Santa Monica : Officials Seek Drilling Ban

Santa Monica Mayor Christine E. Reed was in Washington this week to lobby in support of a continued moratorium on offshore oil drilling along most of the California coastline.

Reed joined other local officials in meetings with members of the House Appropriations Committee. The delegation hopes to negotiate an agreement allowing for limited offshore oil activity in return for 15 years of protection for the major part of the California coastline. Santa Monica Bay is among the areas that would be protected under the agreement.