Barbara Boxer: “For decades, Californians have opposed oil and gas drilling along their coasts. Nothing sharpened this concern more than…”

“For decades, Californians have opposed oil and gas drilling along their coasts. Nothing sharpened this concern more than the horrific tanker spill that occurred off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969. Californians are still living with the ecological implications of that spill and the myriad other spills and leaks associated with the rigs that are currently along our coast. Unfortunately, 36 more leases off our coast remain eligible for oil and gas development and four additional leases remain in legal limbo. That is the last thing Californians want or need. California is now in a pitched legal battle with the Department of Interior over whether the State has the ability to deny these leases. I strongly support the State in this effort and have joined Representative Capps in filing an amicus brief in the case. Every State should have the right to deny oil and gas development off their shores, as offshore activities inevitably impact the people and resources that are onshore. Last year, I reintroduced legislation, the Coastal States Protection Act, to place a moratorium on new drilling leases in Federal waters that are adjacent to State waters that have a drilling moratorium. That bill, however, addresses only the issue of future leases. With regard to the existing leases off of California's coast, I am not completely confident that the courts will solve the problem.”