Historic California Oil Spill Prompts Calls to Ban Drilling
2021-10-08
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1The recent oil spill off the California coast has environmental activists once again asking for a ban on drilling.
2While new oil drilling leases have not been given for about 50 years, a large number of existing wells are still being used.
3In addition, the state is still giving permits for drilling in the waters covered by the old leases.
4The United States government, as well, is looking to stop selling drilling leases in federal waters near California.
5But none of the current oil wells will be asked to stop production.
6California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke recently from Huntington Beach, the city closest to the oil spill.
7He said the state needs to find a way to close the oil wells, but keep workers employed.
8He called it "the deeper question."
9There are over 1,200 active oil and gas wells off the coast of California.
10Earlier this month, one of the pipelines run by an energy company in Houston, Texas, broke and spilled over 500,000 liters of oil.
11Newsom said the spill created a sense of urgency to end the oil and gas drilling business in California.
12While many people would like to see it stop, the state economy depends on drilling.
13It is the seventh-largest oil producing state and there are 150,000 workers.
14Newsom said the state needs to stop thinking that oil and gas production are part of the future.
15"This is part of our past," he said.
16Newsom noted that he is working to reduce the state's oil use by banning the sale of gas-powered cars after 2035.
17In addition, the state says it will end oil production by 2045.
18A group called the FracTracker Alliance has research showing there are close to 1,200 active wells.
19About 1,300 other wells are no longer being used.
20Newsom's government permitted five new wells to open since 2019.
21Closing wells is costly. For example, in an area close to Long Beach, known as the Wilmington Oil Fields, it will cost about $800 million.
22The state, however, only has $300 million saved for the job.
23Deborah Sivas is an environmental law professor at Stanford.
24She called the old oil platforms "fragile" and noted that many of the structures were built 50 years ago and have reached the end of their lifespan.
25She said the state is being inconsistent by putting forward environmental rules while also issuing new drilling permits.
26The problem has hurt politicians for years.
27Many California voters are in favor of environmentally-friendly regulation.
28But political leaders think cutting oil production will hurt the economy in both California and the U.S.
29Alan Lowenthal represents the area of southern California closest to the spill in the U.S. Congress.
30He said the state needs to make a "plan to not only stop new drilling, but to figure out how do we stop all drilling that's going on in California."
31Newsom said he understands some people may be unhappy with the speed of well closures and drilling areas, but he is proud of the state's work.
32I'm Dan Friedell.
1The recent oil spill off the California coast has environmental activists once again asking for a ban on drilling. 2While new oil drilling leases have not been given for about 50 years, a large number of existing wells are still being used. In addition, the state is still giving permits for drilling in the waters covered by the old leases. 3The United States government, as well, is looking to stop selling drilling leases in federal waters near California. But none of the current oil wells will be asked to stop production. 4California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke recently from Huntington Beach, the city closest to the oil spill. 5He said the state needs to find a way to close the oil wells, but keep workers employed. 6He called it "the deeper question." 7There are over 1,200 active oil and gas wells off the coast of California. Earlier this month, one of the pipelines run by an energy company in Houston, Texas, broke and spilled over 500,000 liters of oil. 8Newsom said the spill created a sense of urgency to end the oil and gas drilling business in California. While many people would like to see it stop, the state economy depends on drilling. It is the seventh-largest oil producing state and there are 150,000 workers. 9Newsom said the state needs to stop thinking that oil and gas production are part of the future. "This is part of our past," he said. 10Newsom noted that he is working to reduce the state's oil use by banning the sale of gas-powered cars after 2035. In addition, the state says it will end oil production by 2045. 11A group called the FracTracker Alliance has research showing there are close to 1,200 active wells. About 1,300 other wells are no longer being used. Newsom's government permitted five new wells to open since 2019. 12Closing wells is costly. For example, in an area close to Long Beach, known as the Wilmington Oil Fields, it will cost about $800 million. The state, however, only has $300 million saved for the job. 13Deborah Sivas is an environmental law professor at Stanford. She called the old oil platforms "fragile" and noted that many of the structures were built 50 years ago and have reached the end of their lifespan. 14She said the state is being inconsistent by putting forward environmental rules while also issuing new drilling permits. 15The problem has hurt politicians for years. Many California voters are in favor of environmentally-friendly regulation. But political leaders think cutting oil production will hurt the economy in both California and the U.S. 16Alan Lowenthal represents the area of southern California closest to the spill in the U.S. Congress. He said the state needs to make a "plan to not only stop new drilling, but to figure out how do we stop all drilling that's going on in California." 17Newsom said he understands some people may be unhappy with the speed of well closures and drilling areas, but he is proud of the state's work. 18I'm Dan Friedell. 19Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. Susan Shand was the editor. 20How can California close oil wells in the ocean without hurting its economy? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 21__________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23drill - v. to make a hole in something with a drill 24lease - n. a legal agreement that lets someone use a car, house, etc., for a period of time in return for payment 25fragile - adj. very delicate 26well - adj. a deep hole made in the ground through which water (or oil) can be removed 27pipeline - n. a line of connected pipes that are used for carrying liquids and gases over a long distance 28urgency - n. something that needs immediate attention 29inconsistent - adj. having parts that disagree with each other