Offshore Drilling Rigs Could Become New Normal For Northern California Under Trump
SAN FRANCISCO (KPIX 5) -- New concerns that Northern California under the Trump administration could see oil rigs popping up along the most scenic stretches of coastline has spurred an effort to stop future offshore drilling.
A Bay Area Congressman is asking the White House for help banning offshore drilling in the Pacific Ocean.
He's joining a number of Democrats and environmentalists in the push.
With word that former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin could soon be in charge of federal land -- some of it with oil -- many are worrying about her "drill, baby drill" mentality.
Many environmentalists are worried about a Trump administration, including Congressman Jared Huffman.
Huffman said, "I don't have confidence in the President-elect...he's said he wants to do away with the EPA and he considers climate change a hoax so there's simply every reason to get to work in the next few weeks and try to put some defenses in place."
One of those defenses? An Obama executive order banning offshore oil drilling. But this executive order would stick.
"It does not allow the next president to undo the decision," Huffman said.
If the president did issue this order, it would take an act of Congress to undo it. Places near California that could be protected include near Little River on the Mendocino Coast; offshore from the town of Mendocino; offshore of Fort Bragg; and along the wild Lost Coast.
The National Ocean Industries Association told us, that banning offshore oil drilling "would inhibit future economic opportunities and energy security of our country."
Athan Manuel, the director of lands protection at the Sierra Club said is hopeful that President Obama will ban offshore drilling.
Manuel said, "Just look at the routine pollution that comes from spills...we think the routine pollution -- that comes from just drilling every day -- we think it's incompatible with coastal economies and coastal ecosystems."
Manuel is optimistic that the Northern California coast could be saved from offshore drilling.
"We know it's under consideration and we just need to keep lobbying him before he leaves town on January 20," Manuel said.
