Posted on 03/03/2015 7:13:13 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
An oil company has sued to block San Benito County's voter-approved fracking ban in a move that could affect the growing trend of California cities and counties' efforts to stop the controversial oil drilling practice of hydraulic fracturing.
In the lawsuit, Citadel Exploration, based in Newport Beach, is attempting to overturn Measure J, approved by 59 percent of San Benito County voters four months ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
The oil industry should change the name from “franking drilling” to “homo drilling.” The judge would then overturn the voter approved ban in a New York minute.
Ping.
I guess maybe all twelve people who live in San Benito County came out and voted! Or maybe it was the cow vote that turned this election.
Portland Press Herald
March 3, 2015
South Portland enlists Boston firm to help defend crude oil ban
The City Council approves hiring environmental legal experts at Foley Hoag and hopes donations to city’s Clear Skies Fund will help pay for it.
BY KELLEY BOUCHARD STAFF WRITER
SOUTH PORTLAND — City officials have hired a Boston law firm to help defend the city’s fledgling Clear Skies ordinance in court and they’ve set up a fund to collect donations for what could be a long and costly fight.
The City Council voted unanimously Monday night to hire a Foley Hoag, a firm that specializes in environmental law and litigation, to defend the ordinance against oil and shipping businesses that are challenging the ban as unconstitutional.
. . .
The Clear Skies ordinance aims to prevent the flow of the South Portland-to-Montreal oil pipeline from being reversed to bring Canadian oil – and potentially tar sands oil – into Maine.
. . .
The ordinance was adopted in July, eight months after South Portland voters rejected a proposal that would have allowed only the unloading of oil in South Portland. Reversing the flow of the pipeline would enable tankers and barges to take on oil from the pipeline and transport it to other ports and refineries.
Supporters of the ban said reversing the pipeline could increase the risk of spills and would require the construction of smokestacks next to Bug Light Park to burn off gases associated with loading diluted bitumen – otherwise known as tar sands oil – from the pipeline onto tankers.
. . .
Six residents spoke in favor of hiring Foley Hoag, comparing the challenge to David taking on Goliath.
“We are fighting a big enemy – big oil,” said Catherine Chapman. “It is going to cost some money to do this…but I can’t see anything more important…Bravo. Keep going. We’re right behind you.”
. . .
Gailey said donations to the Clear Skies Fund should be made by check and mailed to: South Portland City Hall, City Manager’s Office, 25 Cottage St., South Portland, ME 04106.
Don’t give the anti fracking crowd any ideas “FRACK Free” product requirements. As noted in the article above. The small city of South Portland Maine turned down a ban on the pipeline that ends in South Portland from reversing its flow. They still got the council to pass an ordinance that effectively did the same thin 8 months later. They are now being sued to overturn the ordinance. Maine cities and towns are facing big issues in maintaining services for its taxpayers and yet they are spending over $100,000 to a Boston law firm defend a lawsuit that they will most certainly lose.
BTW, they are taking contributions for their legal defense fund. The article says they have not gotten any contributions. Not even from the moonbats who have been pushing this through the council.
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