A judge has upheld an order putting a moratorium on the proposed use of fracking for oil drilling from a platform in the Santa Barbara Channel.
Oil and natural gas company DCOR had sought two permits to conduct controversial well stimulation efforts from Platform Gilda. Fracking and acidizing calls for the injection of fluids underground to try to unlock gas an oil deposits.
The Environmental Defense Center and Santa Barbara Channelkeeper went to court to try to block the project. They successfully argued that federal wildlife agencies should have a chance to review the plans to insure that rare and endangered species wouldn’t be harmed.
DCOR then returned to court, arguing that the moratorium would cause serious financial harm.
This week a federal judge denied the company’s argument, ruling that the fracking request needs to be reviewed by government agencies, and go through a public hearing process.