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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-08-28; City Council; ; Resolution updating the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform to oppose new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in state and federal waters in the PaciCA Review {I-JV 9 CITY COUNCI L Staff Report Meeting Date: To: From: Staff Contact: Subject: August 28, 2018 Mayor and City Council Scott Chadwick, City Manager Jason Haber, Assistant to the City Manager Jason.haber@carlsbadca.gov or 760-434-2958 Resolution updating the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform to oppose new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in state and federal waters in the Pacific Ocean Recommended Action Consider a resolution updating the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform to oppose new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in state and federal waters in the Pacific Ocean. Executive Summary The City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform includes position statement 6(f), which states that the city is opposed to any offshore oil leasing or drilling within 20 nautical miles of the San Diego coast. Members ofthe public, including representatives of the ocean advocacy nonprofit Oceana (www.oceana.org), have requested that the city update its platform to oppose such activities in all state and federal waters in the Pacific Ocean. During the Public Comment portion of the June 26, 2018, City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to place the subject resolution (Exhibit 1) on a future City Council agenda for consideration. Discussion On April 28, 2017, the President of the United States signed Executive Order 13795, titled "Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy" (Exhibit 2). The Order states that "it shall be the policy of the United States to encourage energy exploration and production, including on the Outer Continental Shelf, in order to maintain the nation's position as a global energy leader and foster energy security and resilience for the benefit of the American people, while ensuring that any such activity is safe and environmentally responsible." The National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (National OCS Program) for oil and gas development establishes a schedule of oil and gas lease sales proposed for planning areas of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The Program specifies the size, timing, and location of potential leasing activity that the Secretary of the Interior determines will best meet national energy needs. Currently, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is working under the 2017- 2022 National OCS Program, which does not propose any new offshore leasing or drilling in the Pacific Ocean. However, in response to the President's Executive Order 13795 and the Interior August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 1 of 15 Secretary's Order 3350 (Exhibit 3), the BOEM has initiated a process to develop a new National OCS Program for 2019-2024 to, upon completion, replace the 2017-2022 Program. The 2019- 2024 Draft Proposed Program Lease Sale Schedule provides for new lease sales to occur in the Northern, Central and Southern California Program Areas, as well as the Washington/Oregon Program Area. The City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform includes position statement 6(f), which states that the city is opposed to any offshore oil leasing or drilling within 20 nautical miles of the San Diego coast. That position provided the basis for the city's February 9, 2018, letter to the BOEM's National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program Manager (Exhibit 4). In opposing offshore oil leasing and drilling off the San Diego coast, the city has acknowledged that such activities would put the region's coastal environment, and the communities and industries that depend on it, at increased risk from oil spills. However, given the potential for such impacts to result from incidents occurring anywhere in the Pacific Region, the rationale behind limiting city opposition to leasing and drilling activity within '20 nautical miles' is unclear. As such, staff recommends that the City Council consider a resolution updating the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform to oppose new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in all state and federal waters in the Pacific Ocean. Adoption of the proposed resolution is consistent with the goals of the city's Climate Action Plan and the city's Environmental and Sustainability Guiding Principles. The County of San Diego and several San Diego County cities, including Oceanside, Encinitas, Solana Beach, and San Diego have adopted similar resolutions. Next Steps The City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform will be updated to reflect the proposed changes, and the resolution will be distributed to the list of recipients identified in the resolution. Fiscal Analysis No city funding is being requested at this time. Environmental Evaluation (CEQA) Pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21065, receiving this informational report does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect change in the environment, and therefore does not require environmental review. Public Notification This item was noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code Section 54950 et seq.), published and distributed at least 72 hours prior to the meeting date and time. August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 2 of 15 Exhibits 1. Resolution updating the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform to oppose new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration in state and federal waters in the Pacific Ocean 2. Presidential Executive Order 13795 -Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy 3. Interior Secretary's Order 3350 4. City of Carlsbad -February 9, 2018, letter to the BOEM's National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program Manager August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 3 of 15 RESOLUTION NO. 2018-163 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, UPDATING THE CITY OF CARLSBAD LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM TO OPPOSE OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS LEASING, DRILLING AND EXPLORATION IN STATE AND FEDERAL WATERS IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN Exhibit 1 WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad and its visitors enjoy California's beaches and the Pacific Ocean for recreational, commercial, and educational activities, all of which support our local economy; and WHEREAS, our residents value our state's ocean and coastal waters, which provide habitat to a vast array of wildlife, including fish, whales, sea turtles, and birds that depend on a healthy and clean environment; and WHEREAS, offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration off the Pacific coast puts these coastal resources, and the communities and industries that depend on them, at risk from oil spills and other damage; and WHEREAS, expanding offshore oil and gas drilling complicates existing efforts to maintain clean and healthy coastal ecosystems and the tourism and recreation jobs and revenue that depend on them; and WHEREAS, significant efforts to maintain the quality of our coastal waters amidst multiplicative impacts from sewage, industrial uses, and climatic impacts are being enacted by city officials, local organizations, and citizens; and WHEREAS, the oil industry's negligence of oil platform safety standards has resulted in a long legacy of catastrophic economic and environmental damage to coastal waters and communities, including a massive oil spill in 1969 off the coast of Santa Barbara; and WHEREAS, in 2015 a pipeline servicing offshore oil platforms in Refugio State Park burst and fouled the same coastal areas, damaging wildlife populations and impacting recreational and commercial activities; and WHEREAS, the federal administration has proposed an expansion of offshore oil and gas leasing to new areas which have largely been off-limits to new federal leasing, including the Pacific Coast; and WHEREAS, new federal offshore oil and gas leases have not been granted off the coast of California since 1984; and August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 4 of 15 Exhibit 1 WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Interior's 2017-2022 Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing Program adopted as of November 18, 2016 contained no proposed offshore drilling along the Pacific Coast; and WHEREAS, the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is considering an expanded Five-Year OCS Leasing Program for the years 2019-2024, in response to which this resolution is hereby submitted; and WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad is opposed to inclusion of any offshore drilling tracts in any OCS Planning Area on the Pacific Coast in the pending 2019-2024 Proposed Program and any other future National Programs; and WHEREAS, the state of California prohibited new oil and gas leasing in state waters due to the unacceptably high risk of damage and disruption to the marine environment; and WHEREAS, the Governor of California, the Attorney General, the State Senate and Assembly, the State Lands Commission, the Coastal Commission, the Fish and Game Commission, the Pacific Fishery Management Council, along with a growing number of cities, have taken a stand against new federal offshore oil and gas leases in the Pacific Ocean; and WHEREAS, opening new areas off California's coast to offshore drilling will deepen the state's dependence on fossil fuels and undermine its efforts to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving toward renewable energy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the City of Carlsbad opposes new federal oil and gas leasing in all U.S. waters in the Pacific Ocean. 3. That the document date and Section 6(f) of the City of Carlsbad Legislative Platform regarding offshore oil leasing or drilling is hereby updated as follows (additions shown in underline, deletions shown in !itr:ihotlue~gh): II II August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 5 of 15 Exhibit 1 CITY OF CARLSBAD 20184 LEGISLATIVE PLATFORM 6. Coastline: (f) Oppose any new offshore oil and gas leasing, drilling and exploration :::itl:tin .rn nawtieal mil@s @ft~@ San ~i@g@ e@ast in all State of California and U.S. waters in the Pacific Ocean. 4. That the City Clerk shall forward a copy of this Resolution to Secretary Zinke; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Acting Director Walter Cruickshank; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management National Program Manager Kelly Hammerle; Governor Jerry Brown; U. S. Senators Feinstein and Harris; U.S. Representative Darrell Issa; State Senator Patricia Bates; and State Assembly Member Rocky Chavez. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 28th day of August, 2018, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: M. Hall, K. Blackburn, M. Schumacher, C. Schumacher, M. Packard. None. None. ~ARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk (SEAL) August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 6 of 15 20816 Federal Register/Vol. 82, No. 84/Wednesday, May 3, 2017 /Presidential Documents within the designated area-including offshore energy from wind, oil, natural gas, methane hydrates, and any other sources that the Secretary of Commerce deems appropriate-and the potential impact the proposed designation or expansion will have on the development of those resources. The Secretary of the Interior shall provide any such accounting within 60 days of receiving a notification of intent to propose any such National Marine Sanctuary designation or expansion from the Secretary of Commerce. (b) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall conduct a review of all designations and expansions of National Marine Sanctuaries, and of all designations and expansions of Marine National Monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906, recently recodified at sections 320301 to 320303 of title 54, United States Code, designated or expanded within the 10-year period prior to the date of this order. (i) The review under this subsection shall include: (A) an analysis of the acreage affected and an analysis of the budgetary impacts of the costs of managing each National Marine Sanctuary or Marine National Monument designation or expansion; (B) an analysis of the adequacy of any required Federal, State, and tribal consultations conducted before the designations or expansions; and (C) the opportunity costs associated with potential energy and mineral exploration and production from the Outer Continental Shelf, in addition to any impacts on production in the adjacent region. (ii) Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Interior, shall report the results of the review under this subsection to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, and. the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy. (c) To further streamline existing regulatory authorities, Executive Order 13754 of December 9, 2016 (Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience), is hereby revoked. Sec. 5. Modification of the Withdrawal of Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition. The body text in each of the memoranda of withdrawal from disposition by leasing of the United States Outer Conti- nental Shelf issued on December 20, 2016, January 27, 2015, and July 14, 2008, is modified to read, in its entirety, as follows: "Under the authority vested in me as President of the United States, including section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1341(a), I hereby withdraw from disposition by leasing, for a time period without specific expiration, those areas of the Outer Continental Shelf des- ignated as of July 14, 2008, as Marine Sanctuaries under the Marine Protec- tion, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972, 16 U.S.C. 1431-1434, 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq." Nothing in the withdrawal under this section affects any rights under existing leases in the affected areas. Sec. 6. Reconsideration of Notice to Lessees and Financial Assurance Regu- latory Review. The Secretary of the Interior shall direct the Director of BOEM to take all necessary steps consistent with law to review BOEM's Notice to Lessees No. 2016-NOl of September 12, 2016 (Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas, and Sulfur Leases, and Holders of Pipeline Right-of-Way and Right-of-Use and Easement Grants in the Outer Continental Shelf), and determine whether modifications are necessary, and if so, to what extent, to ensure operator compliance with lease terms while minimizing unnecessary regulatory burdens. The Secretary of the Interior shall also review BOEM's financial assurance regulatory policy to determine the extent to which additional regulation is necessary. Sec. 7. Reconsideration of Well Control Rule. The Secretary of the Interior shall review the Final Rule of the Bureau · of Safety and Environmental August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 8 of 15 Federal Register/Vol. 82, No. 84/Wednesday, May 3, 2017 /Presidential Documents 20817 Enforcement (BSEE) entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control," 81 Fed. Reg. 25888 (April 29, 2016), for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order, and shall publish for notice and comment a proposed rule revising that rule, if appropriate and as consistent with law. The Secretary of the Interior shall also take all appropriate action to lawfully revise any related rules and guidance for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order. Additionally, the Secretary of the Interior shall review BSEE's regulatory regime for offshore operators to determine the extent to which additional regulation is necessary. Sec. 8. Reconsideration of Proposed Offshore Air Rule. The Secretary of the Interior shall take all steps necessary to review BOEM's Proposed Rule entitled "Air Quality Control, Reporting, and Compliance," 81 Fed. Reg. 19718 (April 5, 2016), along with any related rules and guidance, and, if appropriate, shall, as soon as practicable and consistent with law, consider whether the proposed rule, and any related rules and guidance, should be revised or withdrawn. Sec. 9. Expedited Consideration of Incidental Harassment Authorizations, Incidental-Take, and Seismic Survey Permits. The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law, expedite all stages of consideration of Incidental Take Authorization requests, including Incidental Harassment Authorizations and Letters of Au- thorization, and Seismic Survey permit applications under the Outer Conti- nental Shelf Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq. Sec. 10. Review of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA) Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55. The Secretary of Commerce shall review NOAA's Technical Memorandum NMFS-OPR-55 of July 2016 (Technical Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing) for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of this order and, after consultation with the appropriate Federal agencies, take all steps permitted by law to rescind or revise that guidance, if appro- priate. Sec. 11. Review of Offshore Arctic Drilling Rule. The Secretary of the Interior shall immediately take all steps necessary to review the Final Rule entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Require- ments for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf," 81 Fed. Reg. 46478 (July 15, 2016), and, if appropriate, shall, as soon as prac- ticable and consistent with law, publish for notice and comment a proposed rule suspending, revising, or rescinding this rule. Sec. 12. Definition. As used in this order, "Outer Continental Shelf Planning Areas, as designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management" means those areas delineated in the diagrams on pages S-5 and S-8 of the 2017- 2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Draft Proposed Program, as published by the BOEM in January 2015, with the exception of any buffer zones included in such planning documents. Sec. 13. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 9 of 15 2 Outer Continental Shelf, in order to maintain the Nation's position as a global energy leader and foster energy security and resilience for the benefit of the American people." The Executive Order eliminated the previous Administration's OCS leasing withdrawals and directed the Department to take a number of actions designed to ensure robust and responsible exploration and development of our OCS resources. These directives include revising the five-year leasing program and reconsidering promulgation of enumerated final or proposed rules and guidance that impact OCS resource development. This Order is designed to implement the President's directives and take other actions to ensure that responsible OCS exploration and development is promoted and not unnecessarily delayed or inhibited. Sec. 4 Directive. In furtherance of the President's Executive Order, and consistent with principles ofresponsible public stewardship entrusted to the Department, with due consideration of the critical importance of energy security, job creation, and conservation stewardship, I hereby direct the following: a. The BOEM shall undertake the following actions: ( 1) Immediately initiate development of a new "Five-Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program", with full consideration given to leasing the OCS offshore Alaska, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Gulf of Mexico, in conformity with the provisions of OCSLA as directed by the President's Executive Order. (2) In cooperation with the National Marine Fisheries Service, undertake the following activities: (i) establish a plan to expedite consideration of Incidental Take Authorization requests, including Incidental Harassment Authorizations and Letters of Authorization, that may be needed for seismic survey permits and other OCS activities; and (ii) develop and implement a streamlined permitting approach for privately-funded seismic data research and collection aimed at expeditiously determining the offshore energy resource potential of the United States. (3) Expedite consideration of appealed, new, or resubmitted seismic permitting applications for the Atlantic. (4) Promptly complete BOEM's previously announced review of Notice to Lessees (NTL) No. 2016-NOl "Notice to Lessees and Operators of Federal Oil and Gas, and Sulfur Leases, and Holders of Pipeline Right-of-Way and Right-of-Use and Easement Grants in the Outer Continental Shelf' (September 12, 2016), and provide to the Assistant Secretary- Land and Minerals Management (ASLM), the :peputy Secretary, and Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy, a report describing the results of the review and options for revising or rescinding NTL No. 2016-NOl. The BOEM's previously announced extension of the implementation timelines for NTL No. 2016-NOl shall remain in effect pending completion of the review by the ASLM, Deputy Secretary, and the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy. (5) Immediately cease all activities to promulgate the "Offshore Air Quality Control, Reporting, and Compliance" Proposed Rule published at 81 Federal Register 19717 August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 12 of 15 3 (April 5, 2016) and all other rules and guidance published pursuant thereto. Within 21 days.of the issuance of this Order, the Director of BOEM shall provide to the ASLM, the Deputy Secretary, and Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy, a report explaining the effects, if any, of not issuing a new rule addressing offshore air quality, and providing options for revising or withdrawing the proposed rule consistent with the policy set forth in section 2 of the Executive Order. (6) Within 21 days of the issuance of this Order, BOEM shall provide to the ASLM, the Deputy Secretary, and Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy, a report summarizing progress on the action items 1-5 above. b. The BSEE shall undertake the following actions: (1) Promptly review the final rule on "Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-Blowout Preventer Systems and Well Control" for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of the Executive Order, as well as all policies, rules, guidance, instructions, notices, or other implementing actions that have been adopted or are in the process of being developed relating thereto. (2) Within 21 days of the issuance of this Order, provide to ASLM, Deputy Secretary, and Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy a report summarizing the review and providing recommendations on whether to suspend, revise, or rescind the rule. c. The BSEE and BOEM are also to undertake the following action: Promptly review the final rule entitled "Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations on the Outer Continental Shelf-Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf," 81 Federal Register 46478 (July 15, 2016), for consistency with the policy set forth in section 2 of the Executive Order and, within 21 days of the date of this Order, provide to ASLM, Deputy Secretary, and Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy a report summarizing the review and providing recommendations on whether to suspend, revise, or rescind the rule. d. The Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy, in cooperation with the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks (ASFWP) and ASLM, shall work with the Department of Commerce to review the National Marine Sanctuary and Monument designations as directed by the Executive Order. Sec. 5 Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy. To further promote the deliberate and active coordination of energy policy in the Department, I am, by separate Order, establishing within the Secretary's Immediate Office the position of Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy. The Deputy Secretary, ASLM, and ASFWP will coordinate with the Counselor to the Secretary for Energy Policy in implementing this Order. Sec. 6 Effect of Order. This Order is intended to improve the internal management of the Department. This Order and any resulting reports or recommendations are not intended to, and do not create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or equity by a party against the United States, its departments, agencies, instrumentalities or entities, its August 28, 2018 Item #8 Page 13 of 15 Morgen Fry Subject: Attachments: FW: SD County Letter Re: Offshore Oil Drilling Opposition 2018_san diego county_letter.pdf --.... -----, . . -. For the Information of the: CITY COUNCIL From: Jason Haber As_¥...:(_CA ;-·-... Oate~-CM-~-COO,/ Sent: Monday, August 27, 2018 12:14 PM To: Council Archive <councilarchive@carlsbadca.gov> Cc: Scott Chadwick <Scott.Chadwick@carlsbadca.gov>; Elaine Lukey <Elaine.Lukey@carlsbadca.gov>; Gary Barberio <Gary.Barberio@carlsbadca.gov>; Celia Brewer <Celia.Brewer@carlsbadca.gov>; City Clerk <Clerk@carlsbadca.gov> Subject: SD County Letter Re: Offshore Oil Drilling Opposition Good afternoon Council Members, Dr. Packard requested a copy of the county's letter opposing offshore oil drilling, as it relates to item #8 on tomorrow's agenda. The letter is attached for your reference. Please be in touch if you have any questions, or would like to discuss this further. Thanks, Jason Haber Assistant to the City Manager (City of Carlsbad 760-434-2958 I Jason.Haber@carlsbadca.gov 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, CA 92008-1949 www.carlsbadca.gov Facebook I Twitter I You Tube I Flickr I Pinterest I Enews 1 KRISTIN GASPAR CHAIRWOMAN, THIRD DISTRICT SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS March 9, 2018 The Honorable Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: On behalf of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to urge you and your Administration to reject any proposal that would allow an expansion of offshore oil drilling in the coastal waters off of the State of California. Any effort to expand offshore drilling in the waters off the California coast would endanger our region and our State's vibrant coastal economy and ecology. San Diego's coastal economy, marine wildlife, and military operations are threatened by proposed expanded offshore oil and gas leasing. The Santa Barbara spill of 1969 dumped as · much as three million gallons of oil into the ocean creating an oil slick stretching 35 miles along the California coast. Should new drilling be allowed, it will only increase the likelihood of additional spills, and the potential for major economic and environmental disaster for California and the nation. The California State Lands Commission noted that in 2016, California's coastal economy produced $2.2 trillion, which represents 12 percent of the nation's total economy. The expansion of offshore drilling in California represents a direct threat to this nationally significant economic engine, threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs that are reliant on the coastal economy, and could threaten animal and marine life. The County of San Diego has opposed offshore oil drilling in the coastal waters within the San Diego region for more than 20 years. Our Board urges you to take heed of this message, and reject the coastal waters of California for any expansion of offshore oil drilling. Sincerely, KRISTI Chairwoman County of San Diego Cc: San Diego Congressional Delegation County Administration Center • 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335 • San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 531-5533 • Fax (619) 234-1559 • www.SupervisorKristinGaspar.com Email: Kristin.Gaspar@sdcounty.ca.gov KRISTIN GASPAR CHAIRWOMAN, THIRD DISTRICT SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS March 9, 2018 The Honorable Donald Trump The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Trump: On behalf of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, I am writing to urge you and your Administration to reject any proposal that would allow an expansion of offshore oil drilling in the coastal waters off of the State of California. Any effort to expand offshore drilling in the waters off the California coast would endanger our region and our State's vibrant coastal economy and ecology. San Diego's coastal economy, marine wildlife, and military operations are threatened by proposed expanded offshore oil and gas leasing. The Santa Barbara spill of 1969 dumped as much as three million gallons of oil into the ocean creating an oil slick stretching 35 miles along the California coast. Should new drilling be allowed, it will only increase the likelihood of additional spills, and the potential for major economic and environmental disaster for California and the nation. The California State Lands Commission noted that in 2016, California's coastal economy produced $2.2 trillion, which represents 12 percent of the nation's total economy. The expansion of offshore drilling in California represents a direct threat to this nationally significant economic engine, threatens hundreds of thousands of jobs that are reliant on the coastal economy, and could threaten animal and marine life. The County of San Diego has opposed offshore oil drilling in the coastal waters within the San Diego region for more than 20 years. Our Board urges you to take heed of this message, and reject the coastal waters of California for any expansion of offshore oil drilling. Sincerely, Chairwoman County of San Diego Cc: San Diego Congressional Delegation County Administration Center • 1600 Pacific Highway, Room 335 • San Diego, CA 92101 (619) 531-5533 • Fax (619) 234-1559 • www.SupervisorKristinGaspar.com Email: Kristin.Gaspar@sdcounty.ca.gov