Press Releases

Sacramento – State Controller Betty T. Yee, member of the State Lands Commission, today released the following statement on the future of the Platform Holly oil platform off the coast of Santa Barbara.

“Oil drilling must not be expanded.The Santa Barbara Channel is a world-renowned habitat that hosts vast terrestrial and marine diversity that deserves protection from the adverse environmental impacts of further oil drilling.”

Platform Holly is the last remaining oil platform in state waters in the Santa Barbara Channel.Venoco, Inc. has an application pending with the State Lands Commission to adjust and expand the lease boundary of its state oil and gas lease in the South Ellwood Field.A May 2015 Plains All American pipeline rupture at Refugio State Beach near Santa Barbara left the platform non-operational.

Coastal oil drilling has existed in Santa Barbara County for more than a century.The State Lands Commission has not approved new oil drilling in California since 1969.Controller Yee reaffirmed her opposition to any new oil drilling, consistent with the Commission’s resolution in December to support the Obama Administration’s ban on new offshore drilling along the Pacific coast.

As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Yee is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller also safeguards many types of property until claimed by the rightful owners, and has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation's two largest public pension funds. Elected in 2014, Controller Yee is the tenth woman elected to a statewide office in California’s history. Follow the Controller on Twitter at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.

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