CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION expressing The City of Seattle’s opposition to offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration activities, including seismic airgun blasting.
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WHEREAS, in Washington State hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars of the state’s gross domestic product depend on clean, oil-free water and beaches and abundant fish and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of Washington State’s ocean wealth stems from fishing, aquaculture, tourism, and recreation, all of which benefit from a healthy ocean and coast; and
WHEREAS, offshore oil and gas drilling places coastal communities at risk from oil spills and the pollution brought by onshore industrialization, threatening the livelihoods of commercial and recreational fisherman and small businesses that rely on a clean and healthy ocean and beaches; and
WHEREAS, offshore drilling may require significant onshore infrastructure, such as pipelines or refineries, which would harm the character of Washington State’s coastline and could exacerbate wetlands loss and storm surge and sea level rise impacts; and
WHEREAS, the harmful impacts from offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration anywhere along the Pacific coastline could extend far beyond immediately surrounding areas and severely impact communities that rely on the robust economy of the marine industry; and
WHEREAS, offshore drilling and exploration perpetuates dependence on dirty carbon pollution and contributes to climate change and the resulting sea level rise and extreme weather; and
WHEREAS, the Trump administration has expressed interest in opening the Pacific Ocean to offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration, including the use of seismic airguns, which fire intense blasts of compressed air that rank just behind military explosives as the loudest source of noise in the ocean, every ten to 12 seconds, 24 hours a day, for months on end; and
WHEREAS, seismic airgun blasting to explore for oil and gas deposits has been proven to disrupt and displace marine life, such as whales and orcas that rely on sound to find food and mates, and can impair the health of many fish and shellfish species, including those of commercial importance like rockfish, crab, and oysters; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle recognizes that its communities, businesses, and industries depend on a healthy coastal environment for the benefit of current and future residents, property owners, and visitors; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City of Seattle finds that offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration unnecessarily risks economic and ecological health and therefore opposes any plan or legislation that encourages oil and gas development and exploration offshore that would impact the residents of Washington State.
Section 2. The Mayor and City Council firmly oppose offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration, and call on the Governor of Washington, the state legislative delegation, and the federal congressional delegation to take all steps possible to prohibit and prevent such actions. The City further calls on the Trump Administration, including the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, to halt such activity.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2018, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2018.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)