California's Coastal Commission has unanimously rejected an oil company’s plan to increase oil production from a platform off the Ventura County coast.
Oxnard-based oil & natural gas company DCOR proposed using fracking to increase production from 16 wells on the offshore Platform Gilda. The plan would have increased daily production to 4,000 barrels a day, up from 1,100.
Dozens of people spoke against DCOR's plan during the coastal commission's Thursday hearing on the proposal. Many cited concerns about potential pollution or spills. Other speakers mentioned a potential for accidents, since the facility is four decades old.
Despite the commission's vote, the platform is in federal waters, and Washington could override the state’s objection and approve the proposal.