Historic California Oil Spill Prompts Calls to Ban Drilling

The recent oil spill off the California coast has environmental activists¹ once again asking for a ban on drilling.

While 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.

The 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.

California Governor Gavin Newsom spoke² recently from Huntington Beach, the city closest to the oil spill.

He said the state needs to find a way to close the oil wells, but keep workers employed.

He called it "the deeper question."

There are over 1,200 active oil and gas wells off the coast of California. Earlier this month, one of the pipelines³ run by an energy company in Houston, Texas, broke and spilled over 500,000 liters of oil.

Newsom 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.

Newsom 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.

Newsom noted⁵ 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.

A 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.

Closing wells is costly⁶. 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.

Deborah 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.

She said the state is being inconsistent by putting forward environmental rules while also issuing new drilling permits.

The 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.

Alan 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."

Newsom 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.

Words in This Story

drill – v. to make a hole in something with a drill

lease – n. a legal agreement that lets someone use a car, house, etc., for a period of time in return for payment

fragile – adj. very delicate

well – adj. a deep hole made in the ground through which water (or oil) can be removed

pipeline⁴ – n. a line of connected pipes that are used for carrying liquids and gases over a long distance

urgency – n. something that needs immediate⁷ attention

inconsistent – adj. having parts that disagree with each other

1 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

3 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

4 pipeline   

n.管道，管线

参考例句：

• The pipeline supplies Jordan with 15 per cent of its crude oil.该管道供给约旦15%的原油。
• A single pipeline serves all the houses with water.一条单管路给所有的房子供水。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。