Summary: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 The California Coastal Commission is meeting today and tomorrow, in Pismo Beach, and because the Commission webcasts its meetings, you can watch what is going on without having to make the drive down south. Representatives of environmental groups are expecting to testify at a hearing to be held this morning, on ocean fracking. These environmental groups include the Environmental Defense Center, based in Santa Barbara, Surfrider Foundation, the California Coastal Protection Network, the Ocean Foundation, Wildcoast/Costa Salvaje, and CFROG (Citizens For Responsible Oil and Gas). These groups have prepared a report called “Lift The Fog on Ocean Fracking.” They will be urging the Commission to take a number of specific actions that will result in more public information about what the oil companies are actually doing, offshore, and more public control over actions that could be putting our marine environment at risk. Thursday, the Commission will focus on a number of Central Coast items, specifically including a review of requests from both Monterey County and Santa Cruz County that the Commission allow modifications to the counties’ current Local Coastal Programs, in each case to “streamline” the local government permit process. These actions will be considered as part of Agenda Items #27 and #29. You can get the details and full staff reports by using the agenda link in today’s transcript. More Information: Land Use Links Gary Patton’s Two Worlds Blog Coastal Commission Agenda Lift The Fog On Ocean Fracking
