Governor Brown signs bills to block Trump’s offshore oil drilling plan

Gov. Jerry Brown on Saturday signed two bills to block new offshore oil drilling off the state by barring the construction of pipelines, piers, wharves or other infrastructure necessary to transport the oil and gas from federal waters to state land.

The bill signings lock into law the promises of Brown and other state officials who declared this year they would do whatever it takes to stop the Trump administration from opening California waters to drilling on an unprecedented scale.

“Today, California drew a line in the sand with Governor Brown’s signing of both bills that will block President Trump’s dangerous plans to open up new offshore oil drilling along our treasured coast,” said state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, a lead author on one of the bills, in a statement. “Today’s action will protect our $40 billion coastal economy, our fisheries and our environment. We’re grateful for the governor’s support and for taking action to stop this giveaway to Big Oil.”

Under the bills Brown signed, the State Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction over tidelands and waters extending roughly 3 miles offshore, is prohibited from granting leases for new pipelines and infrastructure - the most economical way to transport oil and gas to land. The commission also would be barred from renewing an existing lease if that action would result in increased oil or natural gas production from federal waters.

Oil and gas production from the state’s tidelands peaked in the 1960s and has been more or less declining since. The state has not issued a new offshore oil and gas lease since the devastating 1969 spill in Santa Barbara turned public sentiment against offshore drilling. In 1994, the state Legislature passed the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, which prohibits new leasing in state waters.

Over the decades, governors across party lines, as well as the State Lands and California Coastal commissions have fought additional offshore drilling - successfully challenging federal efforts in court when necessary.