Attorney General Becerra: New Trump Administration Rule Would Roll Back Environmental Protections, Places Oil Industry Profits Before Human Lives

Friday, May 11, 2018
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

SACRAMENTO —  California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today issued the following statement after the Trump Administration published in the Federal Register a proposed rule to modify the Well Control Rule, which was set in place following the 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon tragedy. The tragedy resulted in the loss of eleven lives, an 87-day uncontrolled oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, enormously expensive cleanup costs, and irreparable impacts to marine life and the marine environment.

“The Trump Administration routinely attempts to take us back to the days when oil industry profits came at the expense of human lives and the environment – this is unacceptable,” said Attorney General Becerra. “In California we have felt the negative impacts of offshore oil and gas exploration both on our environment and our economy. The 21st Century must be about progress, not moving backwards. Strong and comprehensive safety regulations such as the Well Control Rule are critical to protecting the nation’s marine and coastal environments that remain vulnerable due to this Administration’s fascination with opening our coasts to new offshore drilling. We will take any steps necessary to protect public safety and the environment."

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