Brown Appoints Panel To Review California Rules For Fracking

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown says he's created a panel to study how California should monitor hydraulic fracturing for oil.

The panel will review a state-ordered fracking study released this month that found some of the chemicals used in California's fracking boom likely pose a risk to public health. It said the state has failed to track them.

The study ordered by state lawmakers also urged greater oversight of fracking and other intensive oil field production methods.

The panel announced Wednesday combines personnel from nine different state agencies.

It comes as the Democratic governor is at the Vatican for talks on climate change, where he implored world leaders to reduce the use of fossil fuels. But Brown has faced criticism at home from environmentalists for continuing to allow hydraulic fracturing.

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