Oil and gas producers have used hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) in California for many years. What is new, and potentially alarming, are projections of dramatically increased fracking activity in California brought on by the availability of new techniques. Such developments may have outstripped the ability of responsible agencies to effectively oversee fracking activity. The challenges faced by other states that have experienced fracking booms have not been lost on California’s leaders and concerned citizens – fracking is currently the subject of intense scrutiny, and the need has never been greater for clear information and analysis on the topic.