Kern Oil Environmental Rule Struck Down

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) – A California appeals court has set aside an oil well permit system in Kern County – which pumps most of the state’s oil – because it violates state environmental laws. The 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno ruled Tuesday that the county must stop granting permits under a streamlined process it adopted in 2015 until it fixes the problems. The county has issued more than 1,000 oil and gas drilling permits in five years. Environmentalist argued that the fast-track permit system threatened the region’s air quality and water supplies.