Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes environmental approvals for up to 2,000 new wells annually in Kern County, California.

Highlights:

• Requires owners of oil facilities to apply for a certificate of financial responsibility if their oil can spill and impact the surrounding water (Sec. 1).

• Requires a public posting of all certificate applications of the Office of Spill Prevention website and specifies to post details that include information on applicants and the highest spill volume (Sec. 1).

• Establishes regulations and plans for oil companies/ organizations and requires that (Sec. 2a)

• State water is protected;

• Products are constantly being improved;

• Oil spill contingency plans must take all the necessary measures to reduce the possibility of a spill; and

• Testing is being done to identify hazards.

• Requires regulations to be visible to the public (Sec. 2b)

• Establishes that operators of vessels transporting oil must obtain a certification of financial responsibility (Sec. 3)

• Prohibits the reopening of existing oil pipelines that are 6 inches are larger (Sec. 4)

• Specifies that the oil pipelines cannot be inactive, idle, or out of service for 5 or more years (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that it must pass a spike Hydrostatic test conducted by the State Fire Marshal and must reach certain measures (Sec. 4).

• Requires the evaluation of gasoline brands' formulations of gas and their environmental impact (Sec. 7).

• Requires that pipelines transporting offshore oil production in California must use the best available technology to ensure safety and protection (Sec. 9).

• Defines oil as pre-refined oil (Sec. 9).

• Exempts the transportation of oil via pipeline from being transported by vessels during a state of emergency (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that authorizes environmental approvals for up to 2,000 new wells annually in Kern County, California.

Highlights:

• Requires owners of oil facilities to apply for a certificate of financial responsibility if their oil can spill and impact the surrounding water (Sec. 1).

• Requires a public posting of all certificate applications of the Office of Spill Prevention website and specifies to post details that include information on applicants and the highest spill volume (Sec. 1).

• Establishes regulations and plans for oil companies/ organizations and requires that (Sec. 2a)

• State water is protected;

• Products are constantly being improved;

• Oil spill contingency plans must take all the necessary measures to reduce the possibility of a spill; and

• Testing is being done to identify hazards.

• Requires regulations to be visible to the public (Sec. 2b)

• Establishes that operators of vessels transporting oil must obtain a certification of financial responsibility (Sec. 3)

• Prohibits the reopening of existing oil pipelines that are 6 inches are larger (Sec. 4)

• Specifies that the oil pipelines cannot be inactive, idle, or out of service for 5 or more years (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that it must pass a spike Hydrostatic test conducted by the State Fire Marshal and must reach certain measures (Sec. 4).

• Requires the evaluation of gasoline brands' formulations of gas and their environmental impact (Sec. 7).

• Requires that pipelines transporting offshore oil production in California must use the best available technology to ensure safety and protection (Sec. 9).

• Defines oil as pre-refined oil (Sec. 9).

• Exempts the transportation of oil via pipeline from being transported by vessels during a state of emergency (Sec. 9).

Full Bill Text