Huntington Beach Oil Spill

Green Peace, Meets Politics, Meets Hollywood at Rally Against Coastal Oil Production

Petroleum officials say 30% of California's oil is produced locally. The rest is imported. They say there remains the issue of supply and demand.

NBC Universal, Inc. Officials called for an end to oil drilling. Vikki Vargas reports for the NBC4 News on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021.

From local City Council members to members of Congress, the mantra was the same - they all want oil drilling to end.

In Laguna Beach, actor and activist Jane Fonda spoke out at an anti-oil drilling rally.

"Take a deep breath and exhale," she said. "This is not a workout, by the way."

She joined elected officials, calling on Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Joe Biden to end offshore oil production.

"We need to make sure our beautiful coast lines are never terrorized by another oil spill," said Senator Dave Min, D-Irvine.

Added Bob Whalen, the mayor of Laguna Beach: "We must choose the difficult path to end all oil drilling new and existing off the California coast."

Fonda said we are facing a crisis.

As she tried to explain how she believes coastal oil rigs should be capped and decommissioned, she was nearly drowned out by protesters reminding her of a trip to Hanoi nearly 50 years ago.

"We will do what we have to do to save our country from Communists like you, Jane Fonda," could be heard.

Also Monday, a Congressional hearing was held to discuss the ecological and economic fall out from the 25,000 gallons of crude that spilled into the Pacific two weeks ago.

"To tell the truth, it's been a tough couple of weeks," said Scott Breneman, a commercial fisherman. "People still feel the fish is contaminated."

Officials with the Western States Petroleum Association say the 25,000 gallons of crude that spilled into the Pacific was not entirely a drilling issue.

"In any circumstance like this we need to know all the facts where we can learn, but this isn't simply about just production," said Kevin Slagle, a spokesman.

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