(KMJ) – Kern County is the largest oil producing county in California, but until now had no permitting process for drilling operations. Acquiring permission had become burdensome and unpredictable because regulation was overseen by state multiple state agencies.
The new regulations approved by the Board of Supervisors on Monday will instead make Kern County the lead agency in the process.
There are still several requirements for potential drillers, including 88 different mitigation measures to help make up for practice’s environmental impact.
Environmental activists blasted the board’s decision to further expand the pumping of fossil fuels, a leading contributor to climate change.
