Public lands: geophysical surveys.

Existing law authorizes the State Lands Commission to lease state lands for the production of oil and gas. Existing law also authorizes the commission to issue permits for geological or geophysical surveys on those state lands, but specifies that the permit does not give the permittee any preferential right to an oil or gas lease. This bill would authorize the commission to issue permits for geophysical surveys on state lands under its jurisdiction, including granted and ungranted tidelands and submerged lands and the beds of navigable waterways, subject to terms and conditions as the commission shall specify to ensure public safety and protection of the environment, and would require the commission to adopt regulations to aid in the implementation of those provisions, as specified. The bill would authorize the commission to promote compliance with the permit through specified actions. The bill would prohibit the commission from requiring a permit for a geophysical survey performed in support of dredging to maintain or increase the depth of navigation channels, anchorages, or berthing areas.