HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-02-2015 PH1 B. RandsBarry Rands, resident of San Luis Obispo
Madam Mayor, Councilmembers, and concerned citizens,
COUNCIL MEETING: of al �z Ex�ti
ITEM NO.: ?Vk t_____.
Over the last two weeks we have seen and heard about the catastrophic oil s� a � 6t%RK
just a ways down the road in Santa Barbara County. Over 100,000 gallons of dl onto t e
beach and into the ocean at Refugio Beach, spreading over 9 miles of the California Coastline. It
has devastated wildlife and caused significant damage to the coastal environment. The
company responsible for the burst pipeline, Plains All American Pipeline, was quick to take full
responsibility for stopping the leak and managing cleanup of the oil spill, covering all costs,
which are estimated at well over a million dollars. The company spokesperson expressed his
regret for the incident and pledged to do whatever it takes to prevent this from happening
again.
But imagine with me for a moment another scenario that could have played out. What if there
were no laws regulating oil spills and no requirements for polluters to clean up their mess? Now
imagine waking up the following day after the spill and hearing the news: "The Refugio oil spill
continues to expand as the 500 gallon per minute leak continues unabated. When asked at a
news conference why they had not fixed the leak, the spokesperson for Plains American said
'We admit this spill is regrettable, but we determined that it would be cheaper to let it spill
than to fix the leak. After all, our main goal is to provide people with gasoline at the best price
possible. It's a simple matter of economics. We can't provide cheap gas and go around fixing
pipeline leaks every time a little spill happens. "'
Of course that scenario is so outrageous that it is laughable. Yet that is exactly what is
happening with expanded polystyrene! It is polluting our oceans and beaches, harming wildlife
and marine habitat, and filling our landfills at an alarming rate. A non -stop stream of this
noxious pollutant continues to flow through retail stores and businesses who find it cheaper to
continue allowing this "leak" than to stop it.
Shame on them!
For an oil spill, the responsible party is required to not only stop the leak, but to clean up the
resulting mess. The ordinance before us is not asking businesses to clean up the mess. That
responsibility is already being undertaken with tax dollars and volunteer labor. The ordinance
only asks that they stop the leak. It is the very least we can do. Please vote to pass the
ordinance regulating the sale and use of expanded polystyrene products and requiring
businesses to sell and use environmentally friendly products in their place.