美國加州正運用其對離岸3英里範圍內的控制權，封鎖川普總統在太平洋外大陸棚的新石油與天然氣鑽探計畫。加州議會8月28日通過一項法案，禁止州土地委員會批准任何離岸三英里內的新設管線、碼頭或其他石油天然氣開發基礎設施的新許可證。
新法案還禁止任何支持新開發石油和天然氣的生產、運輸或加工作業的許可證更新、展延和修改。
該法案不影響「修理或維護石油與天然氣管線或其他基礎設施的活動」，或任何確保探勘、開發或生產石油與天然氣安全性的活動，也不禁止運輸加州水域生產的石油與天然氣。
加州長期以來致力於保護其海岸，避免海岸受新的海上石油和天然氣鑽探活動影響。
今年1月，川普宣布要開放美國海岸線鑽油後，沿海城市聖塔芭芭拉的議員一直在想辦法透過立法阻撓。
今年5月，聖塔芭芭拉的州參議員傑克遜（Hannah-Beth Jackson）為阻止川普政府擴大加州海岸石油探勘提出的法案，在參議院以24票對8票通過。
「川普政府大幅擴張海上石油鑽探的計畫很危險且魯莽，對我們的沿海社區構成直接威脅。加州必須堅決反對這種擴張，否則可能會破壞我們的海洋生態、公共衛生和沿海經濟，」參議員傑克遜說。
28日州立法大會批准後，由三位聖塔芭芭拉議員共同撰寫的法案修訂版將返回加州參議院進行另一次確認投票。
聯邦安全和環境執法局（Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement，BSEE）和海洋能源管理局（Bureau of Ocean Energy Management，BOEM）準備了一份環境評估計畫草案，評估加州外海石油和天然氣活動對大陸棚環境的影響。
「確保能源生產的環境永續性是BSEE的使命，」BSEE主任安傑爾（Scott Angelle）表示，他支持海上石油和天然氣開發活動。安傑爾8月22日表示，「接受、審查和批准開發許可證能讓加州南部海域38個有效租約中的油藏，能繼續依法生產石油和天然氣，而不影響環境。」
加州公共政策研究所（Public Policy Institute of California，PPIC）7月25日發布的調查結果指出，超過2/3有投票意願的選民（67％）反對增加加州海岸的石油探勘活動。
其中，絕大多數民主黨選民（82％）和絕大多數無黨籍選民（66％）反對，而大多數共和黨選民（54％）表示贊成。
根據PPIC的資料，自1986年以來，加州發生了600多起石油和天然氣管線洩漏、爆炸和其他事故，造成至少7.69億美元的損失，200人受傷，近50人死亡。
California is using its control over the last three miles between the Pacific Ocean and the shore to thwart President Donald Trump’s plans to open the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf to new drilling for oil and gas.
State lawmakers today passed a bill that would bar the State Lands Commission from approving any new leases for pipelines, piers, wharves, or other infrastructure needed to support new federal oil and gas development in the three-mile area off the coast that is controlled by the state.
The bill also prohibits any lease renewal, extension or modification that would support the production, transportation or processing of new oil and gas.
The bill does not affect activities “undertaken to repair or maintain any pipeline or other infrastructure used to convey oil or natural gas or any other activity necessary to ensure the safe operation of infrastructure used in the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas.”
Nor does it prohibit any activity undertaken to convey oil or natural gas produced from state waters.
California has a long-standing bipartisan commitment to protecting its coast from new offshore oil and gas drilling.
Since January, when President Donald Trump announced his intention to open U.S. coastlines to drilling, California lawmakers have been wrestling this bill through the Legislature.
It’s the legislators who represent the coastal city of Santa Barbara who have been pushing this legislation through.
In May, State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson’s bill to thwart the Trump Administration’s efforts to expand federal oil drilling off the California coast passed the Senate floor on a 24 to eight vote. Senator Jackson represents Santa Barbara.
“The Trump Administration’s proposal to dramatically expand offshore oil drilling is dangerous, reckless, and a direct threat to our coastal communities. California must stand firm in our opposition to this expansion, which could devastate our marine ecology, public health, and coastal economy,” said Senator Jackson.
After the Assembly’s approval today, the amended version of the bill, co-authored by Santa Barbara Assemblymembers Al Muratsuchi and Monique Limón, returns to the California Senate for another confirming vote.
The vote to approve this legislation comes as the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have prepared a draft programmatic environmental assessment evaluating the environmental impacts of oil and gas activities on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore California.
“Ensuring environmentally sustainable energy production is central to BSEE’s mission,” said BSEE Director Scott Angelle, who argues for more activity in the offshore oil and gas fields. He said August 22, “Accepting, reviewing, and approving these permits would allow for the continued orderly and environmentally sound production of oil and gas from the reservoirs on the 38 active leases located in federal waters offshore southern California.”
A Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) study released July 25 found that more than two-thirds of likely voters (67%) oppose more oil drilling off the California coast.
Across parties, an overwhelming majority of registered Democrats (82%) and a strong majority of independents (66%) are opposed, while a majority of Republicans (54%) are in favor.
Since 1986, according to the PPIC, more than 600 oil and gas pipeline spills, explosions and other incidents have occurred in California, causing at least $769 million in damages, 200 injuries and close to 50 deaths.
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