Offshore drilling plan is scuttled

SANTA BARBARA , The State Lands Commission on Thursday rejected a proposal that could have led to the first new oil drilling project off the California coast in 40 years. The panel voted 2-1 against Plains Exploration & Production Co.’s request for approval of its bid to expand drilling off Platform Irene in the Santa Barbara Channel. Commission Executive Officer Paul Thayer said the project is effectively dead unless the oil company takes it to court or reapplies to the commission with a new proposal. For the full story click here