Dear Mr. Schwartz:

I'm writing to urge you to protect the Los Padres National Forest from the impacts of fracking and oil drilling. I am a regular visitor to this forest and I recognize the important and unique aspects that will affect our local community, biological diversiy, public health, and recreational opportunities.

Henceforth, I would like to urge the Forest Service to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement, and advocate that 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. It is not acceptable to approve any more fracking in such an environmentally sensitive area until the potential impacts are fully known, and until measures are put into place to protect our forest and our water supplies from environmental harm.

I also urge you to take all measures to protect endangered California condors and steelhead from the impacts of oil development. Please 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 before approving any fracking operations in Los Padres National Forest. Thank you for your efforts to protect our forest and surrounding communities.


Pam Monaco

CA 93003