A controversial plan to drill hundreds of new onshore oil wells on the Central Coast will be the focus of a public hearing this week. ERG Resources wants to create more than 230 new wells in the Cat Canyon area of Santa Barbara County.
County planners are recommending approval of a scaled down version of the project, which would reduce the number of new wells to about 180, and use existing well pads in the area. The project is proposed for about 75 acres of land the company owns in the Cat Canyon area, about 10 miles southeast of Santa Maria.
The environmental community is trying to rally opposition to the new wells, citing issues like potential air and water pollution.
The project goes before the Santa Barbara Planning Commission Wednesday in Santa Maria.
