Protecting La Habra Heights From Fracking

Residents of La Habra Heights, CA, proposed “The Healthy City Initiative,” also known as Measure A, for inclusion on the March 2015 ballot after mounting concerns over the environmental and health effects more invasive drilling would have on their community. If passed, the initiative would prohibit new oil and gas well development, and prevent high-intensity techniques like “fracking” from being used.

On December 1, 2014 the City caved to litigation pressures from an industry-backed lawsuit to include language on the March 2015 ballot that inaccurately summarizes the language that was circulated to and signed by voters in order to place the initiative on the ballot in the first place. The new language paints Measure A as much broader than it actually is by deceiving the public about the scope of its coverage.

If passed in March, this initiative would prohibit land use for drilling new oil and gas wells, new high-intensity petroleum operations like hydraulic fracturing, and the reactivation of idle wells. The initiative would also ensure that operators with vested rights, including rights to use high-intensity techniques, could continue their operations.

On December 31, 2014, The Los Angeles Superior Court ruled in favor of La Habra Heights residents by rejecting inaccurate oil and gas-backed language from being included in a March 2015 ballot initiative. The Court ordered the City to revise the language. The community-proposed initiative aims to ban new oil and gas development, including high-intensity practices like fracking and acid well stimulation that have been linked to serious health and environmental impacts.