CC RESOLUTION 2578II FR
RESOLUTION NO. 2 578
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF EL SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING
THE CONCEPT OF OFFSHORE OIL DRILLING IN
FEDERALLY CONTROLLED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
WATERS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS.
WHEREAS, it was learned during the recent energy crisis, the
United States is presently importing six million barrels of oil each day and
such dependency on outside sources for energy needs allows our nation to be
manipulated at will by foreign powers; and
WHEREAS, the security of the nation is obviously dependent
upon a secure domestic oil supply, sufficient to guarantee its sovereignty;
and
WHEREAS, the nation is presently undergoing a staggering
balance of deficit payments as a result of the quadrupling of world crude oil
prices, and this untenable situation is projected into the future; and
WHEREAS, there have already been more than 17, 000 offshore
oil wells drilled around the Continental United States, with only one signifi-
cant temporary pollution problem as a result of these activities; and
WHEREAS, within the past year, offshore lease sales have taken
place for potential oil producing property offshore of Louisiana, Mississippi,
and the West Coast of Florida thereby adding considerable funds to the Federal
treasury; and
WHEREAS, the geological estimate of potential recoverable oil
offshore of California is approximately 14 billion barrels, which is greater
than the present estimate of the entire Alaska North Slope reserves; and
WHEREAS, the English Channel, which undergoes some of the
worst weather and sea conditions in the world, has leased over two - thirds
of its area for offshore oil drilling, and this drilling activity is rapidly pro-
ceeding with most of the exploration being conducted by American related
companies using American developed techniques and, in contrast, approxi-
mately three percent of the potential cffshore oil production areas of the
United States are presently under lease; and
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WHEREAS, the present estimate is that it will take twenty -four
fixed offshore drilling platforms in the offshore Southern California area; and
WHEREAS, without any unusual delay, the first significant pro-
duction will not be available until 1981; and
WHEREAS, oil has been produced from offshore fields off the
coast of Louisiana for twenty -four years with 2800 oil platforms in that area
which act as artificial reefs for the propagation of marine Life; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana is the leading state in oyster production,
and the world's largest oyster beds lie in the middle of an oil field and are
thriving; and
WHEREAS, Morgan City, Louisiana, center of oil activity, is
known as the "Shrimp Capitol of the World "; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana's commercial fishing industry is the most
profitable of any state in the Union and in every other fishing ground around the
nation, fishing has declined over the last twenty years with fishing production
in the Gulf off Louisiana the only area to increase more than double in the last
decade which can be attributed to the increased number of oil platforms in the Gulf.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL
SEGUNDO, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That the City Council of the City of E1 Segundo,
California, does hereby approve the concept of offshore oil drilling, with ade-
quate environmental safeguards, in Federally controlled Southern California
waters under stringent government regulations, rigidly enforced, as proposed
in the upcoming Federal Lease Sale, and that the program proceed without delay.
SECTION 2. That copies of this resolution shall be transmitted to
our Senators and Congressmen from California, our elected representatives in
the State Assembly and Senate and the League of California Cities.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 19th day of August, 1974.
ATTEST: i
r
Mayor Pro Teml Cali the ity 1 egun o,
fornia.
City Clerk
(SEAL)
&AM
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) SS
CITY OF EL SEGUNDO )
I, VALERIE A. BURROWES City Clerk of the
City of E1 Segundo, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the
whole number of members of the City Council of the said City
is five; that the foregoing Resolution, being Resolution No. 2578
was duly passed and adopted by the said City Council, approved
and signed by the Mayor of said City, and attested by the City
Clerk of said City, all at a regular meeting of the said Council
held on the 19th day of August , 1974
and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmen Nagel, Rockhold, Stephens,
Van Vranken
NOES: Councilmen None
ABSENT: Councilmen None
Not - Voting Councilmen Mayor Balmer
WITNESS MY HAND AND THE OFFICIAL SEAL OF SAID
CITY this 30th day of August , 197 4
City Clerk
of the City of El Segundo, California
(SEAL)