Offshore oil drilling leases are being proposed along the Coast of California, in the Gulf of Mexico and most of the Alaskan Coast. The Federal administration is working to finalize their proposed 5-year plan for drilling in U.S. federal waters (from 3 - 200 miles offshore).

The accelerated pace at which this process continues to move shows that the Trump administration is very serious about expanding offshore drilling off the California coast.

The current proposal includes: Alaska with 21 lease sales (leasing 2026), California with 6 lease sales (leasing 2027), Gulf of Mexico with 7 lease sales (leasing 2027). See full proposal summary and process information. 

 

What’s at risk and why do I care?

  • Our local economy depends greatly on tourism, recreation, and fishing industries which would be drastically impacted by the blight of drilling infrastructure
  • Onshore processing facilities release greenhouse gases, polluting the air for local communities
  • Habitats are destroyed when oil companies clear underwater swaths for infrastructure
  • Wildlife behaviors (migration patterns, breeding and feeding) are heavily disrupted by noise pollution and human/machine activity related to extraction and transportation
  • Contamination of ocean water coats and poisons animals, oil travels miles from spill sites and seeps into ground water systems used for drinking water

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    Local

    Save Our Shores is accelerating efforts to modernize and expand the California “Blue Wall” - A network of local zoning protections that restrict or require voter approval for onshore infrastructure tied to offshore drilling and sea bed mining (transportation, processing, waste disposal, etc.).
    Santa Cruz City Council voted unanimously to adopt updated ordinance language- effective immediately . This is the first enhanced ordinance of its kind in California, and a model for communities up and down the coast.
    Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to add a measure with these ordinance updates to the November ballot.
    Jurisdictions up and down the CA coast with existing protections are moving to join Santa Cruz in updating their ordinances, tightening the protections that make up The Blue Wall.
    Map showing the onshore ordinances
     

    State

    California AB 1448
    This bill moves to restrict new oil and gas infrastructure, enhancing safety and environmental oversight for existing offshore operations in state waters.
    California’s Coastal Management Program (CMP)
    The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) was put in place to “preserve, protect, develop, and where possible, to restore or enhance the resources of the nation’s coastal zone.” Now under Federally ordered critical review, reevaluating state authority and funding related to coastal management. This could result in the decertification of California’s CMP, drastically reducing the state’s right to review proposed federal actions along our coast, including energy development.

    Federal

    Why have I seen so many different calls for public comment? There are many opportunities for public comment throughout the federal 5-year plan process. Hundreds of thousands of people spoke up in the first comment periods, showing strong opposition to opening ANY new offshore oil drilling leases.
    There are several comment periods throughout this proposal process, and you haven’t heard about all of them from us. Why? In some comment periods the volume of oppositional comments is most impactful. Save Our Shores is focused on outreach to widespread community. In other comment periods, more technical, environmental, policy focused perspective and content is more specifically requested from industry professionals. This is where Save Our Shores is targeting outreach to fit those specific needs.
     

    All Current Actions

    Local

    • Support the Santa Cruz County “Stop the Drill” Campaign, fill out the campaign support form, and a committee member will be in touch with you! Campaign launches mid-August.

    State

    • California Coastal Commission August 13th  Santa Cruz Meeting - Join us for a rally and public comment in support of the Commission - RSVP here!
    • California Coastal Protection Act (AB 1448) prohibits the use of existing infrastructure to expand offshore federal oil production and strengthens state authority on leases. Contact your representatives in support of this bill on or soon after August 3rd.

    Federal

    • Speak at the NOAA hearing August 10th in-person or August  11 - 12th virtual meetings.
      • Register to speak in support of the protection of the California Coastal Management Program.

    Local Media Coverage

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