The 1930s were the glory years for California companies like Standard Oil and Occidental Petroleum — with new oil reserves being found all the time. But in recent decades, oil and gas production has been falling as old wells began drying up. But production is up again in the past few years — largely because of the process known as hydraulic fracturing — or fracking. Fracking has been a huge economic boon in places like North Dakota and Pennsylvania. But it's also been extremely controversial. Environmentalists have pressed for a ban on fracking in California — and the issue is on the November ballot in several counties. But in fact, fracking isn't new at all in California. It's been happening for more than 40 years in Kern County, north of Los Angeles.
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