Oil Drilling Off California Coast Approved By House Panel

A GOP-led House committee has approved bills that open the Arctic National Wildlife Preserve to oil drilling, encourage oil shale development in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming and push new oil drilling off the Santa Barbara coast.Republicans say the measures provide energy security and a source of revenue to help pay for roads and bridges, but it was the offshore oil lease sales that sparked the most spirited debate. Any discussion of offshore oil drilling among Californians revolves around the 1969 spill off the Santa Barbara coast that dumped 200,000 gallons of crude across 35 miles of coastline.Democratic Congressman John Garamendi of Walnut Creek referred to it as he offered objection after objection and amendment after amendment to stall the offshore drilling bill. "There is the probability of oil spills, small and on occasion large, when you drill from the ocean," he said.Garamendi suggested a compromise: a process known as horizontal drilling. He says nearly all the oil off the California coast can be reached from the shore. But that suggestion, like every other Democratic amendment, was turned down.Grace Napolitano of Norwalk and John Garamendi of Walnut Creek raised objections at today's Natural Resources Committee hearing. Congressman Garamendi said GOP amendments in the bills turn back the clock on federal regulations."You're pushing aside the Federal Land Policy Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act and the Energy Policy Act, and saying they're not to be considered," Garamendi said, "and that what was done in 2008 by the Bush administration is quite satisfactory. Get out of the way and go forward."Garamendi and Napolitano raised concerns about water pollution during discussion of the bill promoting oil shale development.