Associated Press: Eco groups withdraw support of Calif. oil drilling
By admin on Feb 4, 2010 in News, What's New
By NOAKI SCHWARTZ
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 4, 2010; 6:23 PM
LOS ANGELES — Nearly two years ago, a broad coalition of environmental groups celebrated a deal with a Texas oil company that promised to eventually end its drilling operations off California’s scenic Santa Barbara County coast.
Now, a growing number of those former eco allies are lining up against the plan, in part because no one outside a small circle of supporters was allowed to read the final agreement.
Many also wonder if the 2022 end date for drilling is enforceable and worry the deal with Plains Exploration & Production, known as PXP, could inadvertently end a 40-year moratorium on new offshore drilling along the entire California coast.
About 110 groups have joined the “Oppose PXP Coalition.” Among its members is the Sierra Club, which initially endorsed the deal and was still listed as a supporter on the PXP Web site long after the group changed its position. The company has used the roster of environmental backers to win public support for the proposal.
“It’s very frustrating,” said Michael Endicott of the Sierra Club. “I asked them to do it last year. Stop saying Sierra Club is in support of the project – we’re not.” For more…
