SACRAMENTO — The governors of California, Oregon, and Washington joined Friday to formally challenge a federal proposal that would allow new offshore oil and gas drilling along the California shoreline.

Governors Gavin Newsom, Tina Kotek, and Bob Ferguson submitted a joint letter of opposition on Jan. 23 to U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). The governors stated that their objection is necessary to prevent damage to marine life and the ocean environment, as well as the coastal economy.

In addition to the joint letter, the California Natural Resources Agency and California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed separate official objections to the federal drilling plan. These legal filings aim to protect the state’s right to manage its own coastal waters and ocean life.

Economic and Environmental Risks

According to state data, California’s coastal economy brings in more than $44 billion each year and employs hundreds of thousands of people. State leaders argue these businesses and jobs are at risk from potential oil spills caused by new drilling.

This unified stance follows a 40-year history of opposition to offshore drilling from both political parties on the West Coast. Governors from both parties in the three states have previously sent joint opposition letters in 2006, 2008, 2014, and 2017.

The formal challenge highlights the long-term impact of previous oil spills in the region:

  • 2021 Huntington Beach Spill: This incident released about 25,000 gallons of crude oil. It resulted in $210 million in civil and criminal penalties for the company, plus an additional $30 million in fees and cleanup costs.
  • 2015 Refugio Spill: A pipeline failure at the Gaviota Coast released 100,000 gallons of oil. The spill injured or killed 232 marine mammals and 558 birds. The incident led to a $22.3 million settlement to help repair the local environment.
  • 1969 Santa Barbara Spill: A platform blowout leaked more than 4.2 million gallons of oil, an event credited with launching the modern environmental movement.

Conservation Goals

The opposition to federal drilling comes as California moves forward with its "30x30" conservation initiative. This program aims to protect 30% of state lands and waters by 2030. Within the last year, the state has expanded its protected land and water by more than 1 million acres.

The governors' joint letter emphasizes that the West Coast remains committed to protecting its shoreline from the environmental and economic risks that come with offshore oil production.