2008-26889 ResoRESOLUTION 2008-26889
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY
COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH,
FLORIDA, OPPOSING THE APPROVAL OF OFF-
SHORE OIL DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO
IN AREAS OTHER THAN THOSE ALREADY
APPROVED FOR OIL LEASING AND OIL
EXPLORATION.
WHEREAS, the Congressional ban on off shore oil drilling, which has
been in effect since 1981, was put in place to reduce the chances of
environmental damage from oil spills and to protect the tourist industry; and
WHEREAS, the Congressional ban states that no funds may be expended
by the Department of the Interior for the conduct of offshore preleasing, leasing
and related activities placed under restriction in the President's moratorium
statement of June 12, 1998, in the areas of northern, central, and southern
California; the North Atlantic; Washington and Oregon; and the eastern Gulf of
Mexico south of 26 degrees N latitude and east of 86 degrees W longitude"; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Energy Department's forecasting arm has said
opening the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico regions to drilling would
not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or
prices before the year 2030.
WHEREAS, the area with the potential for the greatest risk of
environmental damage is the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, off the western
coast of Florida; and
WHEREAS, environmental specialists contend the major risk from drilling
platforms is the wastewater they routinely discharge that contain drilling fluids
and heavy metals including mercury; and
WHEREAS, according to Oil Industry data, an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico
can dump up to 90,000 tons of drilling fluid and metal cuttings over its lifetime.
These contaminants accumulate in the marine food web and might contaminate
local beaches and have a negative effect on the environment and the tourism
industry; and
WHEREAS, it is our belief that despite technological advances in oil rig
drilling technology, there is no positive assurance that catastrophic damage to
our coastline, beaches, plant and fish life could be avoided during normal
operating conditions or during storm situations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DULY RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND
CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA that the
Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, highly
encourage all elected officials at the County, State and Federal levels to oppose
legislative attempts to allow off shore oil drilling expansion past the areas already
approved for pre-leasing, leasing and oil production activities.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 10th day of'september 2008.
ATTEST:
M YOR
Matti Herrera Bower
CITY CLERK
Robert Parcher
Approved as to form and
language and for execution
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ATTQ NEY ated
T:IAGENDA\20081September 10\ConsentlCity Resolution against off shore oil drilling.doc
2
OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY, Jose Smith, City Attorney
Interoffice Memorandum
To: Mayor and Members of the City
Date: September 10, 2008
From: Jose Smith, City
Subject: Resolution against more pore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico
The attached resolution is submitted for the September 10, 2008 agenda at the request
of Commissioner Saul Gross.
F:1attoWELG1CORRES1Memo to Comm'n re off shore drilling.doc
Agenda Item ~qJ
Date q (l7~Og
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR AND COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~~~,
FROM: Saul Gross, City Commissioner ~--~'~
DATE: September 3, 2009
SUBJECT: Agenda Item
Next week the US Congress is expected to debate the issue of off shore oil drilling.
Attached is a draft of a resolution of the Miami Beach City Commission opposing the
approval of off shore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in areas other than those already
approved for oil leasing and oil exploration.
Please place this item for action on the agenda of the September 10, 2008 Commission
Meeting.
Thank you.
SG/wo
V1.°~~ a:~~ c-, unrr7~)~l ,,r~wiciv ~J ,::x(. c,~ii~.ni i; i. t7~rc ac~rr c~.~ tr„ i c~r~-ir~~ I„ ~,)' ,vl~o i,. ,.<,i r_. u~-u p'ay rri cup vr;_cr. !r ~~r,r, Ii ~r~,~~i ,.~.~+r ~~~ ~: ~ih~i.
RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF T HE CITY OF MIAMI BEACH OPPOSING THE
APPROVAL OF OFF SHORE OIL DRILLING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO IN
AREAS OTHER THAN THOSE ALREADYAPPROVED FOR OIL LEASING AND
OIL EXPLORATION
WHEREAS, the Coeeg~ressional ban on off shore oil drilling, which has been iee
effect since 1981, was put in place to reduce the chances of environmental damage
from oil spills aeul to protect the tourist industry.
WHEREAS, the Congressional ban states that no fiends may be expended by the
Department of tfee Inter•ior.for the conduct of offshore preleasing, leasing and related
activities placed eueder a°estrictioee in the President's moratorium statement of June 12,
1998, in the are(es of northern, central, and southern California; the Nortlc Atlantic;
Washington an(l Oregoec; (nul the eastern Gulf of Mexico south of 26 degrees N
latitude and east of 86 degrees W longitude ".
WHEREAS, the US Energy Department's forecasting arm has said opening the
Pacific, Atlantic (reed eastern Gulf of Mexico regioees to drilling would not leave a
significant impact ode domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before
the year 2030.
WHEREAS, the area with the potential for the greatest risk of environmental
damage is the eastern part of the Gulf of Mexico, off the western coast of Florida.
WHERL`9S, eeeevironmental specialists contend the major risk from drilling
platforms is the wastewater they routinely discharge which contain drilling fluids and
heavy neetals ieu•luding mee°cury.
WHEREAS, Accor(ling to Oil Industry data, an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico
can dump up to 90,000 tons of drilling fluid and metal cuttings over its lifetime. These
contaminants uccerreeulate in the mari~ae food web and might contaminate local beaches
and have a negative effect oer the environment and the tourism industry.
WHEREAS, It lb' OUe belief that despite technological advances in oil rig drilling
technology, there is no positive assurance that catastrophic damage to our coastline,
beaches, plant aeul.fish life could be avoided during normal operating conditions or
durietg storm 57te1(eteOllS.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Miami Beacli highly encourages
all elected officials at tlee County, State and Federal levels to oppose legislative
attempts to allow offshore oil drilling expansion past the areas already approved for
pre-leasing; leasing and oil production activities.
The above and. foregoing Resolution was duly approved and adopted at a regular City
of Miami Beacli Commission meeting held on the 10th day of September 2008.
~__ MIAMIBEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
DEPARTMENT Division
Tel: (305) 673-741 1, Fax: (305) 673-7254
September 11, 2008
Members of the United States Congress
Subject: Resolution 2008-26889 regarding off-shore oil drilling in the Gulf of
Mexico
Enclosed please find Resolution No. 2008-26889 adopted by the Miami Beach City
Commission at the September 10, 2008 Commission Meeting, opposing the approval of
off-shore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico in areas other than those already approved for
oil leasing and oil exploration.
Respectfully submitted,
~~ ~>
Robert E. Parch~r
City Clerk
REP/kah
Enclosure: Resolution 2008-26889
cc: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower
Vice-Mayor Richard L. Steinberg
Commissioner Saul Gross
Commissioner Jerry Libbin
Commissioner Deede Weithorn
Commissioner Edward L. Tobin
Commissioner Jonah Wolfson
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager
We ore committed to providing excellent public service and safely to olf who live, work, and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
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