Rep. Carbajal reintroduces bill to ban future offshore oil drilling off the California Coast
This act was the first bill Congressman Carbajal introduced as a Member of Congress, according to an announcement from his office.
Washington, D.C. — On April 22, Representative Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) announced the reintroduction of the California Clean Coast Act, a bill that would permanently ban future offshore oil and gas leasing in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California.
This act was the first bill Congressman Carbajal introduced as a Member of Congress, according to an announcement from his office. The bill was first introduced in January 2017 on the anniversary of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. Over 100,000 barrels of crude oil were spilled into the waters off the California Coast during that spill, spurring widespread outrage and playing a huge role in the creation of the modern environmental movement.
“Santa Barbara knows firsthand how devastating oil spills can be on our marine ecosystems and coastline,” said Rep. Carbajal. “I’m proud to lead this bill to ban future offshore oil drilling in our state and ensure California’s world-famous coastline is protected for future generations to enjoy.”
Representatives of environmental groups applauded the reintroduction of the legislation.
“California’s spectacular marine life — including complex kelp forests and sea otters — and vibrant coastal economies rely on healthy ecosystems,” said Pamela Flick, Defenders of Wildlife California Program Director.”This legislation could, once and for all, block offshore drilling activities along the continental shelf, and protect critical marine habitats along California’s iconic Pacific Coast.”
Linda Krop, Chief Counsel of the Environmental Defense Center, the group founded in the aftermath of the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill, agreed with Flick’s assessment of the measure.
“The California Clean Coast Act is critical to protecting our coast and climate from the threats of offshore oil drilling,” Krop said. “From the 1969 blowout at Platform A to the 2015 pipeline spill along the Gaviota Coast, the California Coast has suffered the devastating effects of offshore oil development on communities who live, play, and work here.”
“We know that when it comes to offshore oil drilling, it is not a question of if – but when – another spill will devastate our beaches, our ocean, our wildlife, and our economy. The California Clean Coast Act will preserve our precious coast from the threats of future oil spills and climate change,” Krop concluded.
Rep. Carbajal has been a staunch advocate to ban future offshore drilling off the Central Coast. “At the end of the Biden Administration, Carbajal’s 8-year push to ban future offshore oil drilling came to fruition when President Biden invoked his authority to protect over 625 million acres of federal waters —including the entire East Coast, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, and parts of the Northern Bering Sea— from oil and gas exploration,” the announcement stated.
Congressman Carbajal was one of 12 members of Congress who wrote to President Biden requesting this action before the end of his term.
For the full bill text click here.
Some political observers note that Biden’s offshore drilling ban was largely symbolic, as areas with active drilling operations weren't targeted by the ban. Nonetheless, on Jan. 21, Trump issued an executive order reversing Biden’s new offshore drilling ban.
Meanwhile, in “green” and “progressive” California on the anniversary of the devastating Refugio Oil Spill, Sable Offshore announced that it has restarted the failed pipeline and the oil is flowing from one oil platform once again.
In a press release dated May 19, Sable announced that as of May 15, 2025, it “has restarted production at the Santa Ynez Unit (“SYU”) and has begun flowing oil production to Las Flores Canyon.”
Ten years ago a corroded oil pipeline then owned by the Plains All American Pipeline corporation spilled over 140,000 gallons of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean at Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County. The disaster resulted in the devastation of marine life, the closure of iconic beaches and a big economic impact on the tourist, recreation and fishing industries of Southern California.
