In the letter, Capps said, “Any effort to undermine safety and enforcement standards would be economically shortsighted and environmentally disastrous.”

Last week, Capps expressed disappointment that a move to cutback inspection capacity by closing the MMS regional office in Santa Maria was taken without notice to or input from the communities affected.

The text of the letter sent to MMS today appears below:

May 21, 2003

R.M. “Johnnie” Burton

Director

Minerals Management Service

U.S. Department of Interior

1849 C Street, N. W.
Washington, D. C.   20240

Dear Director Burton:

It has recently come to my attention that the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has reduced the frequency of inspections at the twenty-three offshore oil and gas platforms located in the Santa Barbara Channel off California’s coast.  I am writing to strongly urge you to restore the previous inspection program, including MMS’s ability to conduct daily, unannounced inspections at all local offshore facilities. 

Any effort to undermine safety and enforcement standards would be economically shortsighted and environmentally disastrous.  Offshore oil and gas development poses significant risks to California’s coast, including increased air pollution, conflicts with fishing, tourism and other coastal industries, and spills and leaks that destroy our shores and create public health hazards.  MMS’s monitoring of facilities and operations related to OCS development is critical to ensure the environmental and economic integrity of the Central Coast.  Without this monitoring, many violations would go unreported, often with catastrophic results. 

For example, authorities repeatedly cited Venoco for releases of deadly hydrogen sulfide at its Goleta platform in 1998 and 1999.  In 1997, a rupture in Torch Oil’s pipeline spilled 21,000 gallons of oil, damaging a rich ocean fishing ground and killing wildlife at the mouth of the Santa Ynez River.  And, in 1992 Chevron USA pleaded guilty to 65 violations of the Clean Water Act for illegal discharges from a platform off the California coast. 

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act charges MMS with the responsibility of inspecting offshore oil and gas operations.  The agency is charged with ensuring all operating companies are conducting their operations in a safe and pollution-free manner, adhering to all regulatory requirements, employing trained personnel, and taking extra steps to enhance the safety of operations and environmental protection.

While I understand the financial constraints MMS faces, cutbacks in inspections of offshore operations and facilities will undermine the agency’s ability to ensure offshore safety and threaten California’s spectacular coastline. 

Therefore, I urge you to immediately reinstate the offshore inspection program and ensure offshore activities of oil and gas operators are inspected on a continuing basis, and enforcement actions are taken when MMS regulatory requirements are not met.

I look forward to your prompt response.

Sincerely,

LOIS CAPPS

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