HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-03-2017 Item 15 - Offshore Drilling and Fracking Resolution
Meeting Date: 10/3/2017
FROM: Derek Johnson, Assistant City Manager
Prepared By: Marcus Carloni, Sustainability Coordinator
SUBJECT: REVIEW OF RESOLUTION OPPOSING NEW OR EXPANDED OFFSHORE
DRILLING, GAS LEASES, AND FRACKING OFF THE COAST OF SAN
LUIS OBISPO COUNTY
RECOMMENDATION
Consider a draft Resolution (Attachment A) opposing new, or expansion of existing, offshore oil
and gas leases off the coast of San Luis Obispo County and supporting measures to prohibit
discharge of pollutants into the ocean, consistent with the City’s Legislative Action Platform.
DISCUSSION
Background
On April 28, 2017, President Trump issued the “America First Offshore Energy Executive
Order” (Attachment B) which could open the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans to oil and gas
drilling, fracking, and other well stimulation by providing for energy exploration, leasing, and
development on the Outer Continental shelf. This has the potential to put California’s coastal
resources at risk of more oil spills, increased greenhouse gas emissions, continued dependence
on fossil fuels, and a delay in the movement toward greater reliance on renewable energy.
On May 11, 2017, Mayor Harmon authored a letter to Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke
(Attachment C) to voice opposition toward revisions to the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf
Oil and Gas Leasing program and to support any and all efforts to oppose new or expanded fossil
fuel extraction on the California coast and ocean.
Draft Resolution
In response to significant input from the community in coordination with a statewide campaign
led by the Center for Biological Diversity (see Attachment D), the attached resolution opposing
new or expanded offshore drilling, gas leases, and fracking has been prepared for City Council
consideration.
The attached resolution affirms the City’s commitment to Climate Action with establishment of
the Climate Action Major City Goal work program which has an overall goal of reducing the
community’s greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning away from reliance on fossil fuels. In
addition, voicing opposition to efforts to establish new, or expand existing, oil and gas drilling
operations is consistent with the City’s Legislative Action Platform for 2017 which includes
natural resource priorities as follows: #66 “opposing any development under existing or new
offshore oil and gas leases off the Coast of San Luis Obispo County” and #67 “supporting
measures to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean.”
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Passing a Resolution that opposes oil and gas drilling consistent with the City’s Legislative
Platform is not subject to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
because it is not a project as defined in CEQA Guidelines Section 15378 (Definitions – Project).
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action.
ALTERNATIVES
The City Council could decide to alter the draft Resolution or decide not to adopt a Resolution.
Attachments:
a - Draft Resolution
b - President Trump Executive Order
c - Mayor Harmon Letter
d - Center for Biological Diversity "Fact Sheet"
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _______ (2017 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING NEW OR EXPANSION OF
EXISTING OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASES OFF THE COAST OF
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY AND SUPPORTING MEASURES TO
PROHIBIT DISCHARGE OF POLLUTANTS INTO THE OCEAN
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo values our state’s ocean waters and coasts, which
provide habitat to a vast array of wildlife that depend on a healthy and clean environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo’s residents and visitors enjoy our ocean, beaches,
mountains and abundance of diverse resources for recreation, exploration, and relaxation; and
tourism and recreation comprise a large part of the City’s economy; and
WHEREAS, oil drilling presents a clear and ever-present danger to the health and safety
of residents, businesses and economies, with the threat of an oil spill potentially wreak ing havoc
on ecosystems, on human health, and economic activities; and
WHEREAS, fracking and related techniques, where water and chemicals are injected
under high pressure to crack rock formations and free up petroleum products, are linked to water
and air pollution, health concerns, and harm to marine wildlife; and
WHEREAS, in 1969, a well failure off the coast of Santa Barbara fouled coastal waters
and caused catastrophic environmental damage, helping launch the modern environmental
movement, and in 2015 a pipeline servicing offshore oil platforms burst and fouled the coast,
damaging wildlife and coastal recreation; and
WHEREAS, there have been no offshore oil and gas leases in California since the 1969
disaster; and
WHEREAS, in December of 2016, President Obama signed an executive order that
banned any new oil and gas drilling of the coast of California under Section 12(a) of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2017, President Trump issued the “America First Offshore
Energy Executive Order” which could open the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans to oil and gas
drilling, fracking, and other well stimulation, putting California’s coastal resources at risk of more
oil spills, increased greenhouse gas emissions, dependence on fossil fuels, and a delay in the
movement toward greater reliance on renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of California, the State Senate, the State Lands Commission
and Cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, have called for no new federal offshore
leases in the Pacific Ocean, and several municipalities have called for limits to fracking including
Marin County, Alameda County, Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, and Butte County.
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Resolution No. _____ (2017 Series) Page 2
R ______
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo recently made Climate Action a top city priority
with an overall goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by limiting our dependence on fossil
fuels; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo’s Legislative Action Platform for 2017 includes
natural resource priorities including #66 “opposing any development under existing or new
offshore oil and gas leases off the Coast of San Luis Obispo County” and #67 “supporting measures
to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean (e.g. selenium contaminated waters from the San
Joaquin Valley).”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
as follows:
SECTION 1. That the City of San Luis Obispo hereby supports in state and federal waters
in the Pacific Ocean along the United States, 1) a ban on new drilling, fracking, and related
techniques, 2) no new or expansion of existing oil and gas leases and a phase-out of all oil and gas
extraction, and 3) a framework for responsible renewable energy development.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2017.
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Carrie Gallagher
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
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Resolution No. _____ (2017 Series) Page 3
R ______
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
____________________________________
Carrie Gallagher
City Clerk
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8/30/2017 Presidential Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy | whitehouse.gov
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/28/presidential-executive-order-implementing-america-first-offshore-energy 1/5
For Immediate Release April 28, 2017
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
Presidential Executive Order Implementing an
America-First Offshore Energy Strategy
EXECUTIVE ORDER
- - - - - - -
IMPLEMENTING AN AMERICA-FIRST OFFSHORE ENERGY STRATEGY
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., and in order to
maintain global leadership in energy innovation, exploration, and production, it is hereby ordered as
follows:
Section 1. Findings. America must put the energy needs of American families and businesses first and
continue implementing a plan that ensures energy security and economic vitality for decades to come.
The energy and minerals produced from lands and waters under Federal management are important
to a vibrant economy and to our national security. Increased domestic energy production on Federal
lands and waters strengthens the Nation's security and reduces reliance on imported energy.
Moreover, low energy prices, driven by an increased American energy supply, will benefit American
families and help reinvigorate American manufacturing and job growth. Finally, because the
Department of Defense is one of the largest consumers of energy in the United States, domestic energy
production also improves our Nation's military readiness.
Sec. 2. Policy. It shall be the policy of the United States to encourage energy exploration and
production, including on the Outer Continental Shelf, in order to maintain the Nation's position as a
global energy leader and foster energy security and resilience for the benefit of the American people,
while ensuring that any such activity is safe and environmentally responsible.
Sec. 3. Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy. To carry out the policy set forth in
section 2 of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall:
(a) as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, including the procedures set forth in section
1344 of title 43, United States Code, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, give full
consideration to revising the schedule of proposed oil and gas lease sales, as described in that section,
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8/30/2017 Presidential Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy | whitehouse.gov
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/28/presidential-executive-order-implementing-america-first-offshore-energy 2/5
so that it includes, but is not limited to, annual lease sales, to the maximum extent permitted by law, in
each of the following Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas, as designated by the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management (BOEM) (Planning Areas): Western Gulf of Mexico, Central Gulf of Mexico, Chukchi
Sea, Beaufort Sea, Cook Inlet, Mid-Atlantic, and South Atlantic;
(b) ensure that any revisions made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section do not hinder or affect
ongoing lease sales currently scheduled as part of the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas
Leasing Proposed Final Program, as published on November 18, 2016; and
(c) develop and implement, in coordination with the Secretary of Commerce and to the maximum
extent permitted by law, a streamlined permitting approach for privately funded seismic data research
and collection aimed at expeditiously determining the offshore energy resource potential of the United
States within the Planning Areas.
Sec. 4. Responsible Planning for Future Offshore Energy Potential. (a) The Secretary of Commerce
shall, unless expressly required otherwise, refrain from designating or expanding any National Marine
Sanctuary under the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, 16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., unless the sanctuary
designation or expansion proposal includes a timely, full accounting from the Department of the
Interior of any energy or mineral resource potential within the designated area including offshore
energy from wind, oil, natural gas, methane hydrates, and any other sources that the Secretary of
Commerce deems appropriate and the potential impact the proposed designation or expansion will
have on the development of those resources. The Secretary of the Interior shall provide any such
accounting within 60 days of receiving a notification of intent to propose any such National Marine
Sanctuary designation or expansion from the Secretary of Commerce.
(b) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the
Interior, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall conduct a review of all designations and
expansions of National Marine Sanctuaries, and of all designations and expansions of Marine National
Monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906, recently recodified at sections 320301 to 320303 of title
54, United States Code, designated or expanded within the 10-year period prior to the date of this
order.
(i) The review under this subsection shall include:
(A) an analysis of the acreage affected and an analysis of the budgetary impacts of the
costs of managing each National Marine Sanctuary or Marine National Monument
designation or expansion;
(B) an analysis of the adequacy of any required Federal, State, and tribal consultations
conducted before the designations or expansions; and
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8/30/2017 Presidential Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy | whitehouse.gov
https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/28/presidential-executive-order-implementing-america-first-offshore-energy 3/5
(C) the opportunity costs associated with potential energy and mineral exploration and
production from the Outer Continental Shelf, in addition to any impacts on production in
the adjacent region.
(ii) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Interior, shall report the results of the review under
this subsection to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chairman of the
Council on Environmental Quality, and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy.
(c) To further streamline existing regulatory authorities, Executive Order 13754 of December 9, 2016
(Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience), is hereby revoked.
Sec. 5. Modification of the Withdrawal of Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing
Disposition. The body text in each of the memoranda of withdrawal from disposition by leasing of the
United States Outer Continental Shelf issued on December 20, 2016, January 27, 2015, and July 14,
2008, is modified to read, in its entirety, as follows:
"Under the authority vested in me as President of the United States, including section 12(a) of the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341(a), I hereby withdraw from disposition by leasing, for
a time period without specific expiration, those areas of the Outer Continental Shelf designated as of
July 14, 2008, as Marine Sanctuaries under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of
1972, 16 U.S.C. 1431-1434, 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq."
Nothing in the withdrawal under this section affects any rights under existing leases in the affected
areas.
Sec. 6. Reconsideration of Notice to Lessees and Financial Assurance Regulatory Review. The Secretary
of the Interior shall direct the Director of BOEM to take all necessary steps consistent with law to
review BOEM's Notice to Lessees No. 2016 N01 of September 12, 2016 (Notice to Lessees and Operators
of Federal Oil and Gas, and Sulfur Leases, and Holders of Pipeline Right-of-Way and Right-of-Use and
Easement Grants in the Outer Continental Shelf), and determine whether modifications are necessary,
and if so, to what extent, to ensure operator compliance with lease terms while minimizing
unnecessary regulatory burdens. The Secretary of the Interior shall also review BOEM's financial
assurance regulatory policy to determine the extent to which additional regulation is necessary.
Sec. 7. Reconsideration of Well Control Rule. The Secretary of the Interior shall review the Final Rule
of the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulfur
Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control," 81 Fed. Reg.
25888 (April 29, 2016), for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order, and shall
publish for notice and comment a proposed rule revising that rule, if appropriate and as consistent
with law. The Secretary of the Interior shall also take all appropriate action to lawfully revise any
related rules and guidance for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order.
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8/30/2017 Presidential Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy | whitehouse.gov
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Additionally, the Secretary of the Interior shall review BSEE's regulatory regime for offshore operators
to determine the extent to which additional regulation is necessary.
Sec. 8. Reconsideration of Proposed Offshore Air Rule. The Secretary of the Interior shall take all steps
necessary to review BOEM's Proposed Rule entitled "Air Quality Control, Reporting, and Compliance,"
81 Fed. Reg. 19718 (April 5, 2016), along with any related rules and guidance, and, if appropriate, shall,
as soon as practicable and consistent with law, consider whether the proposed rule, and any related
rules and guidance, should be revised or withdrawn.
Sec. 9. Expedited Consideration of Incidental Harassment Authorizations, Incidental-Take, and Seismic
Survey Permits. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall, to the maximum
extent permitted by law, expedite all stages of consideration of Incidental Take Authorization requests,
including Incidental Harassment Authorizations and Letters of Authorization, and Seismic Survey
permit applications under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., and the Marine
Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.
Sec. 10. Review of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Technical Memorandum
NMFS-OPR-55. The Secretary of Commerce shall review NOAA's Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55
of July 2016 (Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal
Hearing) for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order and, a er consultation with
the appropriate Federal agencies, take all steps permitted by law to rescind or revise that guidance, if
appropriate.
Sec. 11. Review of Offshore Arctic Drilling Rule. The Secretary of the Interior shall immediately take all
steps necessary to review the Final Rule entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer
Continental Shelf—Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf," 81 Fed.
Reg. 46478 (July 15, 2016), and, if appropriate, shall, as soon as practicable and consistent with law,
publish for notice and comment a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding this rule.
Sec. 12. Definition. As used in this order, "Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas, as designated by
the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management" means those areas delineated in the diagrams on pages S-5
and S-8 of the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Dra Proposed Program, as
published by the BOEM in January 2015, with the exception of any buffer zones included in such
planning documents.
Sec. 13. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary,
administrative, or legislative proposals.
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8/30/2017 Presidential Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy | whitehouse.gov
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(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,
enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or
entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE, April 28, 2017.
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If Trump and his Big Oil buddies get their way,
offshore drilling could destroy the very fabric of
coastal communities, state and local economies, and
critical marine habitats for decades to come. Expanding
offshore drilling in the Pacific would result in a coast
littered with oil and gas rigs and pipelines, causing
heavy industrialization in coastal communities, as we’ve
seen in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.
The California coastline is once again in the oil
industry’s crosshairs
• The federal government recently took steps to
vastly expand offshore oil and gas leasing in the
Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans and the eastern
Gulf of Mexico, areas that have been largely off
limits to new federal leasing.
• Oil companies have their sights set on oil and gas
deposits up and down the California coast, from La
Jolla to Orange County, from Palos Verdes to the
Lost Coast.
• The California coastal marine environment is one
of the most biologically rich areas in the world,
providing key habitat for whales, sea otters, sea
turtles and more than 500 fish species.
• Conventional drilling isn’t the only threat; just
last year the federal government also lifted a
moratorium on offshore fracking off California’s
coast, allowing the use of toxic fracking fluid in our
coastal waters and other well stimulation, such as
acid fracking and gravel packing.1
by the Center for Biological Diversity
Photo by Drwilsonjjj. CC-BY-SA
Where we drill, we spill
• From the infamous Santa Barbara oil spill in 1969
to the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 to
the Refugio oil spill in 2016, we’ve seen again and
again that oil spills are inevitable. There is simply
no safe way to drill our oceans.
• In fact, oil spills are routine; the U.S. Coast Guard
documented over 40,000 oil spills in the Gulf of
Mexico between 1973 and 2011. That’s more than
1,000 per year.2
• In just four years following the Gulf spill (2011-
2014), the federal government reported that
offshore drilling accounted for a total of 1,063
injuries, 477 fires and explosions, 22 well control
losses, 11 spills of over 2,100 gallons of oil, and 11
fatalities.3
• The Gulf experienced the longest mortality event
recorded for marine mammals and sea turtles
following Deepwater Horizon.4 The Refugio
oil spill killed hundreds of animals, including
dolphins, sea lions and pelicans.5
The planet is speeding toward a climate
catastrophe
• Drilling anywhere is a threat to climate and coastal
communities everywhere. Scientists warn that the
overwhelming majority of fossil fuels must remain
in the ground, unburned, if we are to avoid the
worst effects of climate change.
Oil and Oceans Don’t Mix
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• Ending fossil fuel leases in federal waters would
prevent the release of up to 61.5 billion tons of
greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and oceans,
or the equivalent of driving 13 billion passenger cars
for one year.6
• New federal offshore leases would allow for oil and
gas production over the next 40 to 70 years, long
past the point that scientists say fossil fuels must be
phased out.7
• Coastal California is already experiencing the
early impacts of a rising sea level, including more
extensive coastal flooding during storms, periodic
tidal flooding and increased coastal erosion.
• By the end of this century, coastal flooding could
threaten upwards of 1 million California residents
and $100 billion worth of property. Among those
especially vulnerable are large numbers of low-
income people and communities of color.8
• A wide range of critical infrastructure, such as
roads, hospitals, schools, emergency facilities,
wastewater treatment plants, and power plants will
also be at risk.
Frack no!
• Oil companies have fracked hundreds of offshore
wells in California’s ocean.
• Scientific studies indicate that at least 10 of the
fracking chemicals routinely used during these
fracking events could kill or harm a broad variety
of marine species, including sea otters, fish and
benthic invertebrates.9
• Fracking and other well stimulation techniques
increase pollution and the risk of oil spills and
earthquakes.
• Shockingly, the oil industry has federal permission
to dump more than 9 billion gallons of wastewater,
including fracking fluid laced with toxic chemicals,
into the Pacific Ocean every year.10
Don’t believe the oil industry’s lies
• Along the California coast alone, nearly 410,000
jobs and $20 billion in gross domestic product
rely on healthy ocean ecosystems, through fishing,
tourism and recreation.11 This far outweighs any
potential jobs or economic gains that could ever be
provided from offshore drilling.
• Clean energy jobs vastly outnumber all fossil fuel
jobs in California, by a margin greater than 6:1.12
• Even if all of the economically recoverable resources
off California were exploited, the oil would last for
significantly less than 2 years at current national
consumption rates.13,14
California cities must lead the way
• The state of California prohibits new leasing in state
waters because of the unacceptably high risk of
damage and disruption to the marine environment
of the state.
• It’s up to California, its cities and its residents to
guard our coastline against dangerous offshore
drilling and the worst impact of climate change,
including sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
• Our voices matter. When the Obama administration
proposed offshore lease sales in the Atlantic
Ocean, more than 100 East Coast municipalities
passed resolutions opposing offshore drilling and
seismic blasting. In the face of such opposition
from residents, their representatives, and more
than 41,000 businesses, the Obama administration
removed the Atlantic from the leasing plan.(Endnotes)
1 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Programmatic Environmental Assessment of the Use of Well Stimulation
Treatments on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (May 2016). Available at: http://pocswellstim.evs.anl.gov/
2 US Coast Guard, Polluting Incidents In and Around U.S. Waters, A Spill/Release Compendium: 1969-2011 (Dec. 2012)
3 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, “Incident Statistics and Summaries”. Available at: http://www.bsee.gov/Inspection-and-Enforcement/Accidents-
andIncidents/Listing-and-Status-of-Accident-Investigations/
4 National Ocean Service, Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Longterm Effects on Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles (20 April 2017). Available at: https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/
apr17/dwh-protected-species.html
5 Center for Biological Diversity, Refugio Oil Spill. Available at: http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/Refugio_oil_spill/
6 Mulvaney, et al. The Potential Greenhouse Gas Emissions from U.S. Federal Fossil Fuels, August 2015. Available at http://www.ecoshiftconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/
Potential-Greenhouse-Gas-Emissions-U-S-Federal-Fossil-Fuels.pdf
7 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 2017-2022, Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Nov. 2016)
Vol. I: Chpts. 1-6. Available at: https://www.boem.gov/fpeis-volume1/
8 Hauer, M., Evans, J. and Mishra, D. (2016). Millions projected to be at risk from sea-level rise in the continental United States. Nature Climate Change, [online] 6(7), pp.691-
695. Available at: http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v6/n7/full/nclimate2961.html?foxtrotcallback=true
9 Center for Biological Diversity, Troubled Waters: Offshore Fracking’s Threat to California’s Ocean, Air and Seismic Stability (September 2014). Available at: https://www.
biologicaldiversity.org/campaigns/offshore_fracking/pdfs/Troubled_Waters.pdf
10 Id
11 United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service, California 2014, Employment: Tourism and
Recreation. Available at: https://www.coast.noaa.gov/enowexplorer/#/employment/tourism/2014/06000
12 Beitman, Andy. Sierra Club. Report: Clean Energy Jobs Overwhelm Coal, Oil, & Gas in 41 States and D.C. Available at: https://www.docdroid.net/G6njmYC/sierra-club-
clean-energy-jobs-report-final-1.pdf#page=2
13 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the Nation’s Outer Continental Shelf, 2016. Available at: https://www.boem.
gov/2016-National-Assessment-Fact-Sheet/
14 United States Energy Information Administration. How much oil is consumed in the United States? Available at: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=33&t=6Packet Pg 372
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OFFSHORE DRILLING & FRACKINGCity Council Hearing – October 3, 2017Marcus Carloni, Sustainability Coordinator1REVIEW OF RESOLUTION OPPOSING NEW OR EXPANDED OFFSHORE DRILLING, GAS LEASES, AND FRACKING OFF THE COAST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY10/03/2017 Item 15, Staff Presentation
Consider a draft Resolution (Attachment A) opposing new, or expansion of existing, offshore oil and gas leases off the coast of San Luis Obispo County and supporting measures to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean, consistent with the City’s Legislative Action Platform. 2Recommendation10/03/2017 Item 15, Staff Presentation
3Presidential Executive Order• April 28, 2017: America First Offshore Energy Executive Order• Allows energy exploration, leasing, and development in Outer Continental Shelf• Includes oil & gas drilling, and fracking in the ocean• Restart of the 2017-2022 outer continental shelf oil & gas leasing programAssociated Issues• Increased potential of oil spills• Fracking uses chemicals that may be harmful to marine species.• Continued dependence on fossil fuels• Increased greenhouse gas emissions• Delayed movement toward reliance on renewable energyBackground Mayor’s Letter to Secretary Zinke• Opposition to revisions of 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing program• Voiced support for efforts to oppose new/expanded fossil fuel extraction along California Coast10/03/2017 Item 15, Staff Presentation
44BackgroundThe City received significant input from the community incoordination with a statewide campaign led by the Center forBiological Diversity asking for the City to oppose offshore drilling,gas leases, and fracking with a resolution.Staff finds opposing offshore drilling, gas leases, and frackingconsistent with the City’s 2017 Legislative Action Platform:#66 “opposing any development under existing or new offshore oil and gas leases off the coast of San Luis Obispo County”#67 “supporting measures to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean”The City Council recently established Climate Action as a top priorityfor the City with an overall goal of:Reducing community-wide greenhouse gas emissionsTransitioning away from reliance on fossil fuels10/03/2017 Item 15, Staff Presentation
55Draft ResolutionThe proposed resolution (Attachment A):Reaffirms the City’s commitment to Climate ActionRecognizes potential pollution and harm to marine wildlife associated with fracking which includes injecting water and chemicals to crack underwater rock formations to access petroleum products.Recognizes potential dangers to health and safety of residents, businesses and economy from threat of oil spillsIdentifies that there have been no new offshore oil and gas leases in California since 1969 and recognizes that President Trumps Executive Order could open up coastal waters to drilling and frackingIndicates that offshore drilling, gas leases, and fracking are counter to the City’s climate action goalsFinds opposition to offshore drilling, gas leases, and fracking to be consistent with the City’s legislative platform10/03/2017 Item 15, Staff Presentation
Consider a draft Resolution (Attachment A) opposing new, or expansion of existing, offshore oil and gas leases off the coast of San Luis Obispo County and supporting measures to prohibit discharge of pollutants into the ocean, consistent with the City’s Legislative Action Platform. Adopting the resolution means the City Council would be supporting:A ban on new drilling, fracking, and related techniquesNo new or expanded oil and gas leases and a phase out of oil and gas extraction6Recommendation10/03/2017 Item 15, Staff Presentation