Offshore oil - historic cases

Sardines near Santa Cruz Island, ©2007 Jaimi Kercher

EDC has been fighting to protect the coastal and marine environment of San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties from the adverse effects of offshore oil and gas development since our founding in 1977.  Following is a sample of our recent cases taken on to advance that objective.  You can also review EDC’s full 30th Anniversary Case Docket here.

ARCO Ellwood Oil Development

Raised environmental impacts of proposed offshore oil and gas development project; ARCO abandoned proposal to install three new platforms off the coast of UCSB. (1988-1991)

Worked on the initiation and passage of the California Coastal Sanctuary Act, which prohibits any further leasing for oil and gas development in state waters. (1994)

Forced strict conditions on oil tankering by Chevron; tankering was terminated in February, 1994, because the company did not satisfy its permit conditions. (1991-93)

Achieved additional mitigation measures for proposed offshore seismic survey; enhanced protection of gray whales and other marine mammals. (1995)

Enforced a permit provision that allows the County to require that the oil and gas facility be decommissioned and removed. (1999-2002)

Measure A96

Drafted and defended successful ballot measure requiring voter approval of new oil and gas development projects outside of established consolidated industrial sites in Santa Barbara County. (1996-97)

Raised environmental and safety issues regarding Mobil’s proposed slant drilling project next to sensitive ecological areas and UCSB, leading Mobil to abandon the proposal after three years of community opposition and the passage of Measure A96. (1993-96)

Gas processing plant temporarily shut down, clean air laws enforced and new air pollution control system required to address odor problems and Hydrogen Sulfide risks. (1995-97)

Convinced proponents to relocate gas drilling project to one of the County’s designated industrial sites; secured additional protection for the endangered Gaviota Tarplant populations; and obtained landmark agreement to fully mitigate air quality impacts to zero. (1995-96) Project was subsequently abandoned by proponent. (2003)

Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing
Stopped the lease of 40,000 acres of offshore oil development.  (Fisheries Protective Institute v. State Lands Commission, 1983)  Successfully opposed subsequent federal leasing proposals in 1991 and 1996.

Won monumental case in 2002 canceling the extension of 36 undeveloped oil leases off the coast of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties until adequate environmental, state and public review is conducted. (State of California v. Norton, 1999-2002)  Won second case when Federal government still failed to conduct full environmental review of the leases.  (League for Coastal Protection, et al. v. Norton, 2004-Present, appeal pending)

Offshore Oil Platform Discharges
Convinced Coastal Commission to add requirements to permit covering discharge of drilling muds and cuttings from platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel, to ensure adequate protection of ocean water quality.  (1999-2001)

Filed lawsuit challenging EPA’s failure to update expired permits for twenty-two Federal oil platforms located offshore central and southern California; EPA responded by adopting a new General Permit that included stricter water quality standards.  (Our Children’s Earth, et al v. U.S. EPA, 2004)

Led successful state-wide effort to defeat legislation that would have allowed oil companies to leave their platforms in the ocean when production ceases rather than remove them and clean up the marine environment. (1999-2001)

Tranquillon Ridge
Successfully advocated for rejection of proposed slant oil and gas drilling project off Santa Barbara’s coast that would have allowed the first state oil lease since the 1969 oil spill. (2002)  Subsequently negotiated agreement that would have resulted in the termination of production from four platforms located offshore Santa Barbara County; this proposal was approved by the County but rejected by the California State Lands Commission.  (2006-2009)