1 . INTRODUCTION 



The people of California have become especially sensitive 

 to environmental problems resulting from the leasing and develop- 

 ment of oil and gas on Federal lands of the Outer Continental 

 Shelf (OCS) of Southern California. This response stems partly 

 from the fact that portions of the Santa Barbara Channel were 

 leased in 1968 despite strong objections from environmentalists. 

 After the Santa Barbara Channel field started producing, a well 

 from Union Oil's Platform A blew out and spilled oil that coated 

 beaches as far away as San Diego. The state responded to public 

 opinion in 1974 when Governor Brown initiated an interagency 

 study on environmental and economic impacts of the proposed 

 OCS Lease Sale Number 35 (Sale 35) . The consultants and staff 

 assembled for the assessment of Sale 35 formed the nucleus of 

 the OCS Project Task Force. 



The authors of this Regional status report also partici- 

 pated in the Governor's OCS Task Force Study in August- September 

 1976. This report is based principally on materals assembled 

 by the OCS Task Force, is a review of current and potential 

 effects of OCS oil and gas development on living resources. 

 It also serves as an introduction to many related environ- 

 mental issues on the California Outer Continental Shelf. 



This document should maintain its utility and relevance 

 to its intended audience. However, there have been delays 

 and changes in the scheduling sequences of future sales. 



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