Oil Exploration

Federal Judge Stops 35,000-Acre Fracking Plan in Western Colorado — Natural History Wanderings

from Center for Biological Diversity DENVER― A U.S. District Court judge today vacated a federal plan that allowed fracking across 35,000 acres of Colorado’s Western Slope. The North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan would have allowed 35 new fracking wells in the North Fork Valley and Thompson Divide areas of the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and […]

Federal Judge Stops 35,000-Acre Fracking Plan in Western Colorado — Natural History Wanderings
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Why the South African High Court ruling against Shell’s oil exploration plans is a victory for local communities and the environment — EUSA LEIDEN

Article by Alexandra Reinhild Berndt Shell was prohibited from starting seismic surveys along the South African Wild Coast thanks to a South African High Court decision in the Eastern Cape Town of Makhanda on December 25 (BBC, 2021). Seismic tests are part of Shell’s oil exploration in the Wild Coast area. During the procedure, shockwaves […]

Why the South African High Court ruling against Shell’s oil exploration plans is a victory for local communities and the environment — EUSA LEIDEN
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Victory for Alaskan Western Arctic Region — Natural History Wanderings

Center Biological Diversity News Release Biden Administration Won’t Appeal Decision Shutting Down Western Arctic Oil Drilling Project ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The Biden administration cemented a climate victory today by not appealing a federal district court decision halting ConocoPhillips’ Willow Master Development Plan. Willow would be the largest oil-and-gas drilling project in the Alaskan Arctic and would […]

Victory for Alaskan Western Arctic Region — Natural History Wanderings
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California oil regulators deny new fracking permits — Natural History Wanderings

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports California denied 21 oil drilling permits this week in the latest move toward ending fracking in a state that makes millions from the petroleum industry but is seeing widespread drought and more dangerous fire seasons linked to climate change. Read more at California oil regulators deny new fracking permits – The […]

California oil regulators deny new fracking permits — Natural History Wanderings

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Biden suspends Trump-era oil drilling leases in Alaska’s Arctic refuge — Natural History Wanderings

The Guardian reports The Biden administration on Tuesday suspended oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reversing a drilling program approved by Donald Trump and reviving a political fight over a remote region that is home to polar bears and other wildlife – and a rich reserve of oil. The interior department order […]

Biden suspends Trump-era oil drilling leases in Alaska’s Arctic refuge — Natural History Wanderings
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The twilight of California oil — Oakland Geology

Last week the governor ordered a state agency to stop issuing fracking permits to oil drillers, starting as of 2024. This is less of a big deal than it seems. Hydraulic fracturing is rarely used in California because the permitting process was tightened in 2014 and because our earthquake-shaken rocks are already well fractured, and […]

The twilight of California oil — Oakland Geology
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Kern County, California, approves plan to allow thousands of new oil wells despite environmental objections — Natural History Wanderings

KTLA reports A plan to fast-track drilling of thousands of new oil and gas wells over the next 15 years in California’s prime oil patch was approved Monday by Kern County officials over objections by environmental groups. The Kern County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve a revised ordinance supported by the influential petroleum […]

Kern County approves plan to allow thousands of new oil wells despite environmental objections — Natural History Wanderings
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No Drilling in Alaskan Arctic Refuge  — Natural History Wanderings

The New York Times reports A missed deadline for flights to look for polar bears means the work to locate oil reserves in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is effectively killed. An Alaska Native group failed to meet a critical deadline as part of its proposal to conduct a seismic survey in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the […]

No Drilling in Alaskan Arctic Refuge  — Natural History Wanderings
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Biden Sets in Motion Plan to Ban New Oil and Gas Leases on Federal Land — Natural History Wanderings

The New York Times  reports President Biden on Wednesday will direct federal agencies to determine how expansive a ban on new oil and gas leasing on federal land should be, part of a suite of executive orders that will effectively launch his agenda to combat climate change, two people with knowledge of the president’s plans […]

Biden Sets in Motion Plan to Ban New Oil & Gas Leases on Federal Land — Natural History Wanderings
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What We’ve Lost: The Species Declared Extinct in 2020 — Repeating Islands

John R. Platt (Scientific American) writes that “Dozens of frogs, fish, orchids and other species—many unseen for decades—may no longer exist because of humanity’s destructive effects on the planet.” His article lists the many species lost in 2020, including 32 orchid species in Bangladesh, the Smooth handfish from Tasmania, 65 North American plants, 22 frog […]

What We’ve Lost: The Species Declared Extinct in 2020 — Repeating Islands
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