The August meeting took place in the City of Goleta. The City’s Mayor Pro Tempore, Luz Reyes-Martin, welcomed the Commission and expressed gratitude for the Commission having its meeting in Goleta and providing the community with the opportunity to comment on issues of local importance.
The Executive Officer announced that Grace Kato, who has served as Commission staff for over 20 years, will be the new Assistant Executive Officer following the retirement of our current Assistant Executive Officer, Colin Connor. Staff gave a presentation about the status of the Tijuana River Transboundary pollution crisis—a precursor to a more robust and comprehensive update planned for the Commission’s October 17 meeting in the San Diego area. The Staff Reports supporting the Commission’s actions and the Executive Officer’s Report with updates on an array of activities contain more in-depth information.
Summary
- Authorized 52 leases for the use of public lands and resources, 10 of which included public access provisions.
- Authorized one sublease and six bond or rent revisions.
- Approved an access agreement to reduce wildfire risks on forested land in Trinity County.
- Authorized the Executive Officer to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the federal government to coordinate offshore oil and gas pipeline inspections, establish inspection standards, and share information to ensure regulatory compliance and protect public health, safety, and the environment.
Port of Long Beach: Pier Wind Terminal Project
The Commission issued a permit that will allow the Port of Long Beach to obtain shallow seafloor samples to facilitate its Pier Wind Terminal Project. The seafloor sampling will be conducted off Seal Beach and Long Beach in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Rincon Phase 2 Decommissioning Project: Ventura County
The Commission certified a Final Environmental Impact Report, adopted a Mitigation Monitoring Program and Statement of Findings, and authorized the Rincon Island, Onshore Facility (Option 2), and onshore pipeline connections components of the Rincon Phase 2 Decommissioning Project. This is a major milestone that the Commission has been working toward since the previous oil and gas operator filed for bankruptcy in 2016. Robust public engagement was a mainstay and foundational from the inception of this undertaking to its culmination in today’s action. The decommissioning project authorized today consists of removing surface facilities on Rincon Island, remediating soils, and decommissioning the nearby onshore facility and onshore pipeline connections. Further agency approvals and funding are required to implement the project.
Co-management Agreement: Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation
The Commission and the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation committed to pursue a co-management framework for land formerly used for offshore oil and gas development. This first-of-its-kind agreement memorializes the Commission’s intent to partner with the Coastal Band of the Chumash Nation to support shared land stewardship and California’s commitment to conserve 30 percent of the state’s lands and coastal waters by 2030 (known as the 30×30 initiative). Rincon Island in Ventura County sits a half mile out from one of California’s most beautiful coastlines and, until 2016, was home to a working oil and gas operation. A causeway that arcs over the ocean connects the island to the shore. The agreement signed today memorializes the intent and commitment to partner on a framework and agreement to co-manage and co-steward Rincon Island and a 6-acre onshore parcel along Pacific Coast Highway that was part of the former oil and gas operations.
Left to Right: Tribal Council Elder Representative Mati Waiya, Chairman Gabriel Frausto, Malia M. Cohen, California State Controller and Commission Chair, and Eleni Kounalakis, Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner
Benchmark Rental Rates: City of Vallejo, Solano County
The Commission approved updated benchmarks for sovereign land in the Mare Island Strait adjacent to Sandy Beach Road. Benchmarks establish uniform rental rates in geographic regions with large concentrations of similar facilities and assure that the people of California are compensated for the use and occupation of state-owned land. The benchmarks the Commission approved, called category two rental rates, apply to non-water dependent uses such as protective structures, cantilevered decks, and sundecks. Category one rates, which were not part of today’s action, apply to water-dependent uses such as docks, piers, and buoys. The Commission typically updates its benchmark rental rates every five years.
Platform Holly Decommissioning: Santa Barbara County
Staff briefed the Commission about the Platform Holly decommissioning project it is leading and reported that all 30 of the platform wells have been plugged and abandoned—a major milestone in California’s efforts to transition to a clean energy future. Staff will start the California Environmental Quality Act process soon to inform a proposed project to decommission Platform Holly. The Commission has marshaled its resources since 2017, when the former operator filed for bankruptcy and relinquished its leases, to eliminate health and safety risks emanating from Platform Holly and to prepare to decommission the offshore platform, one of four remaining platforms offshore California. The Commission has safeguarded public and environmental safety in the face of serious risk, decommissioned derelict oil piers, maintained transparent and interactive community engagement, built a collaborative interagency network, negotiated settlements, and fended off spurious legal suits while pursuing valid claims in courtrooms across the country—all with success.
<a “abandoned=”” vessels=”” on=”” state=”” waterways”=”” href=”https://www.slc.ca.gov/abandoned-vessels-program/”>Abandoned Vessels
The Commission continued its leadership cleaning up California’s waterways by authorizing staff to remove and dispose of two abandoned and derelict commercial vessels in the Delta. These vessels are a high priority for removal because of their location, condition, suspected or known pollutants, and hazards.
Geothermal Energy
The Commission issued a geothermal lease to the Geysers Power Company to continue geothermal production. The lease involves about 241 acres of school land in Sonoma County and includes a minimum annual royalty revenue of just over $12,000, with the revenue going to the State Teachers’ Retirement System to benefit retired teachers.
Future Meetings and Ways to Stay Informed
The Commission’s next meeting will be on October 17 in the San Diego area. You can sign up to receive updates about future meetings or follow us on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube. You can watch a webcast of the August meeting and past meetings on Cal-Span.