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CC - Consideration of the Adoption of a Resolution Supporting a Ban on New Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling, Seismic Oil and Gas Exploration, Fracking, and other Well Stimulation in Federal and State Waters off the Pacific Coast and No New Federal Oil and Gas Leasing in all U.S. Waters, Including off the Pacific Coast.
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Meeting Date: July 23, 2018
Contact Person/Dept: Shelly Wolfberg/City Manager’s Office
Phone Number: (310) 253-6000
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Public Notification: Center for Biological Diversity (07/13/18); (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (07/18/18);
Department Approval: John M. Nachbar (07/17/18)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council consider the adoption of a Resolution supporting ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling, seismic oil and gas exploration, fracking, and other well stimulation in federal and state waters off the Pacific coast and no new federal oil and gas leasing in all U.S. waters, including off the Pacific Coast.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On July 12, 2012, the City Council Adopted Resolution No. 2012-R057,urging Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. and the California State Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources (DOGGR), to immediately place a ban on hydraulic fracturing and on the disposal of fracking wastewater by injection wells until DOGGR takes all necessary and appropriate actions to adopt, implement and enforce comprehensive regulations concerning the practice of fracking that will ensure that public health and safety and the environment will be adequately protected.
On December 12, 2016, the City Council adopted the City’s Legislative and Policy Platform (“Platform”). The Platform includes supporting efforts to:
1. Ensure that air quality, groundwater and public health are protected during oil and gas drilling; and
2. Prevent enhanced oil drilling recovery technologies such as hydraulic fracturing, and the disposal of fracking wastewater by injection wells, until the State Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources takes all necessary and appropriate actions to adopt, implement, and enforce comprehensive regulations concerning the practice of these techniques that will ensure that public health and safety and the environment will be adequately protected.
On June 20, 2018, the City Council held a Special Community Meeting to receive an update and review the status of the Inglewood Oil Field (IOF) Specific Plan Project and the related Environmental Impact Report (EIR). After receiving public comment and discussing the status and options for moving forward with the Project, the City Council, among other actions, authorized staff to begin the process to retain a qualified expert to prepare a study and recommendation for the potential amortization of oil-related activities within the IOF.
At the June 25, 2018 City Council Meeting, Council Member Lee requested that City Council place an item on the agenda to consider supporting the Center for Biological Diversity’s Resolution to end all new off shore oil drilling. The City Council provided direction to staff to review the item to determine whether it falls within the City’s Legislative and Policy Platform. Upon further research, staff determined that a Resolution must be adopted by the full City Council, notwithstanding the fact the subject matter falls within the Platform. The proposed Resolution (attached) does not conflict with current City Council-adopted policies on this topic.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no fiscal impact for the City Council to adopt the Resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
2018-07-23__ATT - City Council Resolution protecting our ocean and coast from offshore drilling, exploration and fracking
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Adopt of a Resolution supporting a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling, seismic oil and gas exploration, fracking, and other well stimulation in federal and state waters off the pacific coast and no new federal oil and gas leasing in all U.S. waters, including off the Pacific Coast; or
2. Provide alternate direction to staff as deemed appropriate.