SACRAMENTO — Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay) and Assemblymember Gregg Hart (D-Santa Barbara), the co-chairs of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus, and Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz), the caucus vice chair, issued the following statement regarding the federal administration reopening the Sable oil pipeline in Santa Barbara County:
We, the members of the California Legislative Central Coast Caucus (CLCCC), strongly oppose the Trump Administration's efforts to reopen the Santa Ynez Pipeline and Las Flores Canyon Processing Facility. These facilities, which have been shuttered since the 2015 Refugio oil spill, have already harmed the economies and ecosystems of the Central Coast. We cannot allow this to happen again.
Our economy on the Central Coast relies heavily upon the pristine quality of its natural environment. New oil drilling on the coast will recklessly jeopardize our fisheries, coastal communities, and marine ecosystems. Our constituents know all too well the irreversible damage that these facilities will cause--they are still recovering from the 2015 Refugio oil spill and the very same pipeline that the federal administration plans to reopen.
The company that owns these facilities has been sued several times by the state, was deemed negligent in its handling of the spill, and was criminally charged by the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Office last year. Additionally, the Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors has already voted against Sable's efforts to restart oil production in the county. We urge the Administration to respect the closure of these facilities, and we remain committed to California's environmental protections of our coast.
Make no mistake, no amount of California oil can compensate for Trump's reckless domestic and foreign policy decisions. We are seeing a rise in gas prices because of his administration's irresponsible and negligent attacks in the Middle East. While this administration pursues an ever-changing agenda, people across the country are shouldering the weight of its decisions.
DAWN ADDIS
Co-Chair, 30th Assembly District
GREGG HART
Co-Chair, 37th Assembly District
JOHN LAIRD
Vice Chair, 17th Senate District
The California Legislative Central Coast Caucus is made up of eleven elected officials representing Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura counties. The caucus is led by Assemblymembers Dawn Addis and Gregg Hart as co-chairs and Senator John Laird as the vice chair. Members of the caucus include Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas, President Pro Tempore Monique Limón, Assemblymembers Steve Bennett, Jesse Gabriel, Jacqui Irwin, Gail Pellerin, and Senators Anna Caballero and Henry Stern.
CONTACT: Michael Guerra, (916) 319-2030