Coastal resources: oil and gas development.

Assembly Member Hart's coastal resources legislation expands oversight of oil and gas infrastructure projects along California's coast through new requirements for lease modifications and facility reactivation. The bill requires the State Lands Commission and local trustees to implement a 180-day review period before approving changes to existing oil and gas leases, while mandating consideration of environmental protection, public safety, and infrastructure conditions.

The legislation establishes that oil produced offshore must be transported onshore exclusively via pipeline using best achievable technology, eliminating previous allowances for alternative transportation methods. It also requires new coastal development permits for the repair or reactivation of oil and gas facilities, including pipelines, that have been inactive for five or more years. The definition of "expanded oil extraction" now encompasses both the reactivation of long-dormant facilities and increased production through unconventional methods like hydraulic fracturing and extended reach drilling.

For lease assignments, the State Lands Commission must evaluate potential assignees based on their operational experience, financial capacity, and regulatory compliance history. Original leaseholders remain liable for well plugging, facility decommissioning, and site restoration unless specifically released by the commission after providing cost estimates and financial security. Local agencies may recover additional administrative costs through service charges, with state reimbursement available for other verified expenses.