Oil Group Sues Over Calif. Pollution Rules.

Oil Group Sues Over Calif. Pollution Rules

SOURCE: Associated Press

July 8, 2004 - An oil industry group has sued the California Coastal Commission to prevent it from enforcing pollution rules on drilling platforms in federal waters.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction to keep California from regulating discharges of wastewater and other pollutants from 22 oil platforms that are outside the three-mile limit of the state's coastal zone.

The Western States Petroleum Association filed the lawsuit Wednesday in federal court.

The coastal commission "is trying to extend its authority into federal waters where it doesn't have authority," said Frank Holmes, a manager with the association.

The state contends that it has the right to regulate oil and gas developments in federal zones if they impact state waters. California has stricter pollution rules in some matters.

Many individual oil companies already have agreed to comply with the state standards, commission Executive Director Peter Douglas said.

"This is a turf issue, and an attempt by oil companies trying to get around protecting water quality at a higher level," said Peter Douglas, executive director of the coastal commission.

Douglas said the industry is worried that if California can apply its standards, other states may try to regulate about 4,000 oil and gas platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a draft of new regulations to reduce the amount of oil and grease the platforms could discharge and require companies to monitor waters for heavy metals and other pollutants.

The oil association applied for a permit under the proposals, but the Coastal Commission objected in March. Meanwhile, the oil platforms are operating under the old EPA rules.