• The California Department of Conservation recently released draft regulations to implement comprehensive oil spill prevention legislation penned by Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara). In a release to the media, Nava said he created Assembly Bill 1960 in response to the high number of spills at local oil drilling companies, namely Greka Oil and Gas, Inc. Citing information from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department, the press release said, Greka spilled 86,000 gallons of polluted materials in December 2007 alone, and 221,927 gallons in 2008. “People I talked to couldn’t understand why more wasn’t done to protect the environment and public health,” Nava said in the release. “Polluters will now be held accountable when spills occur.” The regulations will require the oil industry to meet stricter standards and provide enhanced inspections. AB 1960 also increases civil penalties for inland polluters. The regulations will give the state the authority to shut down oil operations by companies that fail to meet minimum maintenance standards.
This article appears in Aug 27 – Sep 3, 2009.
