Our local Seneca oil company (Seneca Resources) invited a number of people to take part in a tour of its extensive Sespe oil fields above Fillmore, Tuesday. It was an eye-opening experience for me. The group of approximately 20 guests was treated to a fine lunch at the Oak Flat office. Thereafter, we toured the complete operations of the facility.

Site Operations Manager, Luke Faith, lifetime Fillmore resident, answered all questions concerning operations, and provided a great deal of information about the condor population in the refuge surrounding Seneca's area of operation. Those who are concerned about the welfare of this endangered species can rest assured that every effort is being made to care for these special birds.

I have never before seen an oil field whose roads, pads, and equipment could be described as pristine. It seems to me that Seneca cares for the birds as much as they do oil production.

Seneca has been an important partner in California's oil production for the past 25 years, although the Pennsylvania-based company is more than 100-years-old. The company' "fracking" activity is extraordinarily clean, precisely controlled, and has no geological connection with well water in the Santa Clara River Valley (Fillmore, Piru, and Santa Paula). All of its gas and oil production is processed and utilized in Ventura County.

Seneca is a great neighbor for Fillmore to have producing a vital resource.