Ocean protection bill would ban new offshore drilling in Southern California – The San Diego Union-Tribune

New oil and gas leases off the Southern California coastline would be permanently banned, under a bill introduced Friday by Mike Levin (D- San Juan Capistrano.)

The legislation would prohibit any new leasing for oil or gas exploration, development, or production, from San Diego to the northern border of San Luis Obispo County. The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on Levins bill and other related offshore drilling legislation Thursday.

The Southern California coast is home to world-renowned beaches, cherished marine life, and billions of dollars in ocean-based economic activity that are central to our quality of life but are threatened by offshore drilling, Levin said in a statement. Oil spills from offshore drilling have done devastating damage to our coastline before, which is why Californians overwhelmingly support a ban on new drilling activity along our coast.

Although offshore drilling in California has stalled since the 1980s, there are 23 oil and gas drilling platforms remaining in federal waters off California, near Santa Barbara County, Huntington Beach, and Seal Beach, Levin said.

Moreover the potential for new leases exists with each administration. Former President Donald Trump attempted to reopen offshore oil production as part of an effort to achieve energy dominance in America, but he met with backlash from citizens, businesses and governments in California and elsewhere.

Levins bill is one of several throughout the country that aim to enshrine coastal drilling bans into law, said Surfrider Environmental Director Pete Stauffer.

Every president can update the offshore drilling plan, Stauffer said. No one expects the Biden administration to approve new offshore drilling, however, a future president can certainly come in and do that. Thats why theres a tremendous push, not only in Southern California, but also around the country, to establish new protections against offshore drilling.

Coming a week after Gov. Gavin Newsoms order to end new fracking permits in California by January 2024, Levins bill represents a statewide shift away from fossil fuel production.

Newsom also directed the California Air Resources Board to analyze ways to phase out oil extraction by 2045. Those actions reflect a shared goal of tackling climate change and safeguarding Californias environment, Levin said.

Like Governor Newsoms plan to ban hydraulic fracturing by 2024, my bill recognizes the need to shift away from fossil fuel extraction that is driving the climate crisis and threatening our quality of life in California, Levin said in an e-mail.

It also aims to protect the 50 miles of coastline in his district, which stretches from Del Mar to Dana Point. Eliminating offshore drilling would prevent potential disasters such as the 1969 Santa Barbara spill the third largest in U.S. history and other leaks from oil rigs and pipelines that together have released more than 4 million gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean, he stated.

Fishing, tourism, and recreation along Californias coastline supports nearly 600,000 jobs and roughly $42.3 billion in economy activity, Levins office said. In San Diego alone, the maritime economy accounts for $14 billion in direct sales annually and more than 45,000 jobs, according to the Maritime Alliance.

In Southern California, our economy and way of life depend directly on a clean coastal environment, so offshore drilling is not compatible with that, Stauffer said.

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Ocean protection bill would ban new offshore drilling in Southern California - The San Diego Union-Tribune