A state senator representing much of the Central and South Coasts is once again trying to get legislation passed to monitor and cap abandoned offshore oil wells.
Democratic State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson of Santa Barbara introduced SB 44, which would provide a means of dealing with “orphaned” oil wells once operated by companies which are now out of business.
A survey by the State Lands Commission has identified about 200 of the wells, many of which are along the Santa Barbara County coastline. Some of them are seeping oil.
Governor Jerry Brown vetoed similar legislation by Jackson last year.
The new bill calls for establishing a two million dollar fund to allow a study of which wells pose the great risk, and start work on securely sealing some of the most potentially dangerous ones.