Coastal Panel Threatens Suit to Block Oil Drilling

Taking a step to block a new round of oil drilling off the Central Coast, the California Coastal Commission signaled its willingness Wednesday to go to court to stop development of decades-old oil leases.

Meeting in Los Angeles on Wednesday, commissioners decided in closed session that “if we have to, we’ll file suit,” said Executive Director Peter Douglas.

Whether the commission does depends on the federal Minerals Management Service, which appears to be on the verge of granting permission to oil companies to explore 40 leases along the coast from San Luis Obispo to Port Hueneme. If the leases are granted, the commission’s staff was authorized Wednesday to take legal action if deemed appropriate.

The commission and Democratic Gov. Gray Davis’ administration have staked out their opposition to the oil exploration, which would greatly increase oil drilling activity along a coastline that was devastated by the Santa Barbara oil spill three decades ago.

The commission has written federal officials asserting state authority over the offshore leases. Wednesday’s action sets the stage for a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior if the federal government refuses to acknowledge that authority.

Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, a longtime environmental ally, appeared before the commission to reiterate her opposition to expanded drilling.

If exploration is allowed on the 40 federal leases and existing state leases, Boxer said, “we could double the amount of drilling off the California coast . . . and we must not allow that to happen.”