HomeMy WebLinkAboutBLM_2019_OppositionLetterCity of San Luis Obispo, Office of the City Council, 990 Palm Street, San
Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3249, 805.781.7114, slocity.org
May 21, 2019
The Honorable David Bernhardt, Secretary
U.S. Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
RE: Commitment to Opposing New Oil Leases on Federal Lands
Dear Secretary Bernhardt:
The City of San Luis Obispo values our state’s federal lands, which
provide habitat to a vast array of
wildlife that depend on a healthy and clean environment. The City’s
residents and visitors also enjoy
our region’s publicly-owned beaches, mountains, wild places and abundance
of diverse resources for
recreation and tourism, which comprise a large part of the City' s
economy. Oil drilling, production
and transport presents a clear and ever-present danger to the health and
safety of residents, businesses,
and our local economy.
Many communities living near federal lands and mineral estates that may
be developed for oil and gas
production already bear a heavy and unjust pollution burden, including
from air and water pollution.
The Bureau of Land Management proposal stands in conflict with standing
County of San Luis Obispo
and City of San Luis Obispo’s Policy, and while all new oil and gas
drilling in the Bakersfield Planning
Area threatens our scenic and biological resources, water supply, water
quality, air quality, climate,
seismicity, and rural and agricultural way of life, there are areas that
BLM proposes to open for drilling
and fracking that are of particular local concern (e.g., City of San Luis
Obispo Irish Hills Natural
Reserve and Cayucos & Whale Rock Reservoir). Opening these areas for oil
and gas development—
including well stimulation—puts our drinking water supplies, air quality,
recreational opportunities,
public health, tourism industry, and rural and agricultural way of life
at risk; and threatens habitat for
endangered and threatened species.
For these reasons, the City of San Luis Obispo respectfully requests that
the Bureau of Land
Management abandon its proposal and not seek to open public lands and
mineral estate in the
Bakersfield Planning Area for new oil and gas leases.
Sincerely,
Heidi Harmon
Mayor
City of San Luis Obispo
Cc: Bureau of Land Management,
Bakersfield Field Office,
Attn: Bakersfield Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis,
3801 Pegasus Drive,
Bakersfield, CA 93308
San Luis Obispo City Council