OFFSHORE OIL OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING off THEDRILLING off THE

CALIFORNIA COAST: CALIFORNIA COAST:A Recipe for A Recipe for

Environmental Environmental Disaster?Disaster?

Presented by: Christine Oneto

PR334 – Summer Semester, Aug 2009

Why should we care?Why should we care?

Damage has been done in the pastDamage has been done in the past

Is this what we want for our Is this what we want for our future?future?

Why the Issue is ResurfacingWhy the Issue is Resurfacing In July 2008, President Bush lifted a In July 2008, President Bush lifted a

presidential moratorium on drilling for oil presidential moratorium on drilling for oil and natural gas on the Outer Continental and natural gas on the Outer Continental ShelfShelf

When Obama took office, this was the When Obama took office, this was the Federal Landscape Federal Landscape

Plains Exploration Production (PXP), an Plains Exploration Production (PXP), an independent company, issued Project independent company, issued Project Proposal for drilling of the Calif. Coast to Proposal for drilling of the Calif. Coast to California State Lands Commission California State Lands Commission (5/2009) (5/2009)

What is the OCS: Outer What is the OCS: Outer Continental Shelf?Continental Shelf?

3 miles

300 miles

PXP Proposal & How it Affects PXP Proposal & How it Affects CaliforniaCalifornia

Plains Exploration & Production, a Plains Exploration & Production, a Houston, Texas companyHouston, Texas company

Drilling allowed - up to Drilling allowed - up to 14 years14 years of risk of risk State vs. Federal watersState vs. Federal waters Existing vs. New Platforms Existing vs. New Platforms What are the: What are the:

• Environmental impact Environmental impact • Financial impact - $11 million clean-upFinancial impact - $11 million clean-up• Long – term impactLong – term impact

Oil & the California Budget Oil & the California Budget CrisisCrisis

Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger’s Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger’s balanced budget proposal included the balanced budget proposal included the PXP proposal.PXP proposal.

$1.8 Billion (approx.) revenue from oil $1.8 Billion (approx.) revenue from oil (over 14 yrs., $100M this year)(over 14 yrs., $100M this year)

Enter: the California State Lands Enter: the California State Lands Commisssion & John Garamendi Commisssion & John Garamendi

Proposal suspended – thanks to he and Proposal suspended – thanks to he and 34 agencies involved 34 agencies involved

Per Jessica Rader of S.L.C., proposal Per Jessica Rader of S.L.C., proposal may be back for re-negotiation in may be back for re-negotiation in August/Sept.August/Sept.

34 Environmental Agencies 34 Environmental Agencies OpposedOpposed

Heal the Bay- Sonia DiazHeal the Bay- Sonia Diaz Inland Empire Waterkeeper- Autumn De Inland Empire Waterkeeper- Autumn De

WoodyWoody League for Coastal Protection- Mel NutterLeague for Coastal Protection- Mel Nutter Malibu Coast Land Conservancy- Steve Malibu Coast Land Conservancy- Steve

UhringUhring Natural Resources Defense Council- Natural Resources Defense Council-

Virgina RomeVirgina Rome Ocean Outfall Group- Jan D. Vaandersloot,Ocean Outfall Group- Jan D. Vaandersloot, Orange County Coastkeeper- Garry BrownOrange County Coastkeeper- Garry Brown Residents for Responsible Desalination- Residents for Responsible Desalination-

Merle MoshiriMerle Moshiri San Diego Coastkeeper- Bruce ReznikSan Diego Coastkeeper- Bruce Reznik San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper- Gordon San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper- Gordon

HensleyHensley Santa Monica Baykeeper- Tom FordSanta Monica Baykeeper- Tom Ford Sea and Sage Audubon- Scot ThomasSea and Sage Audubon- Scot Thomas South Laguna Civic Association-Bill RihnSouth Laguna Civic Association-Bill Rihn Urban Wildlands-Catherine RichUrban Wildlands-Catherine Rich Vote the Coast- Sara WanVote the Coast- Sara Wan Western Alliance for Nature- Larry WanWestern Alliance for Nature- Larry Wan Wild Heritage Planners- Jack EidtWild Heritage Planners- Jack Eidt Wildcoast- Serge DedinaWildcoast- Serge Dedina

Amigos de Bolsa Chica – Dave CarlbergAmigos de Bolsa Chica – Dave Carlberg Audobon California – Dan TaylorAudobon California – Dan Taylor Beacon Foundation – Vickie FinanBeacon Foundation – Vickie Finan Bolsa Chica Land Trust- Paul ArmsBolsa Chica Land Trust- Paul Arms Buena Vista Audobon- Joan HorowitzBuena Vista Audobon- Joan Horowitz California Coastal Network- California Coastal Network- Steve AscetiSteve Asceti California Coastal Protection Network- California Coastal Protection Network-

SusanJordanSusanJordan Clean- Marcia HanscomClean- Marcia Hanscom Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation- Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation-

Marco GozalesMarco Gozales Coastwalk California- Fran GibsonCoastwalk California- Fran Gibson Committee for Green Foothills- Lennie Committee for Green Foothills- Lennie

RobertsRoberts Defenders of Wildlife- Richard CharterDefenders of Wildlife- Richard Charter Ecoslo- Morgan RaffertyEcoslo- Morgan Rafferty Endangered Habitats League- Dan SilverEndangered Habitats League- Dan Silver Environment California- Dan JacobsonEnvironment California- Dan Jacobson Environmental Action Committee of W. Environmental Action Committee of W.

MarinMarin Environmental Health Coalition- Laura Environmental Health Coalition- Laura

HunterHunter Friends of Harbors, Beaches and ParksFriends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks

BUT…Alternative forms of BUT…Alternative forms of Energy ExistEnergy Exist

Wind Wind Solar Solar Wave / Ocean Wave / Ocean Geothermal Geothermal BiomassBiomass

Wind energy is … "cheaper than any other new electric generation

except natural gas.[which] emits one pound of greenhouse gases for

every kilowatt-hour of electricity it generates."

Why is Alternate Energy better?Why is Alternate Energy better?

In CA, clean energy created jobs at a rate In CA, clean energy created jobs at a rate of 7.7% from 1998 – 2007.of 7.7% from 1998 – 2007.

California’s passage of AB32 – The Global California’s passage of AB32 – The Global Warming Solutions Act created an agenda Warming Solutions Act created an agenda for booming clean energy industry. for booming clean energy industry.

Pres. Barack Obama has stated he wants Pres. Barack Obama has stated he wants the U.S. to derive 25% of its power from the U.S. to derive 25% of its power from renewables by 2025 …So, why would CA renewables by 2025 …So, why would CA go against this by this PXP action?go against this by this PXP action?

Conclusion: Prevent More Conclusion: Prevent More Spillage DisastersSpillage Disasters

It’s not just the birds…Call to ActionIt’s not just the birds…Call to Action

Who do you want to bank your Who do you want to bank your future on for this?:future on for this?:

ProtectProtect ŸŸPreserve Preserve ŸŸ

EducateEducate

Ocean Beach, CA

Thank you!Thank you!