Posted by JR Gordon on January 24, 2000 at 19:53:33:
List,
SB 241, the bill to preserve the oil rigs which has been discussed on this forum recently, today passed The Senate Appropriations Committee on an 11-0 vote, meaning the "rigs to reefs" legislation will be heard on the Senate Floor later this week (most likely on Thursday).
As you know, SB 241 would create a process by which decommissioned oil and gas platforms could be partially removed, preserving the thriving artificial reefs that have developed on the platform structures. The bill also requires oil companies to donate a portion of their savings from only having to partially remove the rig to a Marine Enhancement Endowment Fund. Decommissioning cost estimate show that this fund could grow to be as much as $300 to $400 million dollars.
Despite strong support for the bill in the Senate Natural Resources and Wildlife and Appropriations Committee, the vote on the floor is expected to be very close. We need your help to ensure this bill is passed out of the Senate. To find out how to contact your State Senator please visit the CEMR website --
http://www.preservereefs.org/leg_contact.html
Call and let him or her know that you support SB 241, and that preserving the life that has developed on these structures while at the same time creating an endowment fund with hundreds of millions of dollars is a win-win for California. Ask for a yes vote on SB 241.
We expect those who are against this measure -- trawlers and some strongly anti-oil environmental groups -- will work hard over the next few days to defeat the bill. We need your help.
The Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a long-time proponent of the creation of artificial reef habitat, and the protection of the world's marine life and resources has joined the Coalition for Enhanced Marine Resource's efforts in support of SB 241. For more on the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, please visit http://www.seashepherd.org/issues/habitat/cemr.html.
Sincerely,
JR Gordon
Private citizen; staunch supporter of this legislation.