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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Cover PageAGENDA ITEM COVER PAGE File ID: #3505 Resolution Sponsored by: Commissioner Ken Russell A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSING ITS OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING AND EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SEISMIC AIR GUN BLASTING; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN. City of Miami Legislation Resolution Enactment Number: R-18-0025 City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 www.miamigov.com File Number: 3505 Final Action Date:1/25/2018 A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION EXPRESSING ITS OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING AND EXPLORATION ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SEISMIC AIR GUN BLASTING; DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO TRANSMIT A CERTIFIED COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE OFFICIALS NAMED HEREIN. WHEREAS, the government of the United States of America has expressed interest in opening the Atlantic Ocean and Eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas development and exploration, including but not limited to, use of risky methods such as seismic air gun blasting; and WHEREAS, in January 2018, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ("BOEM"), an agency of the United States ("U.S.") Department of the Interior, released its draft 2019-2024 National Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program ("Plan"), a five-year program governing when and where BOEM can offer offshore drilling leases to the petroleum industry; and WHEREAS, the Plan includes provisions that would expand future offshore oil and gas leases off numerous coastal areas, including the entire east coast of Florida; and WHEREAS, in connection with potential expansion of offshore oil and gas, BOEM is also considering whether to allow exploration activities in the mid and south Atlantic, including seismic air gun blasting; and WHEREAS, seismic air guns fire intense blasts of compressed air, one of the loudest manmade sounds in the ocean, every ten (10) to twelve (12) seconds for days, weeks, or months on end; and WHEREAS, seismic air gun noise has been shown to harm and injure dolphins, whales, endangered sea turtles, fish, and other marine life; and WHEREAS, exploratory and commercial drilling, extraction, and transportation of offshore oil and gas resources pose a significant risk of oil spills and chronic leakage; and WHEREAS, eventual offshore drilling may require significant onshore infrastructure, such as pipelines or refineries, which would harm the character of the coast; and WHEREAS, 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; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") recognizes that the tourism and fishing industries, which depend on a healthy and vibrant coastal environment, both serve as major economic drivers benefiting the current and future residents, property owners, and visitors to Florida; and WHEREAS, the City endeavors to be a good steward of the state and region's environment and its resources; and WHEREAS, 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; and WHEREAS, the City recommends that it would be more economically and ecologically responsible to pursue non-polluting sources of renewable energy such as solar and wind that pose less risk to the coastal environment and economic health before using uncertain methods of seismic air gun blasting for offshore oil and gas deposits; and WHEREAS, the Plan will be subject to a mandatory 60-day comment period, after which BOEM will develop and publish a Final Plan, which will be subject to a 90-day comment period; and WHEREAS, the City wishes to express its opposition to exploration and development of offshore oil and gas as public comment on the Plan, as published in the Federal Register; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to the Resolution are adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section. Section 2. The City Commission hereby expresses its opposition to offshore oil drilling and exploration activities, including but not limited to, seismic air gun blasting. Section 3. The City Manager is hereby directed to comment on the Plan during the comment period consistent with this Resolution. Section 4. The City Clerk is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the Florida Congressional Delegation, U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and signature of the Mayor.' APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: ndez, City Attor ey 1/16/2018 1 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.