


Dear Mr. Schwartz:

I recently learned about an oil company’s plans to conduct controversial fracking operations on eight oil wells in the Sespe Creek watershed. This is one of the most ecologically-sensitive areas of Los Padres National Forest, and I urge you to do everything possible to protect our forest from the impacts of fracking and drilling.

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. Hundreds of fracking chemicals are known to be toxic to humans and wildlife, and several are known to cause cancer. 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.

It is also important that you impose the strongest protections possible for endangered California condors and southern steelhead in the area. I want all measures put into place to ensure that spills of oil and other hazardous chemicals do not enter Sespe Creek or its tributaries. Everything should be done to ensure that condors do not ingest microtrash and are kept safe from oil development.

Due to the ongoing controversy surrounding fracking, I urge you to prepare a full Environmental Impact Statement before approving any fracking operations in Los Padres National Forest. Thank you for your efforts to protect this important natural resource in our community.


Lisa Myers
244 High Street
Oak View, CA 93022

