The National Historic Preservation Act requires consideration of the impacts on the sacred sites. The coalition alleges the DOE violated this requirement as well. One federal judge says no, but we must wait for his reasons. All that is clear is that Elk Hill Naval Petroleum Reserve is now the property of Occidental Petroleum. The land is regulated and Occidental still subject to restrictions.
Harm includes habitat modification.
Likewise, the National Historic Preservation Act provides some restrictions. Whether the government will enforce these restrictions is unknown. At least for now, it appears the government is out of the oil business. The question to ask now is whether the government is out of the business of protecting our natural and cultural resources all together. All information property of Vermont Journal of the Environment and Vermont Law School.