HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-11041 opposing new Oil and Gas Drilling and Hydraulic Fracturing lease sales in the vicinity of the City of San Luis Obispo that are inconsistent with current use and jeopardize water resources, air quality and San Luis Obispo Climate Action Plan GoalsRESOLUTION NO. 11041 (2019 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING NEW OIL AND GAS DRILLING
AND HYDRAULIC FRACTURING LEASE SALES IN THE VICINITY OF
THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO THAT ARE INCONSISTENT WITH
CURRENT USE AND JEOPARDIZE WATER RESOURCES, AIR
QUALITY AND SAN LUIS OBISPO CLIMATE ACTION PLAN GOALS
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, manages
federal lands and mineral estate in California, including within and in the vicinity of the City of
San Luis Obispo, for leasing for oil and gas production; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, has not held
a lease sale of federal public lands and mineral estate for oil and gas production in California for
more than five years; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has commenced the process to reopen
federal lands and mineral estate in the Central Coast/ Bakersfield Planning region, including lands
within and in the vicinity of the City of San Luis Obispo, for oil and gas drilling; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. is a net oil exporter; and
WHEREAS, oil and gas development and fracking do not represent a sustainable energy
future for the City of San Luis Obispo, the County of San Luis Obispo, California, or the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, oil and gas development produce significant amounts of greenhouse gas
emissions and is a leading contributor to climate change; and
WHEREAS, it is a major city goal for the City of San Luis Obispo to become a net -zero
carbon city; and
WHEREAS, it is a major city goal for the City of San Luis Obispo to implement its
Climate Action Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo's Climate Action Plan includes the goal of
carbon neutrality by 2035; and
WHEREAS, expanding production on federal land and mineral estate in the vicinity of the
City of San Luis Obispo blocks the city's ability to meet its climate goals; and
WHEREAS, oil drilling, production and transport 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 damaging ecosystems, water, human health, and economic activities; and
WHEREAS, oil and gas development results in the release of air pollutants known to cause
harm to human health; and
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WHEREAS, studies have linked fracking and other drilling techniques to health concerns,
air and water pollution, and harm to wildlife; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has commenced the process to reopen
federal lands and mineral estate to for oil and gas drilling, including lands under and beside Lake
Nacimiento, directly adjacent to Santa Margarita Lake, and less than 1/z mile from Old Creek,
which feeds Whale Rock Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo depends on Lake Nacimiento, Santa Margarita
Lake, and Whale Rock Reservoir for water for municipal uses; and
WHEREAS, fracking requires pumping large amounts of water (1 million to 8 million
gallons for each well) into the ground; and
WHEREAS, the Central Coast, including the City of San Luis Obispo, recently
experienced eight years of extreme drought which climate scientists now predict will be the "new
normal' for the Central Coast; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo's water resources are fragile, limited and drought
prone and cannot be used for fracking or oil and gas development; and
WHEREAS, ground and surface water supplies in San Luis Obispo are historically
stressed and fully appropriated; and
WHEREAS, freshwater resources from other California communities cannot be purchased
for fracking and oil and gas development on the Central Coast without depriving these
communities of needed and precious fresh water supplies; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has commenced the process to reopen
federal lands and mineral estate that include significant portions of City -owned Reservoir Canyon
Natural Reserve and BLM land that is adjacent to the City's Irish Hills Natural Reserve, as well
as Lopez Lake County Park and Montana de Oro State Park; and
WHEREAS, these areas, as well as Los Padres National Fprest and Carrizo Plain National
Monument, are mountains and wild places the BLM plans to open to oil and gas drilling that are
important to the City of San Luis Obispo's residents and visitors for recreation, exploration, and
relaxation; and
WHEREAS, and tourism and recreation comprise a large part of the City of San Luis
Obispo's economy; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo values California's federal lands, which provide
habitat to a vast array of wildlife that depend on a healthy and clean environment; and
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WHEREAS, oil and gas development would threaten the recovery of the endangered
condor, reintroduced tule elk, and pronghorn antelope in San Luis Obispo County; and
WHEREAS, continued expansion of oil and gas development would have detrimental
impacts on the essential habitat connectivity corridors that connect neighboring protected areas;
and
WHEREAS, oil and gas development would threaten previously protected National Forest
lands and Carrizo Plain National Monument in the County of San Luis Obispo.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
SECTION 1. The City hereby opposes new federal oil drilling and fracking leases
within, or in the vicinity of, the City of San Luis Obispo and on or adjacent to any publicly held
natural spaces.
SECTION 2. Action. The City Council of the City of San Luis Obispo hereby requests
that the portion of the City's Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve with split mineral estate be
removed from consideration by BLM and opposes new oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing
leases on neighboring BLM land.
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Page 4
SECTION 3. Environmental Determination. The City Council has determined that the
above actions do not constitute a project, as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act
and is not subject to environmental review.
Upon motion of Council Member Christianson, seconded by Council Member Gomez, and on the
following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members Christianson, Gomez and Stewart
Vice Mayor Pease and Mayor Harmon
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
The foregoing resolution was adopted this Yd day of September 2019.
ATTEST:
a
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
J.
ty Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have here_ unto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo, California, this 1V � day of 'e , 2019.
1
eresa Purrington
City Clerk
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