California Department of Conservation
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| California Department of Conservation | |
 Official logo |
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| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 801 K Street, MS 24-01, Sacramento, California |
| Annual Budget | $1 billion (2007) |
| Agency Executives | Bridgett Luther, Director Jason Marshall, Chief Deputy Director |
| Parent agency | California Resources Agency |
| Website | |
| http://www.conservation.ca.gov | |
The California Department of Conservation is a department within the government of California, belonging to the California Resources Agency. Amongst its delegated duties, the Department of Conservation provides scientific analysis of earthquakes within the state, studies and evaluates the state's mines and geology, monitors the use of land, oversees construction of oil rigs and geothermal power vents, and provides state services to promote recycling. Despite the similar name, the Department of Conservation should not be confused with the California Conservation Corps, another department within the Resources Agency, which provides work experience for young adults. The Department of Conservation often collaborates with its federal equivalents, such as the U.S. Geological Survey.
The department's director is Bridgett Luther.
Contents |
[edit] Divisions
The Department of Conservation is divided into six divisions to oversee its various responsibilities.
[edit] California Geological Survey (CGS)
Formed in 2002 from the previous Division of Mines and Geology, the California Geological Survey provides scientific analysis of the state's geography and various fault lines. The survey often issues reports regarding mineral exploitation and risks within seismic hazard zones.
[edit] Division of Land Resource Protection
Promoting conservation, the Division of Resource Protection oversees studies regarding urban sprawl, the use of farmland, and regularly monitors and maps the loss of farmland to urban growth.
[edit] Division of Mine Reclamation
Created after the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975, or SMARA, the Division of Mine Reclamation is dedicated to the reclamation of mining land. Mine Reclamation is involved in every mining operation within the state, approving mining permits, and studying the ability for mining operations to restore land to its previous of altered state following the cessation of their operation.
[edit] Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOC)
The Division of Oil Gas and Geothermal Resources oversees the drilling, operation, maintenance, and the plugging of abandoned oil, natural gas and geothermal wells. The DOC is also one of the main state sources for information about the state's oil, gas and geothermal industry, with more than 170,000 well records, production and injection statistics, well logs and field maps.
The DOC also maintains a database of active wells, expired wells, surveyed lands and leases on California land, coastal waters (0-3 miles) and federal Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). When a well is no longer needed, either because the oil or gas reservoir becomes depleted, or because no oil or gas was found (called a dry-hole), the well is plugged and abandoned. A well is plugged by placing cement in the well-bore or casing at certain intervals as specified in California laws or regulations. The purpose of the cement is to seal the wellbore or casing and prevent fluid from migrating between underground rock layers. Cement plugs are required to be placed across the oil or gas reservoir (zone plug), across the base-of-fresh-water (BFW plug), and at the surface (surface plug) (watch a movie). Other cement plugs may be required at the bottom of a string of open casing (shoe plug), on top of tools that may become stuck down hole (junk plug), on top of cut casing (stub plug), or anywhere else where a cement plug may be needed. Also, the hole is filled with drilling mud to help prevent the migration of fluids.
[edit] Division of Recycling
The Division of Recycling is responsible to ensure state government programs, businesses, and citizens are recycling glass, plastic, aluminum and bimetal beverage containers. space. The Department of Conservation promotes bottle and can recycling through education and outreach to beverage retailers, consumers and recycling centers.
[edit] State Mining and Geology Board
The State Mining and Geology Board is granted certain autonomous responsibilities and obligations under several statutes within the Department of Conservation. The board's general authority requires its nine board members to "represent the general public interest." The board serves as a regulatory, policy and appeals body representing the state's interest in geology, geologic and seismologic hazards, conservation of mineral resources, and reclamation following surface mining activities.
