AB 234: To boom, or not to boom?

That was the question one legislator was trying to answer when it comes to marine oil transfers in our state. In the aftermath of the Dubai Star spill in 2009, industry and environmentalists alike have become acutely aware of the disastrous effects oil leaks can have on our costal economies and habitats. AB 234 (Huffman) would have required the Office of Spill Prevention and Response to require a vessel, at the point of transfer, to provide appropriate equipment and supplies for containment and removal of spills in our waters. However, the Governor's veto provided an unwelcome answer to the question.