In a unanimous decision Thursday, the Ventura County Planning Commission again put forward a proposal to significantly increase bonding and insurance requirements for oil and gas operations.
The commissioners reconsidered the increases because they had not seen a few dozen comment letters before their first vote on July 28. The missing letters – most of which backed tougher controls for the oil and gas industry – were inadvertently omitted from the packet given to the commissioners.
Thursday’s decision was similar to the commission’s first vote and is expected to send the proposed zoning changes to the Board of Supervisors. But this time, planning commissioners have also asked staff to conduct further research and hold a public hearing with oil and gas operators, environmental groups and others.
Since the early 1980s, oil companies have been able to post a single bond of $10,000 for all of their operations in the county.
Revisions to the county’s land use law aim to better protect taxpayers and the environment if something goes wrong or if an operator abandons wells without properly plugging them. But opponents say the state is already tackling the problems of unused wells and the new measures are unnecessary and costly.
Related:Ventura County proposes big increases in bonding requirements for oil and gas operators
In July, the commission voted 3-2 to advance tougher regulations to supervisors. The commission also recommended that the board consider the tax impacts, including the potential costs of implementing, enforcing and any legal defense of the provisions of the order.
That same recommendation was included in Thursday’s decision. In addition, commissioners have now directed staff to do the following:
- Review insurance and bonding requirements to ensure fairness among operators, which may include setting tiers based on company size and seeking the elimination of proposed caps.
- Research questions related to cost, availability, and security requirements for bonds and insurance in Ventura County.
- Urge the board to send a “strong message” to elected state leaders that state regulators must have sufficient funding as well as adequate financial guarantees from the oil and gas industry to ensure that the public does not bear the cost of properly abandoning wells.
- Hold a public hearing with oil and gas operators, environmental groups and others within 60 days.
Commissioner Scott Boydstun said he heard a number of people say that no one had asked for their help or input before putting forward a proposal.
“We sit in on these long meetings and we hear from all the different parties and try to come to a consensus, but I think we also have a responsibility to bring the groups together and come up with policy when it’s available,” he said. he declared.
Read more:Big increases in oil and gas bonds draw closer in Ventura County
The stakeholder session and other elements will likely delay sending the case to supervisors.
Planning staff had previously said the matter would likely come before council later this year, but the timeline was less clear on Thursday. County Planning Director Dave Ward said a court date has not yet been set.
Typically, it takes about six to eight weeks for a counsel file to go through the review process, he said. But this delay would start once the work is completed.
Journalist Kathleen Wilson contributed to this report.
Cheri Carlson covers the environment for the Ventura County Star. Contact her at [email protected] or 805-437-0260.