purchased coverages
available, yet we know it covers one of the most destructive disasters that can
occur. There
is no blanket yes or no answer. Ultimately, the decision to buy earthquake
insurance depends on the soils condition, location of the property and the
structural integrity of the home.
San Francisco Chronicle, 1-6-20
DIVISION OF LAND RESOURCE PROTECTION
COLUMN:
Protecting agriculture a top priority for San Benito County (Commentary)
Agriculture
supports the San Benito County economy. County leaders must protect agriculture
from a variety of threats as we evolve. One of those threats is the effects of
climate change.
Benito Link, 1-6-20
DIVISION OF MINE RECLAMATION
Local
lawmakers eye Cemex, transportation, disaster preparedness
Santa
Clarita Valley legislators joined other California lawmakers on Monday as they
reconvened in Sacramento to tackle issues ranging from disaster preparedness to
the Cemex mega mine.
Santa Clarita Valley Signal, 1-6-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions fell slightly in 2019
U.S.
greenhouse gas emissions fell 2.1 percent last year almost entirely because of
a sharp drop in coal consumption, according to the Rhodium Group, a private
data research firm. Coal-fired electric power generation, which had rebounded
slightly in 2018, fell by a record 18 percent to the lowest level since 1975,
the Rhodium study said.
Washington Post, 1-7-20
A
$1 billion solar plant was obsolete before it ever went online
The
Crescent Dunes solar plant looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. In 2011 the $1
billion project was to be the biggest solar plant of its kind, and it looked
like the future of renewable power. But, by the time the plant opened in 2015,
the increased efficiency of cheap solar panels had already surpassed its
technology, and today it’s obsolete—the latest panels can pump out
power at a fraction of the cost for decades with just an occasional
hosing-down.
Bloomberg, 1-6-20
California
rolls out proposed version of Green New Deal
On
Monday, California Democrats rolled out the state’s proposed version of
the Green New Deal. The full specifics of the bill weren’t released at
Monday’s announcement, but the measure would set new climate requirements
and deadlines, including doubling affordable housing and public transportation
by 2030, accelerating the state’s air pollution emissions goals and
improving the standard of living for historically impacted communities of
color.
KRON (San Francisco television), 1-6-20
California
needs even more ambitious climate change goals. That's the message 14
progressive Democratic lawmakers unveiled Monday as part of the California
Green New Deal Act, which they call bold and big.
Capitol Public Radio, 1-6-20
Were
the predictions we made about climate change 20 years ago accurate? Here's a
look
When
it comes to climate change, did we accurately predict in 2000 what would be
happening now? Overall, we're running quite close to the projections made in
2000 for carbon dioxide concentration, global temperature and sea level. Here's
a look at climate change indicators for 2020.
USA Today, 12-24-19
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
3.0
magnitude earthquake rattles Brea Area
A
3.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the Brea area at 8:28 a.m. Sunday morning, the
U.S. Geological Survey reported.
KRON (San Francisco television), 1-5-20
Strong
earthquake jolts Puerto Rico, causing damage and "state of panic"
A
5.8-magnitude quake hit Puerto Rico before dawn Monday, unleashing small
landslides, causing power outages and severely cracking some homes. It was one of
the strongest quakes yet to hit the U.S. territory that has been shaking for
the past week. There were no immediate reports of casualties but there was
significant damage in the town of Guánica.
CBS News,1-6-20
Quake
rattles southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, no damages
A
strong earthquake struck the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca late on Saturday,
near to the Pacific coastline and the neighboring state of Chiapas, prompting
security protocols to be activated. Oaxaca's civil protection agency said there
have been no reports of damages.
New York Times, 1-5-20
Six
months later: A 23ABC special report
23ABC
takes a look back at the earthquakes that rocked Ridgecrest and Trona on July
4th and 5th, 2019 in this special report.
KERO (Bakersfield television), 1-5-20
CALIFORNIA GEOLOGIC ENERGY MANAGEMENT DIVISION
California
doubling down on decarbonizing as fossil fuel output declines
California’s
chief regulatory agency for oil and natural gas development has been renamed
going into the new year, with a focus on public health, safety and
environmental issues within the energy sector. CalGEM, created last year by
Assembly Bill 1057, comes as the state’s once robust oil and gas industry
is steadily shrinking while low-carbon energy sources are growing.
NGI, 1-3-20
CLIMATE CHANGE
California
lawmakers set to push climate bond for disasters
In
a state burdened by billions of dollars in wildfire damage, California
lawmakers are hoping for an advance loan before the next climate-fueled catastrophe
hits. Lawmakers in the Democratic-dominated state Legislature return to work
Monday for the second year of a two-year session. Their to-do list includes a
$4.2 billion climate bond, an ambitious proposal to borrow money before they
need it to prepare for the types of natural disasters that have plagued the
state.
Marin Independent Journal, 1-5-20
GENERAL
Solar
surges in the California desert. So why are environmentalists upset?
While
California recently surpassed 1 million solar rooftops, clean energy advocates
and industry officials say that won't be enough to reach the goals. They argue
every possible option will be needed — including solar farms in the
desert. That's re-ignited a battle with longtime activists. Area environmental
groups say while they are 100% in favor of solar power, it should be installed
on rooftops, landfills and other disturbed lands in urban areas — not
hundreds of miles away on fragile desert landscapes.
Palm Springs Desert Sun, 1-3-20
(news updated as time permits…)
·
Link
to 2019
news articles
·
Link
to 2018
news articles
·
Link
to 2017
news articles
·
Link
to 2015
news articles
·
Link
to 2014
news articles
·
Link
to 2013
news articles
·
Link
to 2012
news articles
·
Link
to 2011
news articles
·
Link
to 2010
news articles
·
Link
to 2009
and older news articles