Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/12/19791 1 [I 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 1 1 C 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 zpa r ck, City erc