Final decision in drilling debate

drilling, dynamic, Issue 13, News, News, Shelby tatomir, Tyler Butler - By Shelby Tatomir on Thursday, December 8, 2011 - 05:02

At the end of a long succession of meetings the fate of the drilling for oil in Whittier’s Hills has been decided. Nov. 28 marked the tallying of a 5-0 vote approving the environmental impact report for drilling for oil in the hills of Whittier after the seven total meetings.

Nov. 29, Whittier city officials filed a “notice of determination of the environmental impact report” with Los Angeles County, starting the 30-day clock for those wanting to file a legal challenge. The Matrix Oil Company is beginning to analyze the conditions of their permit and planning for what will be needed for the drilling to occur.

The president of an anti-drilling group, the Open Space Legal Defense Fund, Heriberto “Eddie” Diaz along with his cohorts will challenge the decision and stop the project by filing a lawsuit. “We certainly have plans to do that,” Diaz said in the Whittier Daily News. “We thought all along that was something we would need to do.”

Students at Whittier College are also taking an interest in the drilling debate. “I don’t know much about the entire process and the pros and cons, but, I do feel that as society, we should be striving for a safer alternative for fuel, instead of sticking to this old, primitive form,” first-year Kyle Kinyon said. “Our school is a big piece of the Whittier culture, and our school seems to always promote progression. So, I think the town would just be conforming to society by drilling for oil.”

This year, because Whittier College is pushing for a greener community, students and faculty members, especially those involved with the Whittier Scholars Program 101 class, have addressed this issue on their own.

In a letter addressed “To whom it may concern,” the class brought to light their specific worries and thoughts about the plan to drill. “As a class we question this proposal and its effect on the community of Whittier as well as the environment of Whittier Hills,” they said in their letter. “We are told by brochures, signs and videos that the oil extraction won’t hurt the wildlife and may even restore it; but how? How can this industrial action help the wildlife?”

The letter concludes with a plea to the oil company’s concern for the well being of the earth. “Our class asks you to continue research in drilling techniques, question the effects on the local economy and finding a voice in this situation. The drilling affects our environment and if we want to protect it then we must stand strong. Whittier Hills is our wilderness and as citizens we have a right to protect it.”Matrix Oil Company’s Vice President Mike McCaskey stated that he is grateful for the time allowed for the preparatory time allotted to the drilling. “[The time period] will allow us to do extensive planning and applications of various items that will allow us to speed up the timeline,” McCaskey said.

“All of these things take time that will be done in advance. It’s our goal to dramatically shorten the projected 30-month construction period.” The letter goes on to explain how “fracking” is a relatively new technology, and it essentially uses “chemicals and water to bore a hole through the middle of a rock,with the purpose of extracting oil.” The issues addressed include the irreversible damage that could occur on the geology of the site and the high toxicity speculated to have resulted from drilling.

The Whittier Scholars Program 101 is waiting for a reply to their thoughts compiled in the letter. Though there are currently opposing views on the oil drilling subject, the Matrix Oil Company plans to continue on with their plans.