December 17, 2024 Meeting Highlights

The Staff Reports supporting the Commission's actions and the Executive Officer's Report contain additional information about today's actions and the projects, programs, and initiatives staff is leading.

Summary

• Authorized 50 leases for the use of public lands and resources.
• Authorized five bond or rent revisions, five lease amendments, and two lease assignments.
• Issued one geological survey permit and one geophysical survey permit.
• Authorized staff to remove and dispose of two abandoned vessels.

Tijuana River Transboundary Pollution Crisis

The Commission directed staff to send a letter to the federal Administration requesting enhanced prioritization and federal support to fully address the ongoing transboundary pollution crisis in the Tijuana River Valley. The Commission also adopted a support position on the Border Water Quality, Restoration, and Protection Act of 2024 to reduce pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border and improve the water quality of the Tijuana River and New River.

Offshore Wind Energy: Port Memorandum or Understanding

The Commission authorized a Memorandum of Understanding with the Port of Long Beach and the Humboldt Bay, Harbor, Recreation, and Conservation District to advance the development of floating offshore wind energy off the California coast by collaborating on staging and integration sites. The agreement commits the parties to collaborate on permitting, community engagement, environmental justice, green port strategies, clean energy infrastructure, and Native American Tribal consultation, among other things, to advance a multiport strategy for offshore wind deployment and workforce development.

Marine Invasive Species Program

The Commission approved its 2025 Biennial Report on the California Marine Invasive Species Program. The report summarizes vessel arrival patterns, reporting compliance, and inspections. It also reports on ballast water discharge and management and biofouling maintenance and vessel operational practices and compliance thereof. The report, approved in concert with the Program's 25^th anniversary, highlights accomplishments over the past 25 years and makes recommendations to the Legislature based on the data.

Offshore Oil and Gas Leases: Cost Study

The Commission approved a cost study evaluating the fiscal impact of a voluntary relinquishment of the state's 11 remaining offshore oil and gas leases and authorized staff to submit the study to the Legislature and Governor. Key findings include that the state has generated over $1.3 billion in revenue from the leases, the estimated remaining lease duration ranges from 15 to 27 years, and the estimated unrealized lessee profits discounted to a net present value are about $247 million.

Pipeline Lease Termination and Issuance of a Caretaker Lease

The Commission terminated a pipeline right-of-way lease that otherwise could have continued into 2035 and issued a 3-year caretaker lease to El Paso Natural Gas to maintain the pipeline in idle status while it develops a decommissioning plan. El Paso Natural Gas Company, the state's lessee, sold the pipeline to Cadiz Real Estate in 2014 without the Commission's consent to assign the lease. The pipeline segment Cadiz purchased runs for about 220 miles from near Bakersfield to the town of Cadiz in San Bernardino County. The portion under lease with the Commission is roughly 1 mile. The pipeline has been idle since 2000 and was previously part of a distribution system that transported oil across California and into Arizona and Texas. The caretaker lease requires El Paso Natural Gas Company to submit a decommissioning plan and application by December 2025.

Kelp Elevator in the Pacific Ocean

The Commission authorized a lease to Marine BioEnergy, Inc. for a kelp elevator (research buoy). The kelp elevator will be used for scientific study that may provide insights to make commercial kelp farming in the ocean for biofuel production more cost-effective, potentially increasing the availability of methane-reducing livestock feed.

Mineral Prospecting Permits and Lease Applications

The Commission extended, for one year, a 3-year moratorium for accepting and considering mineral prospecting permits and lease applications for 480 acres of land in Mono County near Bodie Hills State Park.

Future Meetings and Ways to Stay Informed

The Commission's next meeting is unscheduled but will likely be in February 2025. You can sign up to receive updates about future meetings or follow us on Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also watch a webcast of the December meeting and past meetings on Cal-Span.