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RESOLUTION NO. ______ _
A Resolution to express the City of South Miami's opposition to offshore oil
drilling and exploration activities, including seismic airgun blasting.
7 WHEREAS, the United States government has expressed interest in opening the Atlantic
8 Ocean and Eastern Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas development and exploration, including
9 risky methods such as seismic airgun blasting; and
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11 WHEREAS, seismic airguns fire intense blasts of compressed air, one of the loudest
12 manmade sounds in the ocean every 10-12 seconds for days, weeks, or months on end; and
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14 WHEREAS, seismic airgun noise has been shown to harm and injure dolphins, whales,
15 endangered sea turtles, fish, and other marine life; and
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17 WHEREAS, exploratory and commercial drilling, extraction, and transportation of
18 offshore oil and gas resources pose a significant risk of an oil spills and chronic leakage; and
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20 WHEREAS, eventual offshore drilling may require significant onshore infrastructure,
21 such as pipelines or refineries, which would harm the character of the coast; and
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23 WHEREAS, offshore drilling activities pose threats to treasured vacation destinations on
24 Florida's Coasts, which are of intrinsic economic value for numerous industries, provide essential
25 nursery habitats for recreational and commercially important fisheries, and act as natural buffers
26 from storm surge and hurricanes; and
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28 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami recognizes that the tourism and fishing industries,
29 . which depend on a healthy and vibrant coastal environment, both serve as major economic drivers
30 benefiting the current and future residents, property owners, and visitors to Florida; and
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32 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami endeavors to be a good steward of the state and
33 region's environment and its resources; and
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35 WHEREAS, exploration and development of oil and gas resources offthe coast of Florida
36 will not effectively address the long-term energy needs of our country; and
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38 WHEREAS, the City of South Miami recommends that it would be more economically
39 and ecologically responsible to pursue non-polluting sources of renewable energy such as solar
40 and wind, that pose less risk to the coastal environment and economic health before using uncertain
41 methods of seismic airgun blasting for offshore oil and gas deposits.
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43 NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND CITY
44 COMMISSIONERS OF THE CITYOF SOUTH MIAMI, FLORIDA:
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1 Section 1: Offshore oil and gas drilling and exploration, including seismic airgun
2 blasting will put Florida's environment, beaches, marine resources and local economies at risk;
3 therefore, the City Commission expresses its opposition to these activities and urges the federal
4 government not to pursue such practices off Florida's coast.
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6 Section 2: The City Clerk shall forward a copy of this Resolution to Governor Rick
7 Scott, U. S. Senator for the State of Florida; U. S. Representative for the State of Florida; State
8 Senate President.; State Speaker of the House; U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, and U.S.
9 Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
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11 Section 3. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective immediately upon
12 adoption.
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PASSED AND ADOPTED this ___ day of ______ , 2017.
16 ATTEST:
17 APPROVED:
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CITY CLERK
READ AND APPROVED AS TO FORM.
LANGUAGE, LEGALITY AND
EXECUTION THEREOF:
MAYOR
COMMISSION VOTE:
Mayor Stoddard:
Vice Mayor Welsh:
Commissioner Harris:
25 Commissioner Liebman:
26 Commissioner Edmond:
27 CITY ATTORNEY
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