Robert Besser
25 May 2023, 02:58 GMT+10
SACRAMENTO, California: California lawmakers have blocked an environmental bill that would have made oil companies liable for the health problems of people who live close to oil wells, and another bill that would have increased the state's emissions targets.
The two bills are among hundreds that did not survive the state's Legislature suspense file, a process where lawmakers decide on the bills that could become law later and the ones that should not progress without explanation.
In 2022, Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning the drilling of new oil wells within 3,200 feet of vulnerable areas, such as homes and schools, but the oil industry have placed a referendum on the 2024 ballot asking voters to overturn it, angering environmental and health activists.
Under the proposed bill, authored by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, oil companies would have been required to pay up to $1 million to people who have cancer or other health issues caused by the wells.
"Today, we missed a key opportunity to advance legislation that would hold polluters accountable and prevent further harm to families who are just trying to stay healthy and have a better quality of life," said Gonzalez in a statement.
The Senate Appropriations Committee also prevented the bill from reaching the floor of the Senate, meaning it is not likely to become law.
"The billions of dollars and the fiscal mess that this bill would have caused to the State and local governments from their own liabilities, the fiscal responsibility of inherited wells, and the cost to the court system, would be substantial," noted Kara Greene, spokesperson for the Western States Petroleum Association, as quoted by the Associated Press.
This year, State Senator Henry Stern, a Los Angeles Democrat, introduced another failed bill that would have required the state to reduce green house emissions to 55 percent below the 1990 level by the end of 2030.
Get a daily dose of San Francisco Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to San Francisco Star.
More InformationSrinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 10 (ANI): Through innovative and dynamic processes, women in Kashmir are excelling in almost ...
© Provided by Xinhua Official data showed the rapid development of the import and export of goods at the Hainan ...
BEIJING, June 10 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest Chinese sports headlines from the past week:1. Torch relay for Chengdu ...
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], June 10 (ANI): The Special PMLA Court convicted two persons -- Rahul Bhardwaj and Mukesh Kumar Bhardwaj ...
Kabul [Afghanistan], June 10 (ANI): Amid a rise in blasts and terrorism in Afghanistan, the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, ...
Washington has acknowledged the prospect of heavy losses as Kiev's forces mount their counteroffensivePresident Joe Biden's administration has conceded that ...
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma: An Oklahoma school board has approved the application of the Catholic Church to establish the first religious ...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: In his second Twitter Spaces event for a 2024 White House candidate, Elon Musk hosted ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said this week that despite projected losses of $800 million for the current budget ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration has announced that it is providing grants worth $570 million to eliminate many dangerous railroad ...
PARIS, France: According to a report by BFM TV, Britain's King Charles is considering a visit to France in September, ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Federal Aviation Administration has said that a drone sighting disrupted some flights at Pittsburgh International Airport this ...