Legislation would address oil spills
Assembly
Member Pedro Nava, D-Santa Barbara, has introduced a bill to address a series
of oil spills and environmental violations by Greka
Energy Corporation, a multinational oil and gas company with local operations.
AB
1960 would provide increased authority to the California Department of
Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources to create minimum
operating standards and accountability for abandoned wells and oil spills, and
also would create a bond requirement to “properly decommission oil facilities,
plug abandon wells and ensure that spills and incident clean-up costs will be
covered,” states a press release.
State
authorities say there are three times as many inland spills as marine spills,
the result of poor maintenance of old equipment.
The
press release further states that Greka has spiled approximately 550,000 gallons of contaminated
material during the last eight years and nearly 243,000 gallons since December;
has had almost 500 local, state and federal violations; and more than $2.5
million in fines and penalties.
Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his support for the bill on June 11.
“I
am very proud of Governor Schwarzenegger to join forces with me and statewide
environmental organizations to better protect California and the environment
from pollution,” said Nava. “This is a huge victory for the residents of the
Santa Barbara County, the environment, and all Californians,” he said.