Senate Bill No. 788

Introduced by Senator McGuire

(Principal coauthors: Senators Jackson and Leno)

(Coauthors: Senators Allen, Hancock, and Wolk)

(Coauthors: Assembly Members Dodd, Levine, Mark Stone, and Williams)

February 27, 2015

An act to repeal Section 6244 of the Public Resources Code, relating to coastal resources.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

SB 788, as introduced, McGuire. California Coastal Protection Act of 2015.

The California Coastal Sanctuary Act of 1994 authorizes the State Lands Commission to enter into a lease for the extraction of oil or gas from state-owned tide and submerged lands in the California Coastal Sanctuary if the commission determines that the oil or gas deposits are being drained by means of producing wells upon adjacent federal lands and the lease is in the best interest of the state.

This bill would enact the California Coastal Protection Act of 2015, which would delete this authorization. The bill would make related legislative findings and declarations.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:

(1) California’s coast is 840 miles long. California’s coastal
economies contribute $40 billion annually to the state’s economy,
and nearly half a million jobs. Commercial fisheries in California
are valued at more than $7 billion annually. Ocean dependent
tourism is valued at over $10 billion annually. Recreational fishing
is valued at over $2 billion annually along California’s coast.

(2) The California coastal current system hosts a wide variety
of marine mammals, seabirds, sea turtles, marine fishes, and
invertebrates, including many threatened and endangered animals.
The ocean off of California’s coast also supports rare, deep-water
coral habitats that provide habitat for abundant marine life.

(3) The California coastline provides habitat for many threatened
or endangered species.

(4) The coast of California is home to numerous protected areas,
including national marine sanctuaries, a national park, and a
national seashore.

(5) Outdoor coastal recreation is a crucial part of California’s
business and recreation, including boating, wildlife viewing, hiking,
beach visitation, swimming, surfing, and diving. Additionally,
many of California’s indigenous populations rely on fisheries for
subsistence, business, and recreation.

(6) The California Coastal Sanctuary Act of 1994 passed with
bipartisan support. The act prohibits any extraction of oil or gas
in certain state waters under a new lease, but it also provides an
exception that authorizes the extraction of oil or gas from
state-owned tide and submerged lands in certain circumstances.
Because of this exception, the act falls short of providing a
complete ban on new offshore oil drilling.

(7) California has established a network of marine protected
areas. The exception for offshore oil drilling in the California
Coastal Sanctuary Act of 1994 threatens that network of marine
protected areas.

(8) Pursuant to an agreement with the federal government,
California receives a portion of the royalties on oil and gas
produced in federal waters.

(9) California has not issued new offshore oil permits for over
50 years and has intentionally foregone any revenue from new
offshore oil development in state waters and federal waters. The
Legislature, Governor, and State Lands Commission have
repeatedly called upon the federal government to prohibit any
offshore oil drilling in federal waters off the California coast.

(10) The federal and state government, as well as the people of
California, have consistently expressed support for an energy policy
that transitions our use from fossil fuel to more renewable energy,
greater fuel efficiency, and conservation.

(11) The Governor of California, along with the governors of
Oregon and Washington, have repeatedly expressed their “strong
opposition” to any offshore oil development off of the West Coast.
In a letter to the President of the United States, they wrote: “While
new technology reduces the risk of a catastrophic event such as
the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, a sizeable spill anywhere along
our shared coast would have a devastating impact on our
population, recreation, natural resources, and our ocean and coastal
dependent economies.” They further wrote that: “Oil and gas
leasing may be appropriate for regions where there is state support
for such development and the impacts can be mitigated. However,
along the West Coast, our states stand ready to work with the
Obama Administration to help craft a comprehensive and
science-based national energy policy that aligns with the actions
we are taking to invest in energy efficiency, alternative renewable
energy sources, and pricing carbon.”

(b) This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the California
Coastal Protection Act of 2015.

SEC. 2.  

Section 6244 of the Public Resources Code is repealed.

begin delete

6244.  

The commission may enter into any lease for the
extraction of oil or gas from state-owned tide and submerged lands
in the California Coastal Sanctuary if the commission determines
that those oil or gas deposits are being drained by means of
producing wells upon adjacent federal lands and the lease is in the
best interests of the state.

end delete