Print ArticleSACRAMENTO–Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security Announced yesterday Assembly Bill 1960 passed the Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. Next step is to the governor. The measure was inspired by a series of oil spills and environmental violations by Greka Energy, a multinational oil company with operations in Northern Santa Barbara County.
"I am very pleased that my colleagues in the Assembly are joining 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 Santa Barbara County, the environment and all Californians."
AB 1960 will provide increased authority to the California Department of Conservation´s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to ensure that all California based oil companies meet minimum operating standards and that a mechanism is in place to ensure proper accountability for abandoned wells and oil spills. In addition, it will create a bonding requirement to ensure that the state can properly decommission oil facilities, plug abandon wells and ensure that spills and incident clean-up costs will be covered.
Greka Energy has spilled nearly 550,000 gallons of contaminated material during the last 8 years and nearly 243,000 gallons since December 2007. In addition, Greka has had nearly 500 local, state and federal violations and more than $2.5 million in fines and penalties. Greka also has an $8.5 million dollar civil penalty pending before the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
According to state authorities there are roughly three times as many inland spills as there are marine spills. Many of these spills are the result of poor maintenance of old equipment.
"I am very pleased that my colleagues in the Assembly are joining 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 Santa Barbara County, the environment and all Californians."
AB 1960 will provide increased authority to the California Department of Conservation´s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) to ensure that all California based oil companies meet minimum operating standards and that a mechanism is in place to ensure proper accountability for abandoned wells and oil spills. In addition, it will create a bonding requirement to ensure that the state can properly decommission oil facilities, plug abandon wells and ensure that spills and incident clean-up costs will be covered.
Greka Energy has spilled nearly 550,000 gallons of contaminated material during the last 8 years and nearly 243,000 gallons since December 2007. In addition, Greka has had nearly 500 local, state and federal violations and more than $2.5 million in fines and penalties. Greka also has an $8.5 million dollar civil penalty pending before the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.
According to state authorities there are roughly three times as many inland spills as there are marine spills. Many of these spills are the result of poor maintenance of old equipment.
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