The California Air Resources Board Adopts Far-Reaching Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets Designed To Achieve More Livable, Sustainable Communities
On September 23, 2010, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) adopted targets throughout the State for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles (including automobiles and light trucks). The targets vary by region. In the Greater Los Angeles area, comprising approximately 18 million people, CARB set reduction targets of 8% by 2020 and 13% by 2035. This despite the September 2 vote of the regional council of the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) urging CARB to require more modest targets of 6% by 2020 and 8% by 2035.
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As part of a broad investigation into the practice of pressurized injection of water, sand, and chemicals to extract natural gas from shale, known as hydraulic fracturing or fracking, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held several public hearings this week in Binghamton, New York. Hydraulic fracturing operates by the pressure of the injected materials exceeding the rock strength and the fluid then opening or enlarging fractures in the rock. As the formation is fractured, a “propping agent,” such as sand or ceramic beads, is pumped into the fractures to keep them from closing as the pumping pressure is released.
