Even though the Trump Administration is proposing to open parts of the California coastline to new oil exploration, a Santa Barbara congressman is pushing for more protections.
Democratic Congressman Salud Carbajal is urging Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to follow up on a proposal to create the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
It would be created on the Central Coast between the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The designation could preserve submerged Chumash cultural sites and protect marine resources.
In 2015, the area was nominated for marine sanctuary status, but the proposal has to go through a complete planning and public review process before it can happen.
