A new bill in Congress proposes banning new offshore fossil fuel drilling along the coast from Monterey to Mendocino County, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, said this week.
The Central Coast of California Conservation Act would prohibit new exploration, development or production leases for natural gas or oil along the Central Coast, and a portion of the North Coast.
The bill is part of a package of eight bills introduced in Congress to protect the Pacific and Atlantic oceans from fossil fuel drilling.
The proposal comes in response to President Donald Trump’s efforts to roll back environmental protections across the country, Panetta said.
One of Trump’s first actions after his inauguration was to sign an executive order repealing former President Joe Biden’s prohibition on offshore drilling along most coastal areas of the country, including the Pacific Ocean.
“These waters are teeming with biodiversity, boasting at least 26 marine mammal species, 94 seabird species, four sea turtle species, more than 340 fish species, thousands of invertebrate species, and more than 450 marine algae species,” he said. “California’s coast supports tourism, recreation, agriculture, fisheries, and shipping, contributing $44 billion to California’s GDP each year.”
Through the proposed legislation, Panetta hopes to protect the ecological biodiversity of the coast while also protecting the economic impact the coastal region has in the state. He believes new offshore drilling will compromise not only the ocean itself, but the businesses and communities that benefit from the waters.
The Central Coast of California Conservation Act has support from myriad ocean-focused organizations and special interest groups, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Defenders of Wildlife California, Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Save Our Shores, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Ocean Conservancy.
“Our oceans, economy, and way of life of coastal communities in California’s 19th Congressional District must continue to be protected from any effort to expand offshore oil and gas drilling,” Panetta said. “We must take action to ensure we are living up to the legacy of our home to protect the incredible beauty and bounty that our ocean provides for the next generation.”