Ocean Health is Focus of 5-part Legislative Package Introduced by Laird

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) today announced the introduction of a package of five bills to improve and protect the health of the Pacific Ocean along California’s coastline.  The bills cover a wide range of subjects including storm water runoff, invasive species, fisheries management, oil spill response and oil platform decommissioning.

“The Pacific Ocean is under attack from pollution, over-fishing, invasive species and the threat of oil spills,” said Assemblymember Laird.  “The stakes are high and a multi-faceted approach is needed.  This package of bills invests in innovation as well as proven strategies.”

5-part Package:

• AB 739—Aims to increase effectiveness of state’s stormwater and urban runoff program.
• AB 740—Expands invasive species prevention measures to include commercial vessel hulls.
• AB 1280—Increases funding for development of sustainable fisheries.
• AB 1130—Saves marine life attached to oil platforms to be decommissioned and creates new oil company financed Ocean Fund
• AB 1220—Doubles funds available to state for oil spill response.

Bill Summaries:

AB 739 Storm Water and Urban Runoff

The purpose of the bill is to reduce water quality impacts to our oceans, lakes and streams due to urban runoff and provide financial assistance to advance the state’s stormwater program. Urban runoff—a so-called “nonpoint source” of water pollution—is currently regulated by state and federal governments. However, these agencies can not demonstrate that the program is effectively protecting the water quality. AB 739 requires the State Water Resources Control Board to develop and implement a framework that will assess the effectiveness of the stormwater management program in order to improve water quality.  The bill also seeks to develop funding priorities for Proposition 84 stormwater bond funds.

AB 740 Commercial Vessel Invasive Species

The objective of the bill is to reduce the introduction of invasive species into California’s coastal waters.   Invasive species significantly impact the marine ecosystem and the coastal economies.  Hull maintenance and cleaning is necessary to remove the invasive species attached to vessel hulls. AB 740 increases the regulation of large commercial vessels entering California ports by expanding the current ballast water regulatory program to include cleaning and maintenance of commercial vessel hulls. 

AB 1280 Fisheries Management

The objective of the bill is to promote sustainable marine fisheries.  Currently, traditional fishery management in California and much of the nation can be characterized as a “race for fish,” in which fishers catch as many fish as possible as fast as possible.  This race results in an unprofitable and depleted fishery—which hurts both the fishers and the fishery.  Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) provide an opportunity to explore innovative approaches to shifting from the traditional model.  FMPs are currently required under the Marine Life Management Act, though implementation has been significantly delayed due to a lack of funding.  AB 1280 aims to end the delay by increasing funding available for FMPs.

AB 1130 Oil Platform Decommissioning

By 2025, all 23 oil-drilling platforms located off California’s coast are expected to be decommissioned and removed.  These platforms have significant marine life attached to them, or that live nearby.  This bill would allow the State Lands Commission to consider alternatives to full removal, such as cutting off the platform approximately 85 feet below the ocean surface, creating an artificial reef.  Any savings compared to the cost of removal would be placed by oil companies into an Ocean Fund.  If all 23 platforms were included in the program, deposits into the Ocean Fund are estimated to be as much as $500 million by 2025.  Uses for the money have not yet been specified, although it is intended that the funds be used for items such as protection of sea otters, research on sea life, coastal access, beach water quality, public education, and completion of the California Coastal Trail.  

AB 1220 Oil Spill Response Funding

This bill effectively doubles funds available for oil spill response.  Currently, if there is an oil spill, the state has $54 million in cash that is immediately available.  AB 1220 would double this amount by re-establishing $54 million in bonding capacity previously ruled illegal by the California Attorney General.