Dear Mr. Schwartz:

I'm writing to urge you to protect the Los Padres National Forest from the impacts of fracking and oil drilling. The Forest Service should prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement, and no fracking should be approved until we know more about the potential environmental and public health impacts of this controversial practice.

Fracking has come under increasing scrutiny from scientists, regulators, and the public due to concerns with groundwater contamination, surface water pollution, water consumption, and public health. When you look at the issue in the most basic terms of limiting factors (which everyone learns in their first ecology class) your action should be clear. What is the most important ingriediant for life & the health of people & the environment, ie what can't we live without? Oil, gas, water or clean air? Whatever is at the top of that list should be protected at all cost. Personally, I believe it is not acceptable to approve any more fracking, period. There are better, cleaner, less damaging ways to produce energy and it's time to make the change. 

The Los Padres National Forest is a sensitive & important resource area. Please take all measures to protect endangered California condors and steelhead from the impacts of oil development and ensure that spills of oil and other hazardous chemicals do not enter Sespe Creek or its tributaries.

Again, I urge the Forest Service to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement and consider all costs before approving any fracking operations in Los Padres National Forest. Thank you for your efforts to protect our forest and surrounding communities.


Simone Smith

Santa Margarita, CA 93453