For Immediate Release:

Today, CalGEM announced it has denied all 21 of Aera Energy’s applications for fracking operations in California, citing risks to public health and safety and environmental quality and climate change under regulatory statutes. This the first permit denial of this scale for reasons related to public health and climate.

In May, Governor Newsom directed CalGEM to come up with a plan to accept no new fracking permits by 2024. Despite pressure from environmental groups to speed up the process, he has thus far maintained the three-year timeline.

“CalGEM is following the science and adhering to its regulatory purpose in denying these fracking permits, but Governor Newsom needs to follow through and instruct his agency to deny all new oil and gas permits immediately,” said Food & Water Watch’s California Director Alexandra Nagy. “Frontline communities have just been spared the public health hazards and devastating environmental impact that would have come with the 21 fracking wells under consideration. Unfortunately, CalGEM continues to permit all other oil and gas wells that further harm public health, water and climate. Governor Newsom must instruct CalGEM to come into  alignment with their mission statement to protect life and health and deny all new permits now. Incremental steps are not enough to protect Californian communities and our climate, or save our scarce water resources from drilling operations that usurp them.”

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Contact: Jessica Gable, (202) 683-2478, [email protected]