On the evening of Monday, December 8th, Orange County elected leaders, businesses, environmentalists, and community members gathered to speak out against the U.S. Department of the Interior’s proposed 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan. An estimated 100 people attended the event organized by Surfrider Foundation, Orange County Coastkeeper, and Oceana, with support from Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples.
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The event brought together local elected officials, community groups, and members of the public for an informative and engaging conversation about the threats posed by expanded offshore drilling and the actions residents can take to protect California’s coastline.
Audience members listening to a presentation by Surfrider Foundation's Ocean Protection Manager, Pete Stauffer. Photo by Orange County Coastkeeper.
The event began with a presentation on the federal proposal to open the entire California coast, the Gulf of Mexico, Alaska, and the Arctic to new offshore oil and gas leasing with instructions on how to submit official comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management before the deadline on January 23, 2026. Surfrider Foundation's Ocean Protection Manager, Pete Stauffer, highlighted how this issue is fundamentally one of environmental justice, disproportionately affecting low-income and frontline communities who rely on a clean coast for recreation, livelihood, and cultural connection.
The presentation also debunked common misconceptions about offshore oil drilling, gas prices, and energy independence—clarifying that expanding offshore drilling will not lower gas prices, which are driven by the global market, and that the U.S. is already energy independent, with oil production peaking in 2024 and the country currently a net exporter of oil. (Learn more here)
Event organizers then invited elected officials, business leaders, and other community members to provide public remarks. Attendees heard from a variety of local leaders who offered diverse perspectives on the environmental, economic, and public health impacts of offshore oil and gas development. From potential oil spills to impacts on fisheries, tourism, and the climate, the discussion highlighted why it’s crucial for communities to stay informed and engaged.
Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris speaking to the audience. Photo by Surfrider Foundation.
Local elected officials, including federal, state, county, and city representatives, expressed their commitment to defending Orange County’s coast from offshore drilling and supporting community advocacy.
Speakers included: Representative Dave Min; Representative Ted Lieu (via video); Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris; California Coastal Commissioner and City of Hermosa Beach City Councilmember Ray Jackson; Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley; Costa Mesa City Councilmember Arlis Reynolds; Shannon Wingfield of the Acjachamen Nation; Tina Calderon with the Sacred Places Institute for Indigenous Peoples; Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center Executive Director Debbie McGuire; and many other business and community leaders.
Take Action
The event also offered practical guidance for public participation in the Department of the Interior’s 5-year leasing plan process. Residents learned how to submit public comments and mobilize their communities to ensure that local voices are heard in federal decision-making.
The People’s Hearing in Orange County was a clear reminder that protecting our coast is a community effort. Residents left the event not only better informed but also empowered to take action and make their voices count in shaping the future of offshore drilling policy. As Peter Douglas, a past Executive Director for the California Coastal Commission, said, the coast is never saved; it's always being saved.
For those who couldn’t attend, it’s not too late to get involved. Submit your comment on the Department of the Interior’s proposed 5-year plan, attend local advocacy meetings, or connect with community groups working to keep California’s coastline safe and healthy. Our ocean is not for sale—and together, we can make sure it stays that way.