One year after the infamous Refugio Oil Spill, a dozen elected officials and environmental watchdog groups gathered on the rocky beach to commemorate a year spent campaigning for stricter pipeline safety regulations, as well as strengthening renewable energy on the South Coast.
Each dignitary spoke on their legislative efforts to regulate oil industry giants Venoco and Plains All American Pipeline. Their speeches were peppered with personal connections to the Gaviota Coast.
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, represented Thursday morning by spokesperson James Joyce III, called the May 19 spill, “the worst birthday present I have ever received.”
