Dear Friend of the Coast,

Join us in Santa Monica on Monday, June 1st to stop offshore oil drilling!

Our efforts to protect the California coast from the threat of new offshore oil development is being fought on many fronts.  You may recall that in January 2009 California State Lands Commission denied a proposal for initiation of the first new offshore oil drilling in California in over 30 years, proposed by PXP for offshore of Santa Barbara, California. 

Now Governor Schwarzenegger cynically proposes to use the his own budget crises to overturn State Lands' decision in order to allow his administration to authorize the PXP drilling.  While Schwarzenegger's back room deals with PXP may please him, they would unravel and usurp environmental planning and protection laws and policies for the entire State of California and set a scary precedent for planning laws with respect to offshore oil drilling, liquid natural gas terminals, desalination facilities and all manner of coastal development and industrialization.

A recent news story regarding the Governor's efforts on behalf of offshore oil drilling is here:  http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30830782/ 

The first step to stopping Schwarzenegger's plan is to attend the upcoming hearing of State Lands Commission on Monday, June 1, 2009 in Santa Monica (Santa Monica City Hall Council Chambers, Room 213, Second Floor, 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, Ca. 90401) at 10:30 a.m. to urge that State Lands Commission oppose the Governor's attempt to rob their jurisdiction and reverse their lawful denial of PXP's offshore oil drilling plan. 

For more information on the State Lands hearing, go to Agenda Item 70 here:  http://www.slc.ca.gov/Meeting_Summaries/06-01-09/Agenda.pdf 

The second step is to add your voice to the dozens of environmental organizations in California who have contacted the Governor and state elected officials to oppose this plan. You can call the Governor and leave a message at #916-445-2841 or email him at http://gov.ca.gov/interact 

Please also contact your state elected Assembly person and Senator to ask that they also oppose the PXP offshore oil drilling plan.  You can find your elected officials at http://gov.ca.gov/interact

Mark Massara