The Commission issues leases for offshore oil production facilities within three nautical miles of the coast, including oil-producing islands and offshore platforms. The Commission also regulates every marine oil terminal in California. Both functions form the Commission’s oil spill prevention program, which is designed to provide the best achievable protection of public health, safety, and the environment and to prevent an oil spill in state waters. The Commission’s prevention program has successfully limited the number and severity of oil spills in state waters. This is a testament to the commitment and dedication to safety by our lessees and our staff. The Lempert-Keene-Seastrand Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 1990 covers all aspects of marine oil spill prevention and response and divides enforcement between the Commission and the Office of Spill Prevention and Response, a division of the Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Commission is responsible for the prevention aspects of the program.
Who to call if you see a spill
State – California State Warning Center – 800.852.7550 or 916.845.8911
Federal – National Response Center – 800.424.8802 or 202.267.2675
Local Government – 911 or another designated local number
Marine Oil Terminals
The Marine Environmental Protection Division operates a marine oil terminal monitoring and inspection program, with responsibility divided between its field offices in Hercules (Northern California) and Long Beach (Southern California). Every day, nearly two million barrels of oil are transferred over water through pipelines between ship and shore at California’s marine oil terminals. Our professional safety staff inspect marine oil terminal transfer operations daily at 34 sites along the coast, and inspect activities and enforce regulatory requirements. Inspections include observing and assessing oil transfers to and from tankers and barges at marine oil terminals.
Annual Spot Inspections
Monitoring Priority System
Pipeline Inspections
Operations Manual Review
Marine Oil Terminal Engineering and Maintenance Standards (MOTEMS)
Oil Spill Contingency Plans
Offshore Oil and Gas Facilities
Platform Inspection Program
Safety Audit Program
Well Work
Pipeline Inspection
Oil Spill Contingency Plans
Operation Manual Review
Oil Spill Prevention, Technical Advisory Committee, and Safety Audit Reports
Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee
As required by statute, the Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) presents this report to the Governor and the Legislature of California as an opportunity to review our activities of the past two years and discuss priority issues and recommendations for the State’s oil spill program for 2017-2018. The report follows the format of recent reports, which we hope informs the Governor and the Legislature of the important issues with which the TAC has been engaged, as well as adequately highlights those issues that we feel are critical to our State oil spill preparedness, prevention, and response.
Read more about the Oil Spill Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
Oil Spill Prevention Program
Every four years, the Commission is required to contract with the Department of Finance for the preparation of a detailed report to the Governor and the Legislature on the financial basis and programmatic effectiveness of the state’s oil spill prevention, response, and preparedness program. The report analyzes the program’s expenditures, fees and fines collected, staffing and equipment levels, spills responded to, and other relevant issues. The report includes recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the program, including, measures to modify existing contingency plan requirements, strengthen the protection of sensitive shoreline sites, and ensure adequate and equitable funding for the program.
Safety Audit
- Aera Onshore, Offshore – Aera Energy LLC, Oil Company
- Ellwood Onshore Facility – Venoco, Inc.
- Fort Apache – Dos Cuadras Offshore Resources (DCOR)
- Huntington Beach Onshore – California Resources Corp., SoCal Holding LLC
- LBU – Oxy Long Beach, Inc. (OLBI)
- McGrath PRC 735 and 3314 – Venoco, Inc.
- Platform Emmy – California Resources Corp., SoCal Holding LLC
- Platform Esther – Dos Cuadras Offshore Resources (DCOR)
- Platform Eva – Dos Cuadras Offshore Resources (DCOR)
- Platform Holly – Venoco, Inc.
- Rincon Island Limited Partnership