Oil spills: fishing: water closure: grants: liability.

Senator Laird's oil spill response legislation revises California's protocols for water closures and grant funding while expanding liability for spills from private vessels. The bill modifies the Fish and Game Director's authority to close waters after oil spills, making closures discretionary rather than mandatory except when the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment determines a public health threat exists.

The legislation establishes specific conditions requiring consultation between the Director and OEHHA within 24 hours of spill notification, including spills of one or more barrels in inland waters or affecting coastal shorelines, or five or more barrels in open ocean waters. Both agencies may seek reimbursement from responsible parties for costs incurred during response activities.

The bill expands grant eligibility to federally recognized tribes for oil spill response equipment and area plan development, while removing the current exemption that shields private pleasure boat operators from liability for oil or natural gas discharges. The Environmental Enhancement Grant Program, funded by oil spill violation penalties, maintains its focus on enhancement projects rather than spill cleanup or restoration.

New provisions create criminal penalties for violations of water closure orders and add conflict of interest requirements for grant review committee members. The legislation requires excess grant funds be returned to the Environmental Enhancement Fund and mandates a 90-day timeline for revising inadequate oil spill response plans.