As Aera’s East Cat Canyon oilfield redevelopment project moves forward, it’s only natural that Santa Barbara County residents will have questions. It’s also not surprising that there will be misconceptions.
For example, in a recent letter to the editor, a reader raised concerns about the production process and questioned the number of jobs connected to the project. We’re more than happy to address those issues.
With respect to potential impacts on groundwater from the steam-injection process that will be used to remove the oil, California regulations and industry best practices are specifically designed to protect groundwater, and safety systems to protect surface and groundwater quality will be required as a condition of project approval. There will also be regular ongoing tests, monitoring, and inspections to ensure well integrity throughout the life of the well.