HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2018-035 N.C.S. 03/19/2018Resolution No. 2018-035 N.C.S.
of the City of Petaluma, California
SUPPORTING A BAN ON OFFSHORE DRILLING,
EXPLORATION, AND FRACKING
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma 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, offshore oil and gas drilling, and exploration off the Pacific coast, put 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, fracking and other well stimulation
techniques threatens coastal stakeholders, marine wildlife, human health, and climate; and
WHEREAS, a massive oil spill in 1969 off the coast of Santa Barbara fouled coastal
waters, causing catastrophic economic and environmental damage while in 2015, a pipeline
servicing offshore oil platforms burst and fouled the same coastal areas, damaging wildlife and
impacting recreational and commercial activities; and
WHEREAS, hydraulic fracturing and other unconventional oil extraction techniques
collectively referred to as "fracking and other well stimulation" provide another means to expand
offshore oil and gas extraction off California's coast, increasing pollution and the risk of oil
spills and earthquakes; and
WHEREAS, the offshore oil industry is permitted to dump more than 9 billion gallons of
wastewater into the Pacific every year that can harm human health and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, the State of California prohibits new oil and gas leasing in state waters due
to the unacceptable high risk of damage and disruption to the marine environment; and
WHEREAS, the Governor of California, the Attorney General, the State Senate, and the
State Lands Commission have taken a stand against new federal offshore oil and gas leases in the
Pacific Ocean, and several municipalities have called for a ban on offshore fracking; and
WHEREAS, expanding offshore drilling, fracking and other well stimulation off the
California coast will deepen the state's dependence on fossil fuels and undermine its efforts to
Resolution No. 2018-035 N.C.S. Page 1
address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and moving toward renewable
energy,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of
Petaluma does hereby support a ban on new offshore oil and gas drilling, fracking, and other well
stimulation in federal and state waters off the California coast, and a ban on new federal oil and
gas leasing in all federal waters, including off the coast of California.
REFERENCE:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN
ATTEST:
Under the power and authority conferred upon this Council by the Charter of said City.
I hereby certify the foregoing Resolution was introduced and adopted by the
Council of the City of Petaluma at a Regular meeting on the 19`h day of March
2018, by the following vote:
Albertson, Barrett, Mayor Glass, Vice Mayor Healy, Kearney, King, Miller
None
None
None
City Clerk
a
Mayor
Approved as to
for
Assist City Attorney
Resolution No. 2018-035 N.C.S. Page 2