Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Salud Carbajal (CA-24)
Congressman Salud Carbajal (CA-24) and Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) wrote to Governor Newsom raising concerns about the potential restart of offshore oil drilling operations along California’s Gaviota Coast by Sable Offshore Corp. Despite the devastating environmental and economic impacts of past oil spills, Sable Offshore Corp. is seeking approval to restart drilling using the same corrosion-prone pipeline that caused the 2015 Refugio Oil Spill.
Specifically, the lawmakers are advocating for a thorough environmental review and public engagement process.
“We applaud your efforts to stand up to the threat of new federal offshore oil leasing, however, California is facing another critical and even more pressing threat on our own shores. A new Texas oil company, Sable Offshore Corp., is attempting to restart massive oil and gas drilling and processing operating on the Gaviota Coast.
“This corrosion-prone pipeline was responsible for the Refugio oil spill in 2015 and has been out of operation since then following fishery closures, injuries and deaths to marine animals, and millions of dollars in lost recreational opportunities as a result of the spill,” wrote the lawmakers.
In addition to Representative Carbajal and Senator Schiff, the letter was signed by nearly half of the California Democratic Congressional delegation, including Representatives Barragán, Brownley, DeSaulnier, Friedman, Garamendi, Gomez, Huffman, Kamlager-Dove, Khanna, Levin, Liccardo, Lieu, Lofgren, Matsui, Min, Panetta, Rivas, Sherman, Takano, Vargas, Waters.
Rep. Carbajal has been a staunch advocate to ban future offshore drilling off the Central Coast. His first bill introduced in Congress was the California Clean Coast Act.
At the end of the Biden Administration, Carbajal’s 8-year push to ban future offshore oil drilling came to fruition when President Biden invoked his authority to protect over 625 million acres of federal waters from oil and gas exploration.
Congressman Carbajal was one of 12 members of Congress who wrote to President Biden requesting this action before the end of his term.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Governor Newsom,
As we write this, California is still reeling from the fires in Los Angeles. In addition, we face threats from the Trump Administration to expand oil drilling everywhere, including offshore California, and to gut federal policies and agencies that protect our environment and tackle the ongoing climate crisis. As we know all too well, fossil fuel-driven climate change is severely impacting California and setting the stage for unprecedented disasters like the one we just experienced in Los Angeles. The economic, environmental, and human costs in our state are immeasurable.
We applaud your efforts to stand up to the threat of new federal offshore oil leasing, however, California is facing another critical and even more pressing threat on our own shores. A new Texas oil company, Sable Offshore Corp., is attempting to restart massive oil and gas drilling and processing operating on the Gaviota Coast. This corrosion-prone pipeline was responsible for the Refugio oil spill in 2015 and has been out of operation since then following fishery closures, injuries and deaths to marine animals, and millions of dollars in lost recreational opportunities as a result of the spill. The operation includes three 1980s-era offshore drilling platforms, onshore processing facilities, and other equipment, including a heavily corroded pipeline that ruptured ten years ago, causing one of the worst oil spills in California history.
The spill destroyed thousands of acres of shoreline and subtidal habitats, killed untold numbers of animals, and shut down beaches, fisheries, and businesses. Oil spread 150 miles south as far as Redondo Beach.
Prior to the oil spill, this project was also the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions on the Central Coast and impaired local and state efforts to meet our critical climate goals.
Fire risk is another significant concern from this proposal because the onshore processing facilities are in a high fire risk area. Since they shut down a decade ago, three wildfires have threatened the site. We don’t want to see what happens to Santa Barbara County if one of them catches on fire while full of oil and gas.
Fortunately, this project cannot proceed unless it is approved by several state agencies, including the Fire Marshal, State Parks, California Coastal Commission, State Lands Commission, and more. We write to share concerns that we have heard from our constituents on this issue in the hopes of a fair and transparent process as you consider a state waiver for the Sable pipeline.
It is our understanding that none of the aforementioned state agencies have held formal public hearings or conducted environmental review, despite state-wide concerns about the safety, economic, environmental, and climate effects of Sable’s proposal. The concerns we have heard from our constituents and potential requirements that we ask that you give full and fair consideration include the following:
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Require the Fire Marshal to reconsider the state waiver for the pipeline, conduct environmental review, and hold a public hearing[1];
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Require a coastal development permit for restart of the pipeline;
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Require State Parks to conduct environmental review and hold a public hearing prior to deciding whether to approve a new easement for the pipeline through Gaviota State Park.
In closing, we recognize and support your efforts to protect California from further oil development off our shores. Over the years, we have introduced legislation to permanently protect parts or all of California’s beloved coasts now and for future generations. We celebrated with you when President Biden protected these areas using his authority. Let’s also stand together to defend these actions as they face threats in Congress and the courts.
We appreciate your attention to this critical matter.
