Sacramento, California - As federal, state, and local agencies continue working to minimize and mitigate the effects of last month's Santa Barbara County oil spill, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today issued an executive order to further expedite recovery efforts and help ensure the natural environment is restored, beaches are reopened and economic impacts are minimized.

The Governor's order directs state agencies responsible for cleanup and restoration to take all necessary steps to issue emergency waivers and permits to facilitate the reopening of fishing, public access, and impacted beaches and waters, including Refugio State Beach and El Capitan State Beach, and waives the waiting period for unemployment insurance for those workers affected by the oil spill.

The Governor also directs the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Office of Spill Prevention and Response to continue working with other federal, state, and local agencies to clean up and mitigate the impacts of the oil spill and to hold the responsible parties accountable for environmental and fiscal damages.

The Governor's May 20, 2015 proclamation along with today's executive order advance a combined effort across federal, state and local agencies, tribal governments, local volunteers, conservation and environmental organizations, and citizens to deal with the effects of this substantial spill along an iconic stretch of California's remarkable coastline.