In the Nov. 3 general election, Santa Cruz County voters will consider Measure D, which would strengthen local laws limiting facilities that support offshore oil drilling and deep-sea mining.
Measure D would modify an earlier measure passed in 1986 that requires a vote of the people before the county allows onshore facilities to support offshore drilling. It would also extend the requirement for a public vote for onshore facilities that support deep-sea mining.
Measure A, passed in 1986, requires voters to approve land use changes for onshore facilities that support offshore oil and gas development. To protect our economy, environment, and quality of life, shall voters enact an ordinance to update Measure A to also require voter approval for land use changes related to deep-sea mining facilities and strengthen the law against legal challenges?
A “yes” vote would require a vote before allowing onshore facilities supporting deep-sea mining, and further clarify existing limitations on onshore facilities supporting offshore drilling.
Measure D would require a public vote before the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors can change land use laws to allow onshore facilities that support deep-sea mining. It also adds to existing law that requires a public vote before land use changes for facilities supporting offshore drilling, and lists the potential negative impacts of such facilities on Santa Cruz County’s environment and economy.
The vote requirement applies to facilities designed to transport, store, process, or dispose of offshore oil, gas, and deep-sea minerals and slurry. That infrastructure includes pipelines, tanks, refineries and landfills.
The restrictions do not apply to gas stations or existing facilities. They apply to areas of the county outside of cities.
The measure does not include any taxes or fees, and is not expected to require any county spending, according to an impartial fiscal analysis.
County leaders proposed Measure D following federal moves to open up waters off the Central Coast to off-shore drilling and deep-sea mining. Local governments cannot block moves to expand deep-sea mining, a practice with severe environmental impacts to sensitive seafloor ecosystems.
Instead, local nonprofit Save Our Shores has helped revive a 1980s strategy to create a “blue wall” of cities and counties along the coast that refuse to host on-shore infrastructure to support extractive off-shore industries.
No arguments in opposition to Measure G were filed with the Santa Cruz County Elections Department.
In an official argument for Measure D, proponents wrote that the changes will make existing restrictions on onshore facilities supporting offshore drilling more legally sound. Adding restrictions on deep-sea mining addresses a new threat to the ocean environment, they wrote.