Victory for California’s Coasts!

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Nicole Catalano
Communications Manager
Pacific Environment
ncatalano@pacificenvironment.org
415-399-8850x316

Governor Brown Signs Law to Prevent Oil Spill Disasters in California

(San Francisco, CA) - California Governor Jerry Brown signed the Oil Spill Preparedness Act (AB 1112) into law today. Introduced by Assembly Member Jared Huffman and sponsored by Pacific Environment and San Francisco Baykeeper, this measure strengthens the state's ability to prevent catastrophic oil spills in California waters and assures that the state program is fully funded.

Environmental groups consider this a huge victory for California. If the bill was not signed into law, the state Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) would no longer have sufficient funds to run the state's oil safety program, forcing cuts to program and staff as early as 2012, and leaving protection of California's coastline in doubt.

"The real story here is that the oil companies have been fighting against paying to fully fund California's oil spill prevention fund," stated Alex Levinson, Pacific Environment's executive director. "But our coasts are too important to play oil spill lottery with, and Governor Brown showed great leadership in signing this bill. Congratulations to all Californians."

Today's news falls on the heels of a $44.5 - million settlement just reached for the 2007 Cosco Busan oil spill disaster that occurred in the San Francisco Bay killing thousands of birds, damaging herring spawn and contaminating miles of coastal habitat.

About Pacific Environment
Pacific Environment (www.pacificenvironment.org) is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco that protects the living environment of the Pacific Rim by promoting grassroots activism, strengthening communities and reforming international policies. For nearly two decades, we have partnered with local communities around the Pacific Rim to protect and preserve the ecological treasures of this vital region. Visit www.pacificenvironment.org to learn more about our work.