Coastal resources: oil and gas development.

Assembly Member Hart's coastal resources legislation expands oversight of oil and gas infrastructure on California's tidelands and submerged lands through new lease requirements and environmental protections. The bill modifies how the State Lands Commission and local trustees evaluate lease assignments, transfers, and modifications for oil and gas facilities within state waters.

The legislation requires consideration of additional factors when reviewing lease changes, including marine environmental protection, state benefits beyond revenue, impacts on oil transport volumes, effects on public trust resources, incident history, and use of unconventional extraction techniques. It mandates a 180-day waiting period after initial notification before lease changes can be approved and requires separate public meetings for decisions that would increase oil and gas transport volumes.

For facilities that have been idle for three years or more, the bill requires new coastal development permits before operations can resume. It also updates transportation requirements, mandating that offshore oil must use pipeline systems with "best achievable technology" for environmental and public safety protection. The onshore transport of oil to processing facilities must employ "best available technology" as defined in state code.

The amendments maintain existing liability structures, with original leaseholders remaining responsible for well plugging, facility decommissioning, and site restoration unless specifically released by the commission. Local agencies can levy fees to cover new administrative costs, though other state-mandated expenses may qualify for reimbursement through established procedures.