California state senate has passed a bill that would ban new offshore oil drilling in a nearby Marine Protected Area in the Santa Barbara Channel known as Tranquillon Ridge. The vote was 21-13. The Senate Bill 788 bill was jointly authored by Senator Mike McGuire (D- Healdsburg) and Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara).

In 1994, the California Legislature banned any new offshore oil and gas leases when it passed the California Coastal Sanctuary Act.

But as a statement issued by Sen Jackson puts it, “a loophole in state law left Tranquillon Ridge, which extends into state and federal waters, with reserves that are currently being tapped in federal waters from Platform Irene, uniquely vulnerable to offshore drilling.”

Senate Bill 788, the Coastal Protection Act, closes the loophole by repealing Public Resources Code 6244, banning any new drilling in these state waters.

In 2007, Tranquillon Ridge was designated as a Marine Protected Area because of its sensitive marine ecosystem.

The bill has been passed just a fortnight from the Refugio Beach oil spill in Santa Barbara county of California. A ruptured pipeline spilled approximately 2,500 barrels of oil, 480 of which into the Pacific Ocean.

“The Refugio Oil Spill has been a dramatic wake-up call, reminding us just how destructive and dirty oil can be, “ said Jackson. “Tranquillon Ridge is one of the most important bio-regions on the planet. It is a place of extraordinary and wonderous diversity. If there’s ever a place and time where were should commit to no new offshore drilling, it should be here, in this extraordinary place known as Tranquillon Ridge, and it should be now, when the consequences of oil – oil-covered birds and an oil-drenched coastline – are so fresh in our minds.”

“California’s coast is truly a worldwide wonder. Its natural beauty attracts 150 million visitors annually from all across the planet. It is a core part of this great state’s identity and our coastal economy is a main driver of our statewide economic engine. In the wake of last month’s devastating oil spill, we cannot afford to wait any longer to permanently ban new oil drilling off our coast,” said McGuire.

“In 1969, 35 miles of Santa Barbara County’s pristine coast was devastated by an oil slick resulting from offshore oil extraction. Yet again, the residents of my district are faced with a devastating oil spill. It’s clear that, despite assurances from the oil industry, we will continue to face tremendous environmental threat as long as we authorize offshore drilling. This bill closes an obvious loophole in the law and brings us one step closer to avoiding catastrophic events like these in the first place, “ said Assemblymember Das Williams, D-Carpinteria, a co-author of the bill.

Last year, Jackson authored an identical bill, SB 1096. It stalled on the Assembly floor last year after facing significant opposition from the oil industry.

Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.

Senate Bill 788 now heads to the Assembly.

Source: www.offshoreenergytoday.com

Please leave comments and feedback below