HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-18-0025City of Miami
Resolution R-18-0025
Legislation
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.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Ken Russell
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
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 3505 (Revision:) Printed On: 3/28/2025
File ID: 3505 Enactment Number: R-18-0025
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 tor
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.
City of Miami
Page 2 of 2 File ID: 3505 (Revision:) Printed on: 3/28/2025