A public hearing of the proposal was held on February 9, 2017 (see video-taped public comments below).
On February 14, the public comment period was extended 15 days, from 5 p.m. February 16 to 5 p.m. March 3, 2017.
Submit comments to the Department of Conservation by email to: comments@conservation.ca.gov
or by facsimile (FAX) to (916) 324-0948, or by mail to:
Department of Conservation
801 K Street, MS 24-02
Sacramento, CA 95814
ATTN: Aquifer Exemption
The written comment period closes at 5 p.m. on March 3, 2017.
Call or write to your elected representatives and the state officials:
Urge your elected representatives to contact the state officials listed below to oppose the above exemptions.
Write letters to the editors of local media and share on social media. RESIST!
Elected representatives:
Download copies of PMC letters to Gov. Jerry Brown and Secretary John Laird for samples.
Contact your Elected representatives:
| Assemblymember Anna Caballero 318 Cayuga Street, Suite 206 Salinas, CA 93901 Tel: (831) 759-8676 Fax: (831) 759-2961 |
| Assemblymember Mark Stone Monterey County District Office: 99 Pacific Street, Ste 575-G Monterey, CA 93940 Tel: (831) 649-2832 Fax: (831) 649-2935 |
| Senator Bill Monning, Senate Majority Leader Monterey District Office 99 Pacific Street, Suite 575-F Monterey, CA 93940 Tel: (831) 657-6315 Fax: (831) 657-6320 |
| Edmund G. Brown Jr Governor State of California c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814 |
Contact your State Officials:
| Jonathan Bishop Chief Deputy Director State Water Resources Control Board 1001 I Street Sacramento, CA, 95814 |
| John Laird, Secretary California Natural Resources Agency 1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311 Sacramento, CA 95814 |
| David Bunn, Director California Conservation Department 801 K Street, MS 24-01 Sacramento, CA 95814 Tel: (916) 322-1080 Fax: (916) 445-0732 |
| Kenneth A. Harris, Jr. State Oil and Gas Supervisor California Department of Conservation Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources 801 K Street, MS 18-05 Sacramento, CA 95814-3530 |
Contact the Monterey County Board of Supervisors:
| Luis Alejo, District 1 168 West Alisal, 2nd Floor Salinas, CA 93901 district1@co.monterey.ca.us Ph-(831)755-5011 Fax-(831)755-5876 |
Mary Adams, District 5 Monterey Courthouse 1200 Aguajito Rd., Ste. 1 Monterey, CA 93940 district5@co.monterey.ca.us Ph-(831)647-7755 Fax-(831)647-7695 |
| John M. Phillips, District 2 Castro Plaza 11140 Speegle St. P.O. Box 787 Castroville, CA 95012 district2@co.monterey.ca.us Ph-(831)755-5022 Fax-(831)633-0201 |
Jane Parker, District 4 2616 1st Ave. Marina, CA 93933 district4@co.monterey.ca.us Ph-(831)883-7570 (831)755-5044 |
| Simon Salinas, District 3 168 W. Alisal, 3rd Floor Salinas, Ca 93901 district3@co.monterey.ca.us Ph-(831)755-5033 Fax-(831)796-3022 |
Clerk of the Board (for all supervisors) COB@co.monterey.ca.us |
For additional information about the aquifer exemption proposal, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/SanArdo-McCool-Aquifer-Exmptn
Background on San Ardo McCool Ranch Application for Aquifer Exemption:
The California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources (“Division”), with the concurrence of the State Water Resources Control Board (“State Water Board”), is considering a proposal to expand the current aquifer exemption designation for the Lombardi and Aurignac Sands of the Monterey Formation in and around the San Ardo and McCool Ranch Oil Fields, located in Monterey County about 2 miles southeast of the town of San Ardo, along Highway 101 at Alvarado Rd. Subject to approval by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the proposed aquifer exemption would allow the State, in compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, to approve Class II injection into the identified area for enhanced oil recovery or for injection disposal of fluids associated with oil and gas production.