June 8, 2002
Contact: Linda Krop, EDC (805) 963-1622 or (805) 455-2392

CALIFORNIANS ASK PRESIDENT BUSH TO PROTECT COAST FROM OIL DEVELOPMENT
California Coast Faces More Severe Threats than Florida's and Deserves Same Protection

CALIFORNIA - A coalition of local, state and federal environmental and business groups sent a letter today to President Bush responding to his refusal to help Californians protect their coast from offshore oil development. In the letter, the groups expressed their disbelief that Bush would reject California's plea for the same level of protection afforded the State of Florida. The groups refuted Secretary Norton's claim that Californians do not oppose offshore oil and gas development, noting that the State of California has imposed a permanent ban on leasing in state waters and has opposed the extension of 36 undeveloped federal leases offshore California's Central Coast since 1999. The groups also pointed out that the California leases pose a much greater threat to coastal ecological, scenic, economic and recreational health, since they are located a mere 3-12 miles offshore, as opposed to 25 miles off Florida's coast. Similar to Florida, the leases would not contribute significantly to the nation's energy demand (providing less than two months' supply of oil) and yet would subject California's coast to 30-40 years of impacts and risks.

Local groups, supported by state and national organizations, represent conservation, business, tourism and fishing interests that are threatened by the potential for new oil and gas development off the coast of California. "President Bush has often stated the importance of local control," said Linda Krop, Chief Counsel for the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) in Santa Barbara, California. "For that reason, we are asking that he listen to those of us who live and work on the Coast and do not want to see our coastal resources destroyed. We ask that he partner with California like he did with Florida and retire all of the California oil and gas leases immediately. To state that Californians do not oppose offshore oil and gas development, especially after the 1969 oil spill, is ridiculous and untruthful."

The State of California and public groups first requested retirement of the 36 California leases in 1999. At that time, the leases were due to expire unless extended by the federal government. In November 1999, over the objections of the public and the State, the Department of the Interior extended the leases. This action led to litigation filed by the State of California, ten environmental groups including EDC, and the Counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. A federal district court judge ruled in favor of the State and public in June 2001, after which the Bush Administration and the oil companies appealed the decision. The case will be argued before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on June 10.

California's federal oil leases are situated between two national marine sanctuaries and adjacent to the Channel Islands National Park offshore and the Los Padres National Forest onshore. Since the leases were first sold between 1968 and 1984, environmental conditions have changed including the listing of several threatened and endangered species and increased air and water pollution. The horrific 1969 oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara and resulting long-term impacts left an impression on Californians. Oil spills and poisonous gas releases from existing oil and gas development continue to plague California, jeopardizing not only human and environmental health, but also coastal economies.

Central Coast groups sending the letter include the Environmental Defense Center, Greater Santa Barbara Lodging Association, San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo, Get Oil Out!, Sierra Club (Los Padres Chapter), Citizens for Goleta Valley, Community Environmental Council, Local Ocean Network, Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper, Santa Barbara Urban Creeks Council, Santa Monica BayKeeper, Santa Barbara Surfrider Foundation and San Diego BayKeeper. State and federal groups include CALPIRG, Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Defenders of Wildlife, The Ocean Conservancy, Surfrider Foundation, and the Otter Project. For more information, please call Linda Krop, Chief Counsel, or Jenna Garmon, Community Affairs Director, at the Environmental Defense Center at 805-963-1622 or visit EDC's website at: www.edcnet.org.

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