TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, Interim City Manager
FROM:
Anne McIntosh, Community Development Director
Dana Murray, Environmental Programs Manager
SUBJECT:Title
Support for California State Assembly Bill No. 1775 and Senate Bill No. 834 to Prohibit the State Lands Commission and Local Trustees from Entering into Lease Agreements for Exploration or Production of Oil or Natural Gas in State Regulated Coastal Waters; and Adopt a Resolution to Oppose New Leases for Oil and Gas Activities off the Coast of California and Oppose Executive Order 13795 (Community Development Director McIntosh).
APPROVE
Line
_________________________________________________________
Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that City Council:
1. Support California Assembly Bill No. 1775 and Senate Bill No. 834 prohibiting exploration or production of oil or natural gas in State regulated coastal waters up to three miles from the coastline; and
2. Authorize the Mayor to sign the attached letter of support on behalf of the City; and
3. Adopt Resolution 18-0022 to oppose new leases for oil and gas activities off the coast of California and to oppose the presidential executive order 13795, “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy,” which established a policy to encourage energy exploration and production on the outer continental shelf; and
4. Consider updating the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) to include language that does not allow oil and gas drilling infrastructure along the City’s coastline, and give direction.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
No fiscal implications associated with the recommended actions.
BACKGROUND:
The U.S. Department of the Interior has issued a press release announcing the next step for developing the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program) for 2019-2024, which proposes to make over 90 percent of the total OCS acreage and more than 98 percent of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas resources in federal offshore areas available to consider for future exploration and development. The draft of the proposed National OCS Program is available at the following web link: <https://www.boem.gov/NP-Draft-Proposed-Program-2019-2024/> .
California Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi has introduced Assembly Bill No. 1775 (Attachment 1) in opposition to the proposed National OCS Program, and California State Senators Jackson and Lara have proposed Senate Bill No. 834 (Attachment 2), also opposing the proposed National OCS Program. The League of California Cities is organizing its membership to provide official support for Assembly Bill No. 1775 and Senate Bill No. 834 (Attachment 3).
DISCUSSION:
Offshore oil drilling directly threatens coastal communities and marine life with oil spills and toxic pollution. Leaks, spills and major accidents can happen at every stage of oil exploration, production and transportation. California’s coastal economy - with tourism, recreation and fishing alone creating almost $20 billion in annual revenues and 410,000 jobs - would be harmed by oil spills, pollution, and industrialization that come with offshore drilling.
The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and 2015 Refugio Beach oil spill, combined with several leaks over the decades from offshore platforms and affiliated undersea pipelines, have released more than four million gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean. The 1969 and 2015 accidents alone impacted more than 90 miles of pristine coastline, affected at least 935 square miles of ocean, and caused economic losses from fishery closures and lost recreational opportunities. The 2015 Refugio oil spill reached Manhattan Beach’s shores resulting in beach closures, with an eight-mile stretch of South Bay beaches from El Segundo south to Torrance Beach closed as a result of the oil washing up on our shoreline, threatening both human and wildlife health.
Oil drilling also worsens climate change, ocean acidification, and rising sea levels by deepening our dependence on fossil fuels and delaying our transition to clean energy. Burning fossil fuels in the areas included in the proposed federal plan would contribute 49.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide pollution, the equivalent of the emissions from 10.6 billion cars driven for a year.
Most Californians strongly oppose offshore drilling. Thus, California leaders have prevented federal offshore leasing here since 1984. Locally, in March 2015, our neighboring city, Hermosa Beach, demonstrated the South Bay’s overwhelming opposition to oil drilling when 80% of Hermosa Beach voters voted against Measure O, which would have allowed for oil drilling in their city. In addition, the City of Manhattan Beach passed a resolution in 2015 opposing Measure O, citing the risk of oil spills in Santa Monica Bay.
Supporting Assembly Bill No. 1775 and Senate Bill No. 834 is consistent with the public sentiment, as well as the City’s 2015 Strategic Plan objective that states, “The residents of Manhattan Beach place a high value on a healthy, outdoor, and recreational life style and are committed to protecting the environment of their beautiful coastal community. The City recognizes its leadership role in environmental stewardship and works to create a built environment that complements the natural environment. Manhattan Beach is recognized for its progressive environmental stewardship and healthy community initiatives. A healthy and active lifestyle is accessible for residents because the City is safe, sustainable and resilient.”
In providing a letter of support, the City of Manhattan Beach would be joining the League of California Cities member cities in support of the Assembly and Senate bills to prevent the potential destruction of the California coastline through the exploitation of gas and oil resources. On January 16, 2018 and January 23, 2018, the neighboring cities of Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach authorized their Mayors to sign and submit letters of support on behalf of the City, as have numerous other cities in California.
A proposed letter of support from the City of Manhattan Beach is attached to this report (Attachment 4).
In addition, the City Council may consider adopting a resolution to oppose new leases for oil and gas activities off the coast of California, as at least 26 other cities have, including Los Angeles and Malibu: <http://usa.oceana.org/pacific-drilling>. After President Trump’s Executive Order 13795, “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy,” was announced in April 2017 (Attachment 5), the California State Lands Commission passed a resolution in June 2017 entitled, “Opposing Presidential Executive Order Called Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy, which Established a Policy to Encourage Energy Exploration and Production on the Outer Continental Shelf” (Attachment 6). The City of Manhattan Beach City Council could adopt a resolution to oppose new leases for oil and gas activities off the coast of California and opposing the presidential executive order (Attachment 7).
An additional action for future consideration is including language in the City’s Local Coastal Program (LCP) that does not allow oil and gas drilling infrastructure along the City’s coastline. For example, the City of San Clemente adopted language in their LCP that does not allow any oil and gas drilling infrastructure along their coastline, essentially blocking any offshore oil drilling operations along their coast.
• POLICY ALTERNATIVES:
City Council may approve support for California Assembly Bill No. 1775 and Senate Bill No. 834, which will prohibit exploration or production of oil or natural gas in State regulated coastal waters up to three miles from the coastline and authorize the Mayor to sign the attached letter of support on behalf of the City.
• Council may adopt a resolution to oppose new leases for oil and gas activities off the coast of California and oppose Executive Order 13795, “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy.”
• Council may approve both a support letter for the aforementioned California bills, and pass a resolution.
• Council may direct staff to update the City’s LCP to include language that does not allow oil and gas drilling infrastructure along the City’s coastline.
PUBLIC OUTREACH/INTEREST:
People wishing to submit comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) may do so here: <https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=BOEM-2017-0074-0001>
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City has reviewed the proposed activity for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the State CEQA Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved this report.
Attachments:
1. Resolution No. 18-0022
2. Assembly Bill No. 1775
3. Senate Bill No. 834
4. League of California Cities Email on Assembly Bill No. 1775 and Senate Bill No. 834
5. Draft Letter of Support from Manhattan Beach
6. Executive Order 13795
7. California State Lands Commission Resolution