On Feb. 10, the three environmental groups negotiating the Tranquillon Ridge Project with Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP) submitted testimony to the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Natural Resources protesting the project’s inclusion in the governor’s budget proposal. In their statement, the Environmental Defense Center, Get Oil Out!, and Santa Barbara County Citizens Planning Association said while they still support their plan to end oil drilling off California’s shores, they don’t believe it should be part of the budget negotiations “because there is nothing pending before any body at the moment, given the State Lands Commission denial of the proposal last year.” The groups told the subcommittee that they’re very close to finalizing a new agreement with PXP that addresses the concerns of the State Lands Commission and several environmental organizations to assure greater enforceability, transparency, and accountability. Once the new plan is finalized, it will be made public, and supporters hope it will be reheard by the State Lands Commission. The environmental groups join dozens of other organizations in opposing the governor’s attempt to link the project with any particular funding source. Rather, they support existing law, which provides that money from oil drilling is to be deposited into the state’s general fund. Nonetheless, the subcommittee proceeded to discuss the project.
This article appears in Feb 18-25, 2010.
