HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2014-15RESOLUTION NO. 2014-15
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CAPE
CANAVERAL, FLORIDA, OPPOSING SEISMIC AIRGUN TESTING IN
THE ATLANTIC OCEAN; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF PRIOR
INCONSISTENT RESOLUTIONS; SEVERABILITY; AND AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Cape Canaveral endeavors to be a good steward of the coastal
environment and its resources; and
WHEREAS, seismic airgun testing is being proposed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) for the exploration of oil and natural gas off the mid - Atlantic coast; and
WHEREAS, tourism is a major economic force in the City of Cape Canaveral and
offshore drilling poses a major threat to our coastal economy and natural resources and, should a
spill occur, the natural environment that supports our local economy would be severely damaged
and the quality of life that both residents and visitors have come to expect would be negatively
affected for the foreseeable future; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has a long history of hurricanes and offshore drilling
would increase the chances of platform failures and oil spills due to the vulnerability of the
coastal waters to severe weather; and
WHEREAS, the use of airguns to conduct these seismic tests threatens fish populations
and profitable fisheries; and
WHEREAS, the type of seismic airgun testing used to search for oil and gas is incredibly
harmful and could injure or possibly kill thousands of marine mammals, sea turtles and fish
including the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whale whose population stands at 500
individuals in the entire world; and
WHEREAS, the seismic airguns fire intense blasts of compressed air — almost as loud as
explosives every 10 -12 seconds twenty -four hours a day for weeks on end. These loud airgun
blasts can be heard for many hundreds of miles in the ocean and can drive whales to abandon
habitats, go silent and cease foraging over vast areas. At shorter distances, airguns can cause
permanent hearing loss, injury and even death for whales, dolphins, sea turtles and fish; and
WHEREAS, the proposed seismic airgun testing will result in serious negative impact to
our marine resources, which form the foundation of economic vitality for communities all along
the Atlantic Coast; and
City of Cape Canaveral
Resolution No. 2014 -15
Page 1 of 2
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Cape
Canaveral, Brevard County, Florida: opposes seismic airgun testing and urges the President's
Administration to stop this process and focus on ensuring the vitality of vulnerable local
economies along the Atlantic Coast as we cannot continue to put our ocean, environment,
beaches, marine resources and local economies at risk.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, a certified copy of this Resolution is forwarded
to President Obama.
ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Cape Canaveral, Florida, this 15th day of
April 2014.
ATTEST:
M. lm ..•.%
Appr to Form:
Anthony A. Garganese, City Attorney
Rocky Randels, Mayor
For
John Bond Second
Robert Hoog Absent
Buzz Petsos Motion
Rocky Randels x
Betty Walsh x
City of Cape Canaveral
Resolution No. 2014 -15
Page 2 of 2
Against