AGENDA ITEM REPORT
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A RESOLUTION TO EXPRESS THE CITY OF COCONUT CREEK’S OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE DRILLING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SEISMIC AIRGUN BLASTING.
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BACKGROUND:
The United States government has expressed interest in opening the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas development and exploration, including risky methods such as seismic airgun blasting.
DISCUSSION:
Seismic airguns fire intense blasts of compressed air every 10-12 seconds for days, weeks, or months on end, which noise has been shown to harm and injure marine life. Exploratory and commercial drilling, extraction, and transportation of offshore oil and gas resources pose a significant risk of oil spills and chronic leakage and may require significant onshore infrastructure, such as pipelines or refineries, which would harm the character of the coast. Offshore drilling activities pose threats to treasured vacation destinations on Florida’s Coasts, which are of intrinsic economic value for numerous industries, provide essential nursery habitats for recreational and commercially-important fisheries, and act as natural buffers from storm surge and hurricanes.
The City endeavors to be a good steward of the state and region’s environment and its resources. In August, the City submitted comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in opposition to the expansion of offshore drilling and sent letters to delegation members expressing the City’s opposition to the SECURE America Energy Act that reinforces the call for increased offshore energy exploration. The exploration and development of oil and gas resources off the coast of Florida will not effectively address the long-term energy needs of our country.
Approval of this Resolution supports the City’s State Legislative Agenda, adopted on December 14, 2017, and Federal Legislative Agenda, adopted on January 25, 2018, both of which oppose energy exploration activities in and about the State of Florida. Florida’s 2017-2018 Constitution Revision Commission (CRC) has placed a proposed constitutional amendment on the November General Election ballot that would prohibit offshore drilling if approved by at least sixty percent of voters.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this Resolution.
FISCAL IMPACT: N/A