California coastal communities threatened by federal calls to drill | Opinion

California’s Central Coast is under attack from Big Oil and the federal government amid calls to increase drilling along the beautiful coastline we call home. As lawmakers return from recess for the new legislative session in January, Central Californians will be waiting for them to take a stance against President Donald Trump’s “Drill Baby Drill” agenda.

The Central Coast has seen a blitz of recent oil spills in our waterways and a false-positive water contamination scare that sent communities spiraling. In November, over 400 gallons of crude oil mixture was found leaking into a creek that feeds Ventura County’s Santa Clara River, followed by another oil leak found in a storm drain, and a third 4,000 gallon oil spill in Monterey County. Intense fear for health and safety consumed Central Coast residents, who have experienced health-threatening oil spills and suffered from actual water contamination last year, causing households to mandatorily evacuate their homes.

While our communities suffer from ongoing spills that threaten our public health, Trump is making federal calls to increase drilling along the Central Coast and re-open offshore drilling, undoing years of climate progress and protections. Under the proposed plan, up to 34 new leases stand to be sold off over a five-year period, including along the California Coast.

Meanwhile, in San Luis Obispo and Ventura counties, local supervisors passed resolutions reaffirming the counties’ opposition to offshore drilling. Californians are counting on continued leadership from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who responded in opposition to Trump’s calls for offshore drilling, and Attorney General Rob Bonta, who recently co-wrote a letter alongside other attorneys generals opposing offshore drilling.

Our climate and public health cannot be traded off to pad the bottom line of fossil fuel corporations and national political agendas.

The tug-of-war between Sable Offshore corporation and climate organizations over the restart of ExxonMobil’s old facilities along the Central Coast adds another layer of danger for our community. The pipeline Sable is trying to restart was the site of the 2015 Plains All American oil spill, which resulted in the release of over 100,000 gallons of oil, coating miles of our coastline and spreading tar down the coast.

Santa Barbara Supervisors just voted against Sable’s permitting transfer request for the second time in two weeks — permits needed to lawfully resume oil and gas operations. Still, the fight to protect our lands from fossil fuels is ongoing.

A transition away from gas and oil

Federal lands across the Central Coast and Central Valley, managed by the Bureau of Land Management, are now vulnerable to new oil and gas leasing, with proposed leasing resuming as soon as 2027. According to recent reporting, the Central Coast could see up to 40 new oil and gas wells per year on new leases, allowing dangerous drilling to pollute our public lands for years to come.

Expansion of dangerous drilling at this volume brings a slew of public health threats to our communities. For children, exposure to dirty oil and gas pollution can lead to asthma and chronic respiratory issues. Other health impacts for families living near oil wells are more severe, including cancer and adverse birth outcomes.

With the looming introduction of new leasing, California can’t let its guard down. Mandatory setbacks under Senate Bill 1137 prohibit new drilling within 3,200 feet of sensitive zones, but we’ve already seen oil companies attempt to sidestep this regulation with a referendum attempt.

California’s fracking ban and air quality controls will be integral in curbing the oil industry’s climate and public health harm. Upholding climate and public health protections fought by advocates for decades will be fundamental in pushing back against reckless drilling.

California leaders must push back

As a Central Coast resident living within 3,200 feet of an oil well, I know the public health risks of living near oil and gas wells are serious. Opening up our federal lands to increased oil drilling will worsen our climate, damage our public land and hurt community health.

Local governments like Santa Barbara County, Los Angeles City and Culver City are passing ordinances to phase out gas and oil drilling. But our communities need the backing of climate champions at the state level who will prioritize the health and protection of the Central Coast. For lawmakers, this means supporting existing climate policy and introducing new protections as needed. For Newsom and Bonta, this means pulling out every tool and lever within their power to protect California from new on and offshore drilling.

Collaboration between local organizers and state leaders can create opportunities for a future without looming threats of oil spills in our backyards and contamination of our water.

Haley Ehlers is the executive director of Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas.