A recent AP story exposed that a state regulator in California fast-tracked drilling permits to help a company at the expense of proper oversight and safety for the local community.
Among other things, the regulator wrote in an e-mail to a drilling company: ''Just keep up the good work and I will TRY to keep (my boss) from hitting you guys with any more retarded fines ... Remember, I'm on YOUR side ... go PXP!''
My colleague Damon Nagami is working with local community groups in the Los Angeles area to strengthen environmental protections where drilling takes place. I have blogged before about lax state enforcement and oversight. Communities around the country have lost confidence in state regulators, who are allowing oil and gas drilling to release dangerous pollutants into the environment and threaten clean air and clean water around the country.