Prohibiting any new leasing for the exploration, development or production of oil or gas along the coast of Southern California is the subject of a new bill proposed by U.S. Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA). If passed, the American Coasts and Oceans Protection Act would prohibit offshore activities from San Diego to the northern border of San Luis Obispo County. The House Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on Levin’s bill and other offshore drilling legislation May 13. “Oil spills from offshore drilling have done devastating damage to our coastline before,” Levin said in a statement. “This is why Californians overwhelmingly support a ban on new drilling activity along our coast. My bill to ban new offshore drilling leases recognizes that it’s time to put our environment and our coastal economy first, not the fossil fuel companies that profit while polluting our coastline.” It is estimated that the ocean economy accounts …