[pkaye]

California actually has to import oil from Canada, Ecuador and a a few other countries. The local production is insufficient for the population level plus since the 70s voters wouldn't allow much oil exploration. Washington and Oregon are able to get it from Canada however.

[dylan604]

> plus since the 70s voters wouldn't allow much oil exploration

and their beaches are national treasures compared to Texas where they subscribed to the "drill baby drill" mantra and "fuck those beaches. it's just sand" mantra. it is funny comparing California beaches where they did allow offshore drilling for a side-by-side comparison of how they are affected. Take Seal Beach with all of the tarballs vs something nearby like Santa Monica.

[ars]

I don't have specific information about Seal Beach, but Tar Balls are completely natural and are not [necessarily] caused by drilling.

The are decomposed by a number of bacteria, and unless you happen to know of a spill nearby are not an indicator of a problem. In fact drilling for the oil can reduce them by reducing the pressure that would otherwise squeeze them out.