HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/19791
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M I N U T E S
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1979 - 12:10 P.M.
COUNCIL HEARING ROOM, CITY HALL, 990 PALM STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CALIFORNIA
STUDY SESSION
Roll Call
Councilmembers
PRESENT: Melanie Billig, Alan Bond, Ron Dunin, Jeff Jorgensen, and
Mayor Lynn R. Cooper
ABSENT: None
City Staff
PRESENT: Lee Walton, City Administrative Officer; George Thacher,
City Attorney; J.H. Fitzpatrick, City Clerk; Henry Engen,
Community Development Director.
County Staff
PRESENT: Ms. Pat Beck, Senior Planner; Ron DiCarli, Director of the
Coastal Energy Impact Program; Bob Carr, Assistant Director
of the County Air Pollution Control District.
Ms. Pat Beck, Senior Planner of the County of San Luis Obispo, reviewedd
the Council the federal proposal to allow "Outer Continental Shelf"
(OCS) oil and gas development along the coast of San Luis Obispo County.
She continued that the county planning department is providing feedback
to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on their proposal and are preparing
a county background paper on the outer continental shelf oil and gas devel-
opment proposal. She stated that the U.S. Department of Interior, in an
effort to increase the national energy supply, is rapidly pursuing the leasing
of the outer continental shelf to off -shore oil and ga's development. OCS
lease sales that may effect San Luis Obispo County coastal areas are being
proposed for 1981, 1983, and 1984. Over 75 percent of the projected oil
reserves from Sale Lease 53 (1981) are anticipated adjacent to the county
coast in the Santa Maria offshore basin, generally extending from Morro Bay
to Point Conception and from 3 to approximately 30 miles offshore.
Ms. Beck continued that the most notable effects are the additional oil -
related facilities and activities which could include:
1. 7 -23 offshore production platforms.
2. An additional Marine terminal with associated processing and storage
tank facilities (similar to those found in Port San Luis and Estero
Bay).
3. Additional demand for harbor wharfage and warehouse space.
4. Service and storage yards for equipment, pipes, etc.
5. Other additional support services such as welding shops, marine
supply, laundry and food catering, etc.
She stated that an Environmental.Impact Statement is presently being prepared
by the Federal Bureau of Land Management for Lease 53, sale date June 1981.
This Environmental Impact Study will further delineate the types of impacts
and possible mitigation measures from this lease sale. The preliminary
draft document is scheduled for publication in December`;'1979. 'She stated
that the county government has limited jurisdiction over the OCS- related
matters being confined to the siting, design, and location of onshore OCS-
related facilities. The county's primary role is threefold:
City Council Minutes
November 12, 1979 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 2
1. To provide constructive feedback and supplemental information on
the environmental studies, draft reports and environmental impact
statements prepared by the BLM.
2. Identify OCS- related facility and site requirements, options for
accommodating anticipated needs and develop policies and mitigation
strategies to minimize adverse effects.
3. Provide information and technical recommendations to citizens, organ-
izations and decision - makers on proposed OCS development.
Ms. Beck continued that the outer continental shelf is under the sole juris-
diction of the federal government under the Department of the Interior.
Recent changes in the OCS Lands Act, has allowed local government an
opportunity for participation, providing comments and suggestions are first
submitted to the Governor. Final authority for deciding the timing, size and
location of lease sales and tracts to be leased and under what conditions
lie with the Secretary of the Interior after due consideration of the required
environmental impact statement. The present position of the Department of
the Interior is as follows:
1. Proposed program continues to include Lease Sale 53 in 1981.
2. Sufficient information will be available for consideration prior
to the lease sale.
3. The proposed 5 year Lease Sale Schedule is based upon an adequate
consideration of all aspects of the OCS Lands Act and is designed
to assure a national, equitable sharing of development benefits and
environmental risks.
Finally, Ms. Beck stated that the present position of the county and State
of California are:
1. The proposed National 5 Year OCS Oil and Gas Lease Schedule, which
identifies the timing, size and.location of all leases proposed
during the next 5 years, and its Draft Environmental Statement are
inadequate and inconsistent with the intent of the OCS Lands Act
and the National Environmental Policy Act.
2. Delay or delete Lease Sale #53 until such time that all important
environmental studies are complete and the West Coast oil surplus
is rectified.
3. Establish a program of exploratory drilling to determine the true
extent of the oil resources.
4. Give high priority to establishing this area as a national oil
reserve for future use.
and that finally, the state recommends the following additional requirement:
5. A recent policy shift at the state level encourages development of
the county's coastline by recommending that the DOI delete from
leasing, areas with low-resource potential and.high.penvironmental
risk. According to the state and the northern counties, this would
include deletion of the Point Arena, Bodega and Santa Cruz basins.
Ron DeCarli, Director of the Coastal Energy Impact Program for the San Luis
Obispo County, presented.a slide show on existing offshore ! ail -and gas
drilling.operations in the Santa Barbara Channel, showing not only the drilling
towers and equipment but also examples of the massive onshore supply facilities
needed to support the platforms, including docking, etc.
Bob Carr, Assistant Director of the County Air Pollution Control District,
reviewed for the council, a report prepared by his department entitled,
"APCD -Air Quality and OCS" which stated that based on the projected life of
the field of 40 years, the OCS mean estimate of the potential oil recovery
and the best available emission factors, the APCD estimates emissions of
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City-Council-Minutes
November 12, 1979 - 12:10 p.m.
Page 3
hydrocarbon vapors resulting ..from.00S.at 812 tenths.per day, more than a
25 percent increase.over current-emissions-in the county. Hydrocarbon
emissions are of particular.importance because they are in one.of the two
categories of pollutants-that-contribute-directly to our photochemical
oxidant problem. There will also be.an.additional 5 -10 tons per day of
other pollutants depending on the methods of separation, treatment, and
transportation.
' He continued that.if the OCS_ had._ been_ previously .developed, ".the..county.
..estimates that in the.past.three_ years.. the .highest.oxidant..reading.would
have been 0.18 parts.per.million, comparred to 0.14.parts per million. In
addition, the county would.have..exceeded the health standard on 6 to 7 days
.per year comparred to.l.exceeded...per.- ye ar..at this time...Federal.law_
requires that the standard not-be-exceeded-more-than 3 times.in.3.years; and
if the remaining 10 stationery-resource-control measures are.implemented
and.if "a motor.vehicle inspection-and-maintenance program "is approved by
the legislature.and implemented by..San Luis.Obispo County and if the growth
..rate of the .county does not.exceed..the.rate.assumed.in "the attainment and
maintenance plan, the county.should.remain.within the standards.for a 5 to
10 year period. Because the.county would.just barely offset OCS emissions
by taking all of the.action indicated, there would be no allocation for future
emission growth; and because.all. reasonable measures would be required to
maintain.the standard,..there would..few if.any reduceable emissions available
to provide-offsets for new sources.. ..Construction applications-submitted to
the APCD for all proposed..new.projects.that contribute to.the oxidant levels,
would have to be denied—Such-sources-could range from refineries.and large
petroleum - storage and production operations to gas stations, dry cleaners and
painting facilities.
Finally, Bob.Carr.stated that - because - predicting air.quality_is.not.an.exact
science, "it.is possible.that.despite. the. county 's- best.efforts,..the_standard
could be exceeded in.the.future...In..this case,.they_ would have to -take extreme
measures to- reduce pollutants.-such-as limited growth -or face the prospect of
' having additional ..federal..sanctions_imposed.. Such sanctions could be in the
.form of withholding federal_. funds. for". roads .and.sewage_treatment.plants and
possibly other projects. His-department-felt that ..other_than..00S.development
.as currently proposed, about.two basic alternatives.rxist that would protect
the county's air quality.
A.. No.00S.production...The_.oil_ basin_ _off.the- coast..could.be_placed in
reserve and favor. producing. from known onshore federal. reserves, or
B. Require. OCS..produce rs.- to.use.the.best available control.technology
to comply "with.the lowest. achieveable ...emission.rate.from_ all OCS
sources and -offset-.remaining-.emissions by controlling or paying
for control.of emissions from existing.sources.onshore.
._The..City Council and -city- stiff. discussed -in general.terms with -the county
..._ representatives. the possible-effects-.of-pollution on the county brought
about.by. this. development ..and..how..they.could be monitored and what standards
would be applied to both the onshore and the offshore facilities.
1:15 p.m., Councilman Bond.left the meeting.
.The- City.Council continued.- their_ discussion _of_.the.proposed'OCS. oil and gas
development proposal ._of_.the_Bureau.of.Land Management.and how the county
could obtain-full disclosure before permits - were:granted.to drill in the
shelf.
....Mayor Cooper.thanked..Ms.. Beck, .:Mr..'.DiCarli,.and,..Mr._Carr for bringing the
council this_information-and - asked.that::the..county.keep the City Council
informed as the proposal moves along..
2. There being -no. further ._business_ -to .come-before' the City Council, Mayor
Cooper adjourned.the meeting at 1:45.p.m. to.7:30 p:m., Tuesday, November
..139 1979.
APPROVED BY COUNCIL ON: 12/4/79
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