SACRAMENTO – Ahead of the fourth anniversary of the Refugio Oil Spill on May 19 when a ruptured pipeline spilled nearly 143,000 gallons of crude oil at Refugio State Beach, State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson’s (D-Santa Barbara) Senate Bill 169 to strengthen pipeline safety requirements in California passed the Senate Floor today on a bipartisan 30 to 2 vote. The bill now moves to the Assembly.
Senate Bill 169 will correct gaps in pipeline safety law that have allowed some operators to avoid state regulation. Specifically, the bill states that all pipelines, regardless of whether they are being operated to full or partial capacity, are required to follow all applicable California laws. Some operators are sidestepping California’s pipeline safety requirements and defaulting to the less stringent federal standards by operating at partial capacity.
SB 169 would also require pipeline operators to provide records necessary for inspection and compliance investigations to the State Fire Marshall when requested. Some pipeline operators are failing to produce safety-related documents in a timely manner to state regulators, which hinders the state’s ability to conduct safety investigations.
“Californians know all too well the devastating impacts oil spills have on our communities,” said Senator Jackson. “While the Trump Administration moves to weaken environmental regulations, SB 169 will ensure that oil companies cannot sidestep California’s strong pipeline safety laws.”
Senator Jackson has authored several laws related to oil spill prevention and cleanup. Her SB 834, which became law on January 1, 2019, blocks the Trump Administration from expanding federal oil drilling off the California coast by ensuring that new pipelines and other infrastructure needed to support federal oil development cannot be built in California waters.
Senator Jackson has also authored the following state laws:
- Senate Bill 44, Coastal Well Cleanup and Remediation Act (2017):Requires the State Lands Commission to monitor and plug orphaned wells when the original oil company that operated the well no longer exists.
- Senate Bill 414, Rapid Oil Spill Response Act (2015): Authored in the aftermath of the Refugio Oil Spill to make oil spill response faster, more effective, and environmentally friendly.
- Senate Bill 295 (2015): Helps reduce the risk of oil spills from pipelines by requiring the State Fire Marshall to annually inspect all intrastate pipelines and pipeline operators.
- Assembly Bill 16 (2004): Requires most new or expanded production of offshore crude oil to be exclusively transported onshore by pipeline and requires these pipelines to use the best available technology to ensure maximum protection from spills or leaks.
Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara County and western Ventura County.