SR 03-06-2018 3H
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: March 6, 2018
Agenda Item: 3.H
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Susan Cline, Director, Public Works, Office of Sustainability & the
Environment
Subject: Resolution Regarding Offshore Oil Drilling, Exploration and Fracking
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the attached resolution reaffirming the City’s
position against offshore oil and gas drilling, seismic oil exploration, oil and gas leasing,
hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and other well stimulation in federal and state waters off
the Pacific coast.
Executive Summary
In response to a U.S. Department of the Interior proposal to open U.S. offshore coastal
waters, including the waters off California, to oil and gas exploration, Council directed
staff to draft a resolution opposing this proposal at its February 27 meeting. Staff
recommends Council adopt the attached resolution, which reaffirms the City’s past
policy actions opposing fracking and oil drilling, and calls for a ban on new offshore oil
and gas drilling, seismic oil exploration, fracking, and other well stimulation in federal
and state waters off the Pacific coast and opposes new federal oil and gas leasing in all
U.S. waters. The City’s lobbyist will advance the City’s position in Washington, D.C. as
necessary and appropriate based on Council’s policy direction.
Background
Council has adopted similar resolutions in recent years. On November 12, 2012,
Council adopted a resolution in support of a moratorium on fracking in California. On
December 9, 2014, Council adopted a resolution opposing oil drilling in Hermosa Beach
which could negatively impact Santa Monica Bay. In its 2016 State of California
Legislative Platform, Council noted its support for State bonds, funding and legislation
aimed at both reducing existing, and banning new oil and gas extraction.
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Offshore oil drilling and production have been shown to put environmental and public
health at risk from oil spills, increased air and water pollution, intense ocean noise and
other potential damage. These environmental and public health impacts c an also
negatively affect local and regional economies in coastal areas. The 1969 Santa
Barbara oil spill, which to date is the third largest oil spill in U.S. waters, impacted over
40 miles of coastline from Goleta to Ventura, and resulted in the death of over 3,600
sea birds and hundreds of marine mammals including dolphins, elephant seals and sea
lions. The economic impacts from the oil spill to Santa Barbara County were severe, as
all commercial fishing was suspended in the affected area, and tourism to the County
suffered a precipitous drop. More recently, in 2015 a pipeline servicing offshore oil
platforms off Santa Barbara County burst and impacted the same area of coast, killing
more wildlife and negatively impacting recreational and commercial activities in the
Santa Barbara area.
Hydraulic fracturing (commonly known as “fracking”) is a technique that is used to
increase oil and gas production by injecting water and chemicals at high pressures into
the ground to create fractures in subsurface rock t o release petroleum or natural gas for
extraction. Negative impacts related to fracking include impacts to air quality, generation
of polluted wastewater and excessive water use required by the fracking process.
Discussion
In January, the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
released a Draft Proposed Plan (DPP) for the 2019-2024 Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing
Program, which would make 90 percent of the U.S. offshore continental shelf, including
coastal waters off of the coast of Southern California, open to oil and gas exploration.
The DPP includes 47 potential offshore lease sales including six new lease sales off the
California coast. There have been no new lease sales in the Pacific region (which
includes all of the coastal waters off of California, Oregon and Washington) since 1984.
The comment period for the DPP is open through March 9, 2018.
The attached resolution reaffirms the City’s position against offshore oil drilling and
fracking. Specifically, the resolution calls for a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling,
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seismic oil exploration, fracking, and other well stimulation in federal and state waters
off the Pacific coast and opposes new federal oil and gas leasing in all U.S. waters.
To date the Governors of California, Oregon and Washington as well as 33 California
cities and counties, including the City and County of San Francisco, Santa Barbara
County, Ventura County, and the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, Malibu, Manhattan
Beach, and Los Angeles have formally opposed the DPP proposal for new federal
offshore oil and gas leases in the Pacific Ocean, and many have also called for a ban in
offshore hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.”
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the
recommended action.
Prepared By: Dean Kubani, Assistant Director
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Resolution
REFERENCE:
Resolution No. 11100
(CCS)