California’s Final Regulations on Hydraulic Fracturing Become Effective

On July 1, 2015, the final text of California’s regulations on unconventional well stimulation techniques, including hydraulic fracturing, officially became effective. These final regulations implement Senate Bill No. 4, which was approved and signed by California Governor Jerry Brown, on September 20, 2013.

The California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) promulgated the final regulations on January 1, 2015, which were to take effect 6 months later. The final regulations replace SB 4 interim well stimulation regulations that were implemented to fill the gap period during the regular rulemaking process. SB 4 interim regulations had been effective since January 1, 2014.

Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, SB 4 also commissioned the state of California to develop an Environmental Impact Report assessing the potential impacts of oil and gas well stimulation in California. This report also was released on July 1, 2015.

Further information is available at http://www.conservation.ca.gov/Index/Pages/Index.aspx.

Written by Chloe Marie - Research Fellow

07/06/2015