California’s State Senate approved SB778, which would ban new offshore oil drilling in an area of the Santa Barbara Channel known as Tranquillon Ridge. The measure now goes to the Assembly.

The legislation, labeled the Coastal Protection Act, was introduced by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) and Sen. Mike McGuire (D-San Rafael) prior to the May 19 oil pipeline leak from that released 101,000 gallons of crude at Refugio State Beach, including 21,000 gallons that flowed into the sea.

The California Legislature banned any new offshore oil and gas leases in 1994, when it passed the California Coastal Sanctuary Act. But the law allowed production along the Tranquillon Ridge, which extends into state and federal waters. Those reserves are currently being tapped in federal waters from Platform Irene.

SB 788 would repeal Public Resources Code 6244, banning any new drilling in these state waters.

Sen. Jackson noted the waters around the Tranquillon Ridge were designated as a Marine Protected Area in 2007.

Sen. McGuire, who represents 40 percent of California’s coastline from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border, said, “In the wake of last month’s devastating oil spill, we cannot afford to wait any longer to permanently ban new oil drilling off our coast.”

Sen. Jeff Stone (R-Murrieta) opposed SB 788, arguing that it would cost jobs and revenues to the state.

Other co-authors on the bill included Senators Mark Leno, Ben Allen, Loni Hancock, Bill Monning, Lois Wolk, along with Assemblymembers Bill Dodd, Marc Levine, Mark Stone, Jim Wood and Das Williams.