Exxon to Stop Tanker Runs Near Islands

Bowing to mounting regulatory pressure, Exxon Corp. on Friday agreed to stop a tanker shipping operation that carried monthly boatloads of crude oil within 50 miles of the ecologically fragile Channel Islands.

The decision by the Houston-based oil giant came Friday morning during a 1 1/2 hour closed-door meeting in Camarillo with representatives of the federal Mineral Management Service, California Coastal Commission and Santa Barbara County.

All three agencies told Exxon late last month that it did not have a permit for the low-profile tanker shipping operation from San Francisco to Los Angeles and that it must cease the shipping by May 1 or face severe civil penalties.

Although Exxon officials agreed to stop the monthly trips that began in October, they still believe the permit they have to develop oil from their Santa Ynez unit offshore oil fields north of Santa Barbara allows them to ship by tanker.

Nonetheless, Exxon spokesman Bruce Tackett said the company will comply with the May 1 cease and desist order.

“We maintained during the meeting that we have the authority to tanker from San Francisco to Los Angeles,” Tackett said. “We told the people in the meeting that we intend to vigorously protect our rights. We obviously have the desire to continue talk with people and share views. It’s our hope that this situation can be resolved amicably.”