[ From: "Governor Arnold’s Big Oily Surprise - Disputed Santa Barbara Offshore Oil Deal Makes a Comeback," by Jerry Roberts, SB INDEPENDENT, May 21, 2009 ]


Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bid to resurrect a defeated plan to authorize a new lease for oil drilling off the Santa Barbara County coast...

“This hit us out of the blue,” said Linda Krop, chief counsel for the Environmental Defense Center (EDC)...

That deal, negotiated between the EDC and the Houston-based PXP Energy Company, involved a novel swap to give both sides some of what they wanted: PXP, already drilling in federal waters off the coast near Vandenberg Air Force Base, would gain additional drilling rights in nearby state waters until 2022; in exchange, they agreed to permanently shut down four existing platforms that year, along with a batch of other pro-environment concessions.

“We’re definitely hearing a whole lot more concern about this process,” Krop said, after a weekend taking the temperature of the enviro community. “We [want] to make sure that whatever process unfolds is fair, and respectful of the various agencies and jurisdictions.”

... a consensus among environmentalists seemed to be coalescing in opposition to Arnold’s proposal; opinions remain polarized about the PXP deal itself, however. The dynamic is clear in the Jordan/Das Williams Democratic primary race for Nava’s soon-to-be-vacant seat...

Williams said he “stands with EDC” in looking for alternative ways to breathe new life into the agreement with PXP, and to address environmental concerns raised by Lands Commission staff. But he added, “It’s not right to sidestep the process just because [the commission vote] didn’t go our way.”

“My gut feeling is [Schwarzenegger’s plan] is the right thing obtained the wrong way,” he said...

Labels: 35th Assembly District, offshore oil drilling, Tranquillon Ridge