Carbajal Introduces the California Clean Coast Act on Oil Spill 50th Anniversary

Press Release

Today, Rep. Salud Carbajal (CA-24) announced the reintroduction of his first piece of legislation in Congress, H.R. 279, the California Clean Coast Act of 2019.

The California Clean Coast Act permanently bans future offshore oil and gas leasing in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the coast of California. The announcement coincides with 50th the anniversary of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, in which 100,000 barrels of crude oil were spilled into the waters off California's Central Coast. Carbajal's legislation is cosponsored by 42 members of the California congressional delegation.

"With the Trump Administration's unrelenting attacks on our environment and natural resources, it is more important than ever to make it clear that we will not accept further oil leasing and development off our shores," said Carbajal. "In California, our coastal communities, local economies, and fragile ocean ecosystems cannot afford another disastrous oil spill. That is why it is critical that we pass legislation to protect our coastal environment from further oil drilling and preserve its beauty and vibrancy for future generations."

The reintroduction of the California Clean Coast Act comes as the Trump Administration prepares to release the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) long-awaited Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which will define the administration's vision for offshore oil and gas drilling. The Draft Proposed Program, released in January 2018, would have opened more than 90 percent of American waters to oil and gas development, including of California's coastline.

Carbajal joined six other lawmakers to introduce bills blocking offshore drilling in one or more regions of the OCS. The bill package includes:

Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee -- The Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act of 2019
Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) -- The Florida Coastal Protection Act of 2019
Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.) -- The Coastal Economies Protection Act of 2019
Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) -- The New England Coastal Protection Act of 2019
Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) -- The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019 and the Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2019
Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-Va.) -- The Defend our Coast of 2019

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