Sacramento, CA — Less than a month after denying all of Aera Energy’s fracking permits, CalGEM denied 42 of California Resources Production Corporation’s applications for fracking operations. The agency, however, cited missing application materials for the denial, making no mention of risks to public health and safety, environmental quality and climate change cited in the previous permit denial of Aera Energy.

In May, Governor Newsom directed CalGEM to come up with a plan to accept no new fracking permits by 2024. Despite pressure from environmental groups to speed up the process, he has thus far maintained the 2024 timeline.

“It’s encouraging to see CalGEM denying more fracking permits, particularly as California weathers a devastating drought and wildfire season induced by climate change,” said Food & Water Watch’s California Director Alexandra Nagy. “This is progress. But make no mistake, it is not enough. Governor Newsom must direct CalGEM to end fracking and all well stimulation now, not in two and a half years. Fracking and well stimulation permits are just a subset of oil drilling permits approved by the Newsom administration. Our climate cannot wait and neither can the communities across California sickened by air and water pollution. It’s time for Governor Newsom to take up the mantle of climate leadership that would make California an example for other states. It’s time to end fracking now and stop all new permits for oil and gas drilling.”

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Contact: Jessica Gable, (202) 683-2478, [email protected]