Three Californian environmental groups announced on Thursday that they have reached a historic deal with Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP) under which would reduce the existing oil and gas operations offshore Lompoc and the Gaviota Coast.

"The cornerstone of this agreement is the requirement that oil and gas development in both the Tranquillon Ridge and Pt. Pedernales Fields will cease on December 31, 2022," said Linda Krop, Chief Counsel of the EDC, who represented GOO! and CPA in the negotiations.

The Environmental Defense Center (EDC), Get Oil Out! (GOO!), and Citizens Planning Association of Santa Barbara (CPA) signed an agreement that allows PXP to develop its activity of the Tranquillon Ridge Oil and Gas Field off Lompoc, but instead it would halt oil and gas production in a California field. In addition, the deal states that PXP would reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect several important lands in the region.

"Never before has an oil company agreed to a date certain end of production, making this a one-of-a-kind agreement. This guarantee by PXP to end oil production will protect our coast from oil spills, air and water pollution, and hazardous gas releases," she added.

The environmental groups succeeded in persuading PXP to set a clear stop date for production, as well as a agreement that would reduce the net greenhouse emission to zero, thanks to emission reductions and offsets.

The unprecedented agreement is hoped to be a model for other oil and gas production companies and other industries that could react and work together with environmentalists in order to fight against climate change.

The deal was reached after PXP proposed to develop its existing production from Platform Irene, but the three groups rejected the project that would have caused more risks and impacts. In 2002, the environmental groups opposed to a similar proposal by Nuevo Energy Company.

Following the rejection, PXP tried to sweeten the proposal and offered to shut down its entire operation in 2022. In the end, the environmentalist groups and PXP partnered with The Trust for Public Land, conveying about 3.700 acres of PXP land to be under public protection.

"Preserving thousands of acres in the Lompoc uplands for permanent protection is the icing on the cake," said Steve Dunn, President of CPA, a group that not only opposed the original Tranquillon Ridge proposal, but also the Purisima Hills development project.

"Through this agreement, we will guarantee an end to oil development from four separate projects, significantly reduce greenhouse gases and preserve important lands for future generations," he concluded.