Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Don Horsley, President
Subject: Resolution opposing review of the of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt a resolution opposing President Trump’s Order to review the designations of the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries.
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BACKGROUND:
On April 28, 2017, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order “Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy” which provides, “It shall be the policy of the United States to encourage energy exploration and production, including on the Outer Continental Shelf, in order to maintain the Nation’s position as a global energy leader and foster energy security and resilience for the benefit of the American people.” The Executive Order further provides, “The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall conduct a review of all designations and expansions of National Marine Sanctuaries, and of all designations and expansions of Marine National Monuments under the Antiquities Act of 1906, recently recodified as sections 320301 to 320303 of Title 54, United States Code, designated or expanded within the 10-year period prior to the date of this order.”
Out of five National Marine Sanctuaries on the West Coast, three are located near the San Mateo Coast: from north to south they are the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary, the Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. These sanctuaries are directly adjacent to one another and run along the coastline-and they comprise a complex and diverse coastal ecosystem. Each of these sanctuaries is threatened by President Trump’s executive order because each has been expanded in the last 10 years.
The Board of Supervisors has had a long history of coastal protection and this proposed Executive Order puts those efforts in jeopardy.
DISCUSSION:
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is located directly along the San Mateo Coast and is known as the “Serengeti of the Sea” due to its spectacular wildlife. The San Mateo Coast is one of the treasures of the Nation with an incredible array of species of marine mammals, migrating salmon, and numerous other sea life, all of which is balanced in a precious and complex ecosystem. San Mateo County beaches are where families gather. The Coast is home to many San Mateo County residents. The San Mateo County fishing industry is dependent on pollution-free waters to deliver delicious and nutritious local seafood, including wild salmon and Dungeness crab, to customers across the world. Oil drilling and exploration would jeopardize the environmental integrity of these sanctuaries and of San Mateo County. Drilling and exploration would jeopardize the numerous wildlife species, the coastal economy (including fishing and tourism), coastal recreation activities, and the homes of San Mateo County residents.
This Board has a long history of joining our citizens in protecting the San Mateo Coast from offshore drilling and from all other forms of pollution. This Board’s protective stance against pollution of the San Mateo Coast will be in jeopardy if the National Marine Sanctuaries along the California coast are opened for offshore oil exploration and drilling.
This resolution contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of an Environmentally Conscious Community by ensuring that we conserve and protect our natural resources.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to this resolution.