Tranquillon Ridge Project Returns

Posted May 14, 2009 by Jerry Roberts

Governor Schwarzenegger's latest revised budget proposal calls for the resurrection of a controversial deal to allow offshore drilling at Tranquillon Ridge, off the coast from Vandenberg Air Force base.

Under terms of the deal, which set off a bitter battle between local environmentalists, the state would receive $100 million in short-term revenue from oil royalties and about $1.8 billion over the next 14 years. Schwarzenegger's move was first reported by Sacramento journalist Greg Lucas, who blogs at California's Capitol.

With the state facing a deficit of $15-21 billion for next fiscal year, depending on the outcome of next week's special election, the governor's revised budget proposal include $100 million in short-term new revenue the state would have received in the deal, had it not been voted down by the State Lands Commission in January, and $1.8 billion over the next 14 years.

The vote against the deal divided local environmentalists, with most anti-drilling groups supporting the proposal to expand drilling rights at Tranquillon for Plains Exploration & Production (PXP); in exchange the company offered a mandatory shutdown date of 2022, thousands of acres of permanently protected onshore lands, approximately $350 million of tax revenue for Santa Barbara and money for the state.

Among the few environmentalists opposing the deal was longtime coast advocate Susan Jordan, and her husband, Assemblyman Pedro Nava. Jordan is now seeking the Democratic nomination for the seat, being vacated by Nava. She is opposed by city councilman Das Williams, who said he got into the race largely because of Jordan's position on the issue.

The report about the deal came as Schwarzenegger released two budget plans, one for if his package of budget initiatives pass next week and one if they don't.

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Posted by 4oceans on May 14 at 7:20 p.m.

Oh here we go again. Is this Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger's way of giving a big wet kiss to his buddy in arms Das Williams? Since Das' entire campaign is built on pushing for new offshore oil drilling.... this would seem to help, right? Let's hope everyone remembers just who is the real enviro in this race--- was, is and always will be Susan Jordan.

Posted by protectSantabarbaracoast on May 14 at 7:59 p.m.

I'm tired of hearing legislators selling out the things that are important to the people of California - environmental protection, education, public safety - all because they have budget woes they brought on themselves.

Let's go back to a part-time legislature. Do we really need so many legislators to come up with new laws anyway? Let's enforce the laws we do have - and protect the coast of Santa Barbara. I can't believe Santa Barbarans really want more oil drilling of the coast. Susan Jordan is right on!

Posted by coasthugger on May 15 at 9:58 a.m.

When does the destruction stop? When does the Governator get it? He travels to the far reaches of the planet to promote tourism, yet seeks to destroy the very asset he is promoting! Our coast is priceless - you can't put a dollar amount on it. You can't drill your way out of a financial crisis that's been created by poor leadership. Let's help Susan Jordan get a seat on our Assembly so that our coast and other natural resources will have a chance, and good common sense will prevail. Come on, Santa Barbara - do what's right for our coast.

Posted by CareABoutSB on May 17 at 10:53 a.m.

You have missed the real issues here. It is Not only that the Tranquillon ridge project is up again. It is being brought back with the same deal and all its faults, including the precedent it sets for federal OCS and its un-enforceablity. No matter what EDC and PXP say, the State Lands Commission attorneys and the AG say it is not enforceable. Equally, if not more important, is the fact that this is being done as an end run around the SLC and its authority. By specifying that if a project is denied by the SLC it can be reviewed unilaterally by the Finance Director sets a precedent that whenever the Governor doesn't like an SLC decision he can circumvent it. Krop's comment that she is comfortable with this because it is a "public process" is laughable. This is hardly a true public process. Do you really want this to happen? What about all of the other issues that the SLC deals with, including LNG, use of tidelands, desal, public acess, etc. that this could ultimately affect? I want to know where Das and Jordan stand on the evisceration of the authority of the SLC?

Posted by Noletaman on September 12 at 9:45 a.m.

What a flurry of nonsense, half truths and falsehoods. Das is no more in Schwarzenegger's camp then Susan Jordan and in fact neither of them are. The PXP/Tranquillon Ridge issue is complex and is being reduced to sound bites and drilling vs. no drilling. It is not that simple. With or without the new drilling from already existing oil platforms that the Tranquillon Ridge project would involve oil will continue to be pumped with no end in sight for many years perhaps many decades. As GOO, Gaviota Coast Conservancy, EDC, Surfrider SB chapter and other LOCAL environmental groups have pointed out, this deal at least gives a firm termination date to the drilling in question. Susan Jordan is a good person and a strong environmentalist but she is unable or unwilling to grasp the subtleties of this issue. No local environmental group supports any attempt to bypass full environmental review or the authority of the State Lands Commission and they all oppose vehemently all the various current attempts via legislation to make and end run around the SLC's authority. Vilifying Das Williams, Linda Krop, the EDC or any of the other noble groups that have fought long and hard to protect our coast is a reprehensible campaign tactic and I urge Susan Jordan to refrain from such mudslinging in her campaign and to distance herself from those outside her campaign who engage in such disingenuous rhetoric

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