Bill Expanding California Coastal Commission, Providing Ability to Fine for Oil Spills, Signed into Law by Governor Newsom

Sacramento – Following fallout from the Orange County oil spill, Senate Bill 433 by Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) was signed by Governor Newsom which will give the Coastal Commission the ability to assess penalties for natural resources impacts for responsible parties.

“Offshore oil drilling poses a persistent threat to our coastal communities and coastal economy,” said Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), Chair of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. “Our bill SB433–just signed into law—will give the state powers it didn’t have before to issue penalties to perpetrators of oil spills, including from federal waters.  But, we clearly need to take stronger action to prevent spills from happening in the first place. I stand with my colleagues pushing to phase out offshore oil drilling and production in both state and federal waters.”

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Ben Allen represents the 26th State Senate District, which consists of the Hollywood, Westside, and South Bay communities of Los Angeles County. He chairs the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Joint Committee on the Arts.