Governor Schwarzenegger last week signed a bill – originally proposed by Long Beach Assemblywoman Betty Karnette – that allows for future drilling and exploration for oil in the Wilmington Oil Fields, the Press-Telegram reports. Over the next ten years, the plan could result in profits of $130 million for Long Beach, $150 million for the Port, and $200 million for the state of California.
Cue the P-T’s John Canalis:
Mayor Bob Foster lobbied hard for the bill, which could result in millions of dollars for the port, city and state. He was joined by state Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach, who helped guide the legislation through Sacramento.
While Lowenthal pushed for the passage of the oil exploration bill (SB 2165), his own Port Container Fee (SB 974) sits on the Governor’s desk untouched. Gov. Schwarzenegger has until midnight tomorrow to sign, veto or allow the Container Fee to become law. The bill has been heavily backed by environmentalists, many of whom opposed Karnette’s oil bill. Canalis explains why, below:
The bill does not allow offshore drilling or an expansion of the environmental footprint of the drilling area, which has about 500 wells. Any drilling would also need to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act and with South Coast Air Quality Management District regulations.
Nevertheless, environmentalists and the Sierra Club opposed the bill, partly because it does not require a new environmental impact report.
No timetable has been set for oil exploration to begin. For now, the bill simply allows negotiations to begin on a contract between the State Lands Commission, the city of Long Beach and the Occidental Petroleum Corp., which will handle the drilling.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor