Stop Oil Drilling in Hermosa Beach

90% of all Oil & Gas Wells are Fracked

2013-05-20T11:08:00.000-07:00

Response to: Easy Reader Opinion Letter "On Local Government: Regarding Fracking"

Fracking is the process by which drillers inject millions of gallons of water, sand, salts, mud and chemicals—all too often toxic chemicals and human carcinogens such as benzene—into the ground at extremely high pressure, to fracture the rock and extract the raw fuel. Its hard NOT to find a well in Southern California that has NOT been fracked in the last 60 years because the unregulated process has been going on for a long time. How are we to ever know if this is what has caused the thousands of earthquakes the Midwest is now experiencing?

The fracking process is used to boost production at 90% of all oil and gas wells in the United States, according to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, and fracking is increasingly common in other countries as well. Although fracking most often occurs when a well is new, companies fracture many wells repeatedly in an effort to extract as much valuable oil or natural gas as possible and to maximize the return on their investment in a profitable site.

The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC), is a United States organization that represents the governors of 30 member and eight associate states, and works to ensure the nation's oil and natural gas resources are conserved and utilized to their maximum potential while protecting health, safety and the environment. It was established by the charter member states' governors in 1935. The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission is the oldest and largest interstate compact in the nation.

Fracking poses serious dangers to both human health and the environment. The three biggest problems with fracking are:

Fracking is causing earthquakes in Midwest
Fracking can cause adjacent older plugged wells to explode.
Fracking leaves behind a toxic sludge that companies and communities must find some way to manage. Safely disposing of the sludge created by fracking is an ongoing challenge.
Somewhere between 20 percent and 40 percent of the toxic chemicals used in the fracking process remain stranded underground where they can, and often do, contaminate drinking water, soil and other parts of the environment that support plant, animal and human life.
Methane from fracture wells can leak into groundwater, creating a serious risk of explosion and contaminating drinking water supplies so severely that some homeowners have been able to set fire to the mixture of water and gas coming out of their faucets.

In 2005, President George W. Bush exempted oil and gas companies from federal regulations designed to protect U.S. drinking water, and most state oil and gas regulatory agencies don’t require companies to report the volumes or names of the chemicals they use in the fracking process, chemicals such as benzene, chloride, toluene and sulfates.

The result, according to the nonprofit Oil and Gas Accountability Project, is that one of the nation's dirtiest industries is also one of its least regulated, and enjoys an exclusive right to "inject toxic fluids directly into good quality groundwater without oversight."

In May 2012 the California Senate defeated a bill, introduced by state Sen. Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills), requiring drillers to notify local property owners and water authorities in advance that hydraulic fracturing was going to occur, and requiring the testing of groundwater before and after the hydraulic fracturing to determine whether contamination had occurred. Pavley said that this monitoring and reporting approach would help to address citizens' concerns. The state Senate defeated the bill in a bipartisan 18-17 vote.

A Cry For Help From More Hermosa Beach Residents

2013-05-15T15:32:00.003-07:00

Listen to what Kevin Sousa, Michael Collins, Hany Fangary, Allan Mason and Stacey Armato have to say at the Hermosa Beach City Council meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 2013. They are all speaking to the issue of E&B Natural Resources drilling in the Hermosa Beach City Yard without a County permit.

E&B Natural Resources Contractors Will Be Fined For Illegal Drilling in Hermosa Beach

2013-05-15T12:49:00.005-07:00

The City of Hermosa Beach is among three entities cited by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department--Environmental Health Drinking Water Program for drilling on the public works yard site last Tuesday without the required permits.

Brycon, LLC, a consultant out of Newport Beach, and J & H Drilling Co. Inc. out of Santa Ana were also cited for their participation in the work, which was being done on behalf of E&B Natural Resources to test soil and groundwater for contamination.

In the "Notice of Violation & Order," the city, Brycon and J & H were directed to submit a Well Permit Application by today. J & H must also submit proof of a valid California C-57 Well Water Contractor's License.

All three will also be fined, according to Richard Lavin, chief environmental health specialist with the Drinking Water Program. The fine, due by June 10th, has yet to determined, he said late Tuesday.

Permits are required for any well drilling in the state, he said. His department oversees drilling in L.A. County, with the exceptions of Long Beach and Pasadena.

Former Hermosa Beach City Manager Steve Burrell and now $168,000 consultant to EIR process did not comment. Current Mayor of Hermosa Beach Kit Bobko creator of the illegal oil settlement had no comment. Michael Divirgilio also did not return Hermosa Beach Patch's calls for a comment. Current City Manager Tom Bakaly had no comment but issued the following statement below.

HERMOSA BEACH, CA - Hermosa Beach City Manager Tom Bakaly issued the following statement in response to a request from Los Angeles County for a permit for work at the city’s maintenance yard that is part of the environmental study of the oil production project proposed by E&B Natural Resources Management Corp. (E&B).

“The work at the city’s maintenance yard involved shallow borings into the soil to obtain groundwater samples as part of the information-gathering process for the environmental review of the oil production project proposed by E&B. This is a relatively routine sampling operation for a project of this type, and it required just one day of work and little disruption of the site. While the city staff investigated the need for a state permit for the water sampling process, it was unaware that a Los Angeles County permit was needed for such work.

“We apologize for any confusion this environmental data-gathering process might have caused. The city remains committed to providing residents and voters with thorough information about the proposed oil production project and will strive to communicate more fully in the future. As part of the ongoing communication, the City Council will receive an update at its meeting on May 28 about Hermosa Beach’s General Plan, its Community Dialogue and the environmental review process for the proposed oil production project. We invite all the city’s residents to become involved in these processes to help determine the future of Hermosa Beach.”

As is often the case after a Project Application is deemed complete, the city had asked E&B for additional information for the Remedial Action Plan (RAP) submitted as part of E&B’s Project Application. A contractor for E&B conducted shallow borings in the soil at the maintenance yard to obtain groundwater samples to address soil contamination known to exist on the site because of its historic use as a landfill. This sampling process did not constitute “testing” or sampling for oil at the site: It only sought information about groundwater and is much different from oil drilling.

The information from this sampling will help the city gain more information about the groundwater conditions underlying the site and to better evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the proposed RAP. Groundwater information also is essential for an accurate description of baseline environmental conditions in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) the city will be preparing to examine all environmental impacts of the proposed project.

The city had a license agreement with E&B that gave the company and its contractors access to the maintenance yard to obtain the samples. The work was completed on May 7. Before the work began, the city had asked and determined that no state permit was required. After the work was completed, the city became aware that the Los Angeles County Public Health Department’s Bureau of Environmental Protection required a permit and that the permit should have been obtained by the geotechnical contracting company hired by E&B.

The city notified E&B of its responsibility to obtain the permit. E&B’s contractor has now filed for the appropriate permit with Los Angeles County.

Kit Bobko's Long History of Wasting Taxpayer Dollars For Personal Benefit (Letter)

2013-05-13T12:26:00.002-07:00

Not pleased with Bobko (Beach Reporter Letter April 17, 2013)

Hermosa ceremonial Mayor Patrick Bobko seems intent on endowing his own shallow worth with titles and accomplishments earned by others.

Bobko received a congressional appointment to the Air Force Academy around age 18. United States taxpayers expended some $500,000 for his four-year military education with expectation Bobko would serve as a career officer. But Bobko evidently scuttled the Air Force after serving the obligatory contract time, opting instead to return to regular college for two years and acquire a “philosophy” degree, followed by yet another two college years becoming a lawyer.

With his Air Force Academy “Captain” title and lawyer title in hand, but no significant private work accomplishment, Bobko then moved to Redondo Beach after obtaining a “go-for” municipal lawyer job, essentially again on the taxpayers’ nickel at the L.A. law firm Hermosa City Attorney Michael Jenkins then worked, while that firm was contracted with Hermosa Beach.

Bobko still works there, however, after working alongside Jenkins, Bobko moved from Redondo to Hermosa Beach and made his first failed run for Hermosa Council.

Recently Bobko used expensive council meeting time to, on his own, have a photo-op presentation ceremony for an El Segundo military officer, who had won an award and actually is making a career in the Air Force, and then further used that officer to ride with Bobko for more photo-ops in Hermosa’s St Patrick’s parade.

Now Bobko is using costly council meetings to “honor” Hermosans Bobko feels have distinguished themselves. It’s more Bobko photo-ops at city expense to self-aggrandize Bobko by using those who actually have some accomplishment.

Most offensive is that after wasting expensive meeting time and taxpayer money for smiley photo-ops in this council-election year, is Bobko’s clock-watching during the actual important business of council meetings.

Howard Longacre
Hermosa Beach

See this other Howard Longacre wrote about Hypocrites Bobko & Divirgilio Rant About Transparency

E&B Drilling Proposal Will Violate a Noise Ordinance (Letter)

2013-05-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

Easy Reader "E&B Drilled" Letter April 30, 2013

E&B Oil has submitted a project proposal that states an intention to create massive changes to the city of Hermosa Beach. First and foremost, they are going to ask the city to believe that they are operating a safe, honest process of harvesting oil from beneath our town and from under our ocean. Our first glimpse into what they propose to do is in having the ability to read their proposal. This proposal is peppered with city code violations. When it seems convenient to follow the code, E&B will cite such code in a highly visible way. Any intention to wiggle around this code is, at best, a parenthetical statement hidden deep inside a paragraph.

My problem begins when there are phases of the proposed project where following the code will be either inconvenient or impossible. When this is the case, the suggestion that the code will be waived, changed or violated seems to be less openly written. Once such case can be found on page 45 of the E&B Project Proposal and reads, “ The drill rig would operate continuously for 24 hours per day, seven days per week, until the appropriate depth and bottom-hole location for each well has been reached. It is estimated it would take approximately 30 days per well for each of the four wells.” This is a description of the drilling of test wells and one reinjection well. With no problems, we are looking at a minimum of 4 months of around the clock drilling and associated noise and disruption, just related to the test wells. The additional 30 wells will take 3 more years of around-the-clock drilling.

Our city municipal code has several provisions that state that this type of activity is prohibited. Specifically, in chapter 8, section 24.040, part C, the following is considered prohibited noise: “the sustained, continuous or repeated operation or use between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. of any motor or engine or the repair, modification, reconstruction, testing or operation of any automobile, motorcycle, machine, contrivance, or mechanical device or other contrivance or facility unless such motor, engine, automobile, motorcycle, machine or mechanical device is enclosed within a sound insulated structure so as to prevent noise and sound from being plainly audible at the property line of the property from which the sound is emanating.” Furthermore, chapter 8, section 24.050 restricts the hours of construction from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and states that, “ construction activity shall include site preparation, demolition, grading, excavation, and the erection, improvement, remodeling or repair of structures, including operation of equipment or machinery and the delivery of materials associated with those activities.” As a person who lives near the proposed site, and whose home (like many in the area) is above the sound attenuation wall and in the line of sight of proposed drilling rigs, equipment, vehicles, workmen, and other aspects of the project, I am highly concerned. The proposed sound attenuation wall does nothing to address the issue of noise pollution facing the majority of houses around the proposed drill site.

I am concerned that E&B Oil might already be operating under the assumption that this code will be ignored or amended for the purposes of their operation. I am concerned that any false assumption, created either by the city council, the city manager, or anyone misleading the citizens of Hermosa, will allow 24 hour a day construction and drilling, and will lead to another lawsuit. I want the citizens of Hermosa, the very citizens who will be voting about the next 35 years of our city’s future, to be informed in every step of this process.

I am presently dissatisfied with this council’s ability to clearly present information about this project.

Keep Hermosa, hermosa,
Michael Collins
Hermosa Beach

See this recent violation of City code on May 7, 2012.

Why is E&B Drilling in Hermosa Beach Without Permit?

2013-05-09T20:00:00.000-07:00

I guess the joke is on us and the City can get away doing whatever they want and make up their own rules. When will the lies, corruption and deception of the truth stop in Hermosa Beach? This drilling started at 8am on May 7 at the Hermosa Beach City Yard.

Neighbors were not notified and the City did not have a permit to do this according to sources who asked City Manage Tom Bakaly. Is this grounds to fire a City Manager for ignoring this huge issue? See this incident at the last City Council meeting where Tom Bakaly refuses to publish a letter. Is Mr. Bakaly really working for the people or is he also now working for E&B? Why is Mr. Bakaly hiring an outside consultant to moderate / facilitate a town hall meeting? Many questions need answers and this is not leadership.

City of Hermosa Beach Drilling Without a Permit?

Here is the Hermosa Beach drilling ordinance right from their web site. The drilling, boring or otherwise sinking of an oil or gas well, or oil or gas wells, or the maintenance, pumping or operation of any oil well or oil wells or gas well or gas wells in the city is declared to be a nuisance and is declared to be unlawful. It is unlawful for any person to drill, bore or otherwise sink or maintain, pump or operate or cause to be drilled, bored or otherwise sunk, or maintained, pumped or operated, or to aid in the drilling, boring or otherwise sinking, or maintaining, pumping or operating of any gas or oil well or wells for the purpose of procuring oil, gas or other hydrocarbon substances within any portion of the city. It is unlawful for any person to commence the construction or to construct or maintain any derrick, or any oil well apparatus in the city for the purpose of drilling for or maintaining any oil or gas well in the city; except, however, the oil wells now constructed or under construction or in actual operation in the city. (Ord. 95-1139 § 2, 1995; prior code § 21-10)

Reported Marina Del Rey 2.9 Earthquake on Southern California Gas Fracking Site?

2013-05-09T14:50:00.002-07:00

The 2.9 earthquake on May 9, 2013 was in Playa del Rey on top of a Southern California Gas drilling site. Will we ever know if they were fracking? The Earthquake was reported in the media as Marina Del Rey but it was actually centered in Playa del Rey according to USGS Information. This was right on top of a Southern California Gas Active drilling site.

Southern California Gas Facility in Playa Del Rey

See California Doggr Database for Details

Why Did Hermosa Beach "Neighborhood Watch" Postpone Their E&B Oil Information Meeting?

2013-05-09T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch Postpones E&B Informational Meeting

A neighborhood watch meeting during which three E&B Natural Resources executives were going to present information on the company's proposed oil production project in Hermosa Beach has been postponed, according to Tracy Hopkins, Hermosa Beach resident and volunteer neighborhood watch founder. Tracy is the co-founder and co-coordinator of the Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Watch Saferhermosabeach.com. Safer Hermosa has a large following on Twitter at @SaferHermosa.

Ironically, Tracy was also featured on this The South Bay Show "Preparing for Disaster." The web site Safer Hermosa focuses on crime prevention and disaster preparedness. Tracy also appears to be in the business of selling disaster preparedness kits and training programs. She said on this show that Neighborhood Watch was inspired by watching the Katrina disaster in 2005.

HBNW receives $5,000 in funding from the city, said Tom Bakaly, city manager, adding that the $5,000 is used for National Night Out, an annual event that cities nationwide participate in in August. Tom said the city was "kind of staying out of" the meeting and any controversy surrounding it. "This is their [neighborhood watch's] information setting," he said. "It's an informational meeting."

It does not take a genius to realize that most of the communities that have oil and gas drilling have much higher crime rates. Go to DrillingMaps.com and you can make the obvious correlation yourself. If oil drilling is permitted it will undoubtedly change the demographics of South Hermosa even further. Renters will go up and so will crime rates.

Mira Costa High School Plugged Oil Wells at Risk of an Explosion

2013-05-08T12:00:00.000-07:00

Maps from California Doggr Database

Capped (or plugged) oil wells could be a real danger in the South Bay if oil drilling is permitted in Hermosa Beach. Pat Aust of the Redondo Beach City Councilman and former firefighter knows first hand of the dangers of dealing with capped wells. Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo beach have hundreds several capped wells that could be at risk of a blowout or explosion. Below is an explanation to help you understand the potential threat to our community if slant hydraulic pressurized oil drilling is permitted underground and an adjacent well is pressurized.

Oil drilling blowout preventers (BOPs) can be used on the drilling site itself on the surface to mitigate risk. However, blowout preventers CANNOT be used on capped wells when the adjacent reservoir becomes pressurized. If an adjacent capped oil well were to blowout you could easily have a methane explosion and you wouldn't know about it until its too late.

Most capped wells are buried 30 feet below the surface and were completed usually 30 to 40 years ago. A hole still exists to a reservoir underneath the ground several thousand feet. We don't know the condition of these capped wells or reservoirs because there are very limited records and these wells have been capped and buried for several decades. That does not mean that these wells aren't building pressure underneath the surface. E&B proposes slant oil drilling and it has no control over pressurizing adjacent wells. Huge, huge risk of health and safety.

How Many Oil and Gas Drilling Fatalities Each Year?

2013-05-06T14:27:00.000-07:00

Howard Longacre Letter Regarding Several Matters Within Hermosa Beach City Council’s Jurisdiction

2013-05-04T10:22:00.000-07:00

Click on the document to download and read the 12 page document

Why Is Oil & Gas Corruption Rarely Detected?

2013-05-01T11:28:00.002-07:00

Over the next 20 years, it’s expected that oil production in California will increasing dramatically. Yet many cities rich in oil and gas are home to some of the State's poorest people. How can this happen? Too often, wealth stays in the hands of politicians, industry insiders and local people. Revenues don’t get published and the surrounding community suffers as the quality of living goes down. Payments made to governments to exploit resources remain secret. Bribery and embezzlement go unchecked.

Many oil and gas companies protect the identities of their equity holders and subsidiaries. This allows corrupt leaders to hide stolen funds unnoticed. Inadequate financial statements make it easy to disguise corrupt deals, and impossible for any of us to monitor them. Many oil and gas companies don’t publish information by state and city. This allows them to hide the royalties, taxes and fees they pay. But without this information, we can’t hold governments to account for the money they receive.

The entire oil and gas industry spent on average $400,000 each day lobbying senators and representatives to weaken public health safeguards and keep big oil tax breaks, totaling nearly $150 million.

Stolen oil and gas income has terrible consequences and is widespread through the United States and World. It benefits an elite few. But for everyone else, it fuels conflict over resources and health and safety. The solution? Would you trust these people based on their track record? Here is our list of suspicious E&B Natural Resources deals. Submit your anonymous suspicious below under discussion . . .

How Loud is Oil Drilling?

2013-04-30T12:03:00.003-07:00

Noise from oil and gas development comes from a number of sources: truck traffic, drilling and completion activities, well pumps and compressors. A study in Colorado reported noise levels for a number of oil and gas activities. Several hundred people live within a 500 feet of the proposed drilling property in Hermosa Beach would be kept up all night be this noise. Here are some video examples below.

Typical compressor station	50 dBA (375 feet from property boundary)
Pumping units	50 dBA (325 feet from well pad)
Fuel and water trucks	68 dBA (500 feet from source)
Crane for hoisting rigs	68 dBA (500 feet from source)
Concrete pump used during drilling	62 dBA (500 feet from source)
Average well construction site	65 dBA (500 feet from source)

Class Action Lawsuit Against the City of Hermosa Beach?

2013-04-29T09:22:00.001-07:00

Homes For Sale on Zillow.com MLS in Hermosa Beach Over 30 Days

The City of Hermosa Beach better have a their legal defense budget ready because real estate values in South Hermosa are not appreciating like the rest of the market. Homes are not selling like the rest of the community as buyers continue to question the likelihood of oil drilling in their neighborhood. Obviously, no one wants to live near the noise and potential safety and health hazard. This map above shows you the number of homes in Hermosa Beach that have been on the market over 30 days as of April 2013. You wonder why know one wants to buy in South Hermosa Beach and if oil drilling passes their could be masses loses?

This is why the City of Hermosa Beach and the City Council will be liable for entering into a 3rd party settlement agreement with another oil company and not settling the Macpherson lawsuit separately. Oil was and currently is banned within the City and the City Council failed to honor this law. If the City had settled the lawsuit with Macpherson and then brought oil drilling to a public vote this would not be an issue. However, they entered into an illegal settlement agreement with E&B Natural resources thereby ignoring all the laws that were currently in place banning drilling.

This is why the settlement is illegal and each member of the City Council should be held personally liable and a class action lawsuit is not out of the question. Listen to all the hypocrisy, lies, deception and intimidation in this video. Several real estate brokers are concerned that real estate in South Hermosa Beach is going to be depressed as long as the oil drilling issue not resolved.

Here is a national map of all the class action lawsuits related to oil and gas drilling.

Why Hermosa Beach Desparately Needs a Town Hall Meeting

2013-04-24T17:29:00.002-07:00

Stacey Armato "I Don't Need an EIR to Know the Risks of Oil Drilling"

Apparently on May 14 a Community Dialogue Facilitator Will Been Hired?

Hermosa Beach City Council is Not Taking Responsibility for A Huge Mistake They Made

2013-04-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

Barbara Ellman Describes

Where is the Leadership on the Hermosa Beach City Council?

2013-04-24T16:49:00.002-07:00

Where Do You Stand City Council?

Allowing an oil company to drill for the next 30 to 40 years?
3500 trucks rolling into town?
8,000 barrels of oil refined on site
250,000 cubic feet of gas refined on site?
Injection wells underneath the ocean?

Oil Drilling vs Hermosa Beach Residents is Not a Fair Fight

2013-04-24T16:28:00.004-07:00

Ira Ellman Describes Why E&B Natural Resouces Oil Drilling Is Not A Fair Fight

A Firestorm of National Media is About to Be Unleashed on Hermosa Beach

2013-04-24T15:59:00.000-07:00

60 Minutes, Daily Show, NBC News, New York Post Are Coming!

Hermosa Beach City Manager Tom Bakaly Refuses to Publish Oil Letter On Agenda

2013-04-24T15:45:00.003-07:00

A Letter From Michael Collins Refused to Be Published by City Manager Tom Bakaly

West, Texas Regulators Environmental Impact Report (EIR) Should NOT Have Been Trusted

2013-04-18T16:50:00.001-07:00

Texas regulators knew in 2006 that the fertilizer facility that burned and exploded in West, Texasa had two 12,000-gallon tanks of anhydrous ammonia and was near a school and neighborhood, documents show. However, West Fertilizer Co., of West, Texas, told Texas Commission on Environmental Quality permit reviewers that emissions from the tanks would not pose a danger. That assertion was based on expected routine emissions, not the possibility of a catastrophic failure.

As a permit condition, the TCEQ required the company to build a wall between the tanks and a public road to prevent passing vehicles from striking the tanks. The company complied and on Dec. 12, 2006, the agency’s executive director issued an operating permit for the tanks, which already existed.

E&B Natural Resources is claiming that putting up this wall below will protect us from a similar explosion, fires and blowouts. Are they lying as well?

Hermosa Beach Oil Drilling Hazardous Chemical Warning Signs

2013-04-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

E&B Oil Drilling Must Post These Warning Signs

Michael Collins of Hermosa Beach requests details on what signs E&B Natural Resources will be posting near the oil drilling site.

Michael Collins following up on his request 2 weeks prior.
When will we get information on oil drilling warning signs?

"Economic Benefit" of Oil Drilling in Hermosa Beach in Biased

2013-04-10T14:39:00.003-07:00

Stacey Armato suggest the tittle "Economic Benefit" of oil drilling is biased

The economic benefit of oil drilling in Hermosa Beach is not just about the money we going to get and how we are going to spend it. We would like to understand the effects on tourism, real estate and other issues that are effected. We would like to see a more encompassing study on the effects and the costs.

Hany Fangary Ask For Public Meetings & Hermosa Beach City Council Needs to Get Involved

2013-04-10T13:59:00.003-07:00

Hany Fangary suggests that the City Council get involved with the scoping, approach, election, timeline and RFP's for the proposed oil drilling project. It has been over one year since the settlement was signed and there hasn't been any meaningful public discussion. RFP's should be held as a public meeting.

E&B Green Solutions Is Hilarious!

2013-03-16T15:05:00.002-07:00

Funniest name for an Oil Company ever!

Keep mocking our intelligence!

E&B has an become expert at oil spill cleanups having had 25 oil spills to clean up in the last few years. All of E&B's oil spills are on record at the California Hazmat Database on public record. Very clever of them to create a business out of cleaning up your own crap!