A MONTEREY COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE HAS ISSUED A PRELIMINARY RULING AGAINST A SAN BENITO COUNTY OIL-DEVELOPMENT PROJECT. A RECENT LAWSUIT ALLEGED SAN BENITO COUNTY UNLAWFULLY APPROVED A DRILLING PLAN NEAR PINNACLES NATIONAL PARK WITHOUT AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT. THE PROJECT INVOLVES OVER A DOZEN EXPLORATORY WELLS THAT WOULD BE HARMFUL TO THE PARK’S HABITAT. SAN BENITO COUNTY HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO COMPLETE A FULL REVIEW OF THE PLAN BEFORE THE FINAL RULING LATER THIS MONTH.
