California leases could be extended

The Associated Press

Thirty-six oil leases off the California coast could be extended again after the federal Minerals Management Service found that doing so would have “no significant impact” on the environment.

The finding contained in environmental assessments released Feb. 11 would not alter the current moratorium on new drilling leases or immediately allow drilling for oil, agency officials said.

The 36 tracts off Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties were leased by more than a dozen oil companies before the moratorium, but never developed. Though the leases were to expire within 10 years if oil companies did not make progress developing them, they have been extended numerous times by the Minerals Management Service.

The California Coastal Commission is expected to review federal documents defending the lease extensions and determine whether they are consistent with state coastal protection laws. The panel will consider the issue at a June meeting.

“We will want to make sure they’ve done the correct analysis and included everything we think is relevant,” said Mark Delaplaine of the Coastal Commission. “We will be taking a very close look.”