Oil spills: fishing: water closure: grants: liability.
- Authorizes the Fish and Wildlife director to close waters or restrict fishing after oil spills to protect public health.
- Requires mandatory water closure if health officials determine a public health threat exists from an oil spill.
- Establishes an Environmental Enhancement Grant Program for nonprofit organizations and government entities.
- Removes liability exemptions for oil spills from private pleasure boats and vessels.
Senator Laird's oil spill response legislation revises California's protocols for protecting public health and marine resources following contamination events. The bill modifies water closure procedures, adjusts liability standards, and expands grant program eligibility for spill response and environmental enhancement initiatives.
Under the amended provisions, the Director of Fish and Wildlife may close waters to fishing or restrict take of fish and shellfish when spills occur, rather than facing a blanket requirement to do so. However, closure becomes mandatory if the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment determines a public health threat exists or is likely. The director must consult with OEHHA within 24 hours of spill notification when specified volumes are discharged: one or more barrels in inland or estuarine waters, one or more barrels impacting coastal shorelines, or five or more barrels in open ocean waters.
The legislation establishes new assessment timelines, requiring evaluation of contamination risks within 48 hours of closure and expedited testing of potentially affected fish and shellfish within seven days. Waters may reopen once OEHHA confirms no threat to human health exists. The bill also removes the current liability exemption for oil or natural gas discharges from private pleasure vessels.
For oil spill response planning and environmental enhancement, the bill expands grant eligibility to federally recognized tribes. These grants support spill response equipment acquisition, area contingency planning, and environmental enhancement projects funded through collected penalties. Grant recipients must use funds solely for approved projects, with excess funds returned to the Environmental Enhancement Fund.
The amendments create new enforcement provisions by establishing criminal penalties for taking fish or shellfish from closed waters or violating imposed restrictions. Both the Department of Fish and Wildlife and OEHHA are authorized to seek full cost reimbursement from responsible parties for activities undertaken pursuant to these provisions.
 John LairdD Senator | Bill Author |  Not Contacted |
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 0 | 1 | 80 | PASS |
- Authorizes the Fish and Wildlife director to close waters or restrict fishing after oil spills to protect public health.
- Requires mandatory water closure if health officials determine a public health threat exists from an oil spill.
- Establishes an Environmental Enhancement Grant Program for nonprofit organizations and government entities.
- Removes liability exemptions for oil spills from private pleasure boats and vessels.
Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.
Introduced By
Senator Laird's oil spill response legislation revises California's protocols for protecting public health and marine resources following contamination events. The bill modifies water closure procedures, adjusts liability standards, and expands grant program eligibility for spill response and environmental enhancement initiatives.
Under the amended provisions, the Director of Fish and Wildlife may close waters to fishing or restrict take of fish and shellfish when spills occur, rather than facing a blanket requirement to do so. However, closure becomes mandatory if the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment determines a public health threat exists or is likely. The director must consult with OEHHA within 24 hours of spill notification when specified volumes are discharged: one or more barrels in inland or estuarine waters, one or more barrels impacting coastal shorelines, or five or more barrels in open ocean waters.
The legislation establishes new assessment timelines, requiring evaluation of contamination risks within 48 hours of closure and expedited testing of potentially affected fish and shellfish within seven days. Waters may reopen once OEHHA confirms no threat to human health exists. The bill also removes the current liability exemption for oil or natural gas discharges from private pleasure vessels.
For oil spill response planning and environmental enhancement, the bill expands grant eligibility to federally recognized tribes. These grants support spill response equipment acquisition, area contingency planning, and environmental enhancement projects funded through collected penalties. Grant recipients must use funds solely for approved projects, with excess funds returned to the Environmental Enhancement Fund.
The amendments create new enforcement provisions by establishing criminal penalties for taking fish or shellfish from closed waters or violating imposed restrictions. Both the Department of Fish and Wildlife and OEHHA are authorized to seek full cost reimbursement from responsible parties for activities undertaken pursuant to these provisions.
Latest Voting History
| Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 79 | 0 | 1 | 80 | PASS |
John LairdD Senator | Bill Author | Not Contacted |