Assembly Bills 1866 and 3233, passed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, will affect all coastal communities including Santa Barbara.
Assembly bill 1866 was passed with the support of Assemblymember, Greg Hart (District 37, Santa Barbara) to expedite the process of properly plugging idle oil wells that leak pollutants into the ocean environment. Assembly bill 3233 allows for local communities to limit or prohibit the operation of oil companies within their jurisdiction.
Santa Barbara’s coastline is renowned for its natural harmony of the mountains and ocean. However since the early 20th century, the view of Santa Barbara’s horizon overlooking the ocean has become riddled with many, massive oil rigs.
Since the beginning of offshore oil digging, a total of 40,000 oil wells have been dug off the coast of California that are currently idle or not in production according to Assembly Member Greg Hart.
Unplugged idle oil wells bring a multitude of ecological problems. When oil wells are not properly plugged, they are able to leak oil and methane gas into the environment.
AB 1866 will expedite the process of plugging oil wells in order to mitigate the damage they cause on the environment. Additionally, the bill instructs all operators to prioritize plugging idle wells that are within 3,200 feet of where communities live, work, and play.
“The current rate that companies were closing properly plugging their wells would have taken more than a century, and that’s absolutely unacceptable,” Hart said. “We need to hold the industry accountable. In the past companies have abandoned wells and gone bankrupt, and the taxpayers get left to clean up the mess.”
Hart hopes to lighten this burden on taxpayers.
With the passing of AB 3233, local communities are able to regain control not only of the landscape of the community but the local economy. Emma Horanic, City College’s director of marine diving technology, emphasized the local communities gaining back power into their own hands.
“It gives back power to the community and decides what their community looks like, so I think it’s a good thing,” Horanic said.
Shifting the power back to local communities will be beneficial to thousands. As oil rigs themselves provide a plethora of jobs in local communities.
Horanic, who was a commercial diver on oil rigs off the Gulf of Mexico, detailed the importance of oil wells, and the negative stigma that surrounds oil wells. As oil wells provide an abundance of jobs for local communities. From operators to commercial divers, the skill set necessary to work can range vastly.
“It’s people’s livelihoods. If you get rid of the platforms and all oil production, you’re getting rid of people’s livelihoods,” Horanic said, “You’re getting rid of all those jobs that help make California productive.”
