The State - News from Sept. 26, 1989

Tanker traffic off California would increase 41% if a federal moratorium on oil drilling is lifted and at least one major accident would result, according to a study conducted for six coastal counties stretching from Sonoma to Monterey. “The conclusions are rather grim,” San Francisco Supervisor Angela Alioto said. The $95,000 study claimed that oil exploration would be centered near wildlife areas. Oil-drilling platforms would be as big as two football fields and be capable of supporting up to 50 wells, the study said, adding that 100,000 tons of contaminated waste would spill onto the ocean floor over the 15- to 20-year life of the wells. The report also forecast at least four major incidents from offshore drilling, including at least one tanker accident and one platform leak of 100,000 gallons. Representatives of the oil industry insisted that exploration could be done in an environmentally safe manner.