Okaloosa County BOCC — August 18, 2015 — Resolution Opposing Opening of Additional Areas of Gulf of Mexico to — agenda request

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST DATE: August 18, 2015 TO: Honorable Chairman and Members of the Board FROM: Elliot Kampert SUBJECT: Resolution Opposing Opening of Additional Areas of Gulf of Mexico to Oil Exploration DEPARTMENT: Growth Management BCC DISTRICT: All STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Staff requests that the Board of County Commissioners adopt a resolution opposing increased oil exploration and related activities in the Gulf of Mexico due to potential economic impacts to tourism and fishery industries as well as military activities. BACKGROUND: The Gulf of Mexico is divided into three planning areas (Western, Central, and Eastern) for purposes of establishing leases related to oil exploration and production. The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 establishes, in general terms, a moratorium through 2022 on oil leasing activities in any area east of the Military Mission Line (the north-south line at 86°41´ W. longitude in the Gulf of Mexico); any area in the Eastern Planning Area that is within 125 miles of the coastline of the State of Florida; or (3) any area in the Central Planning Area that is within 100 miles of the coastline of the State of Florida. The various planning areas, Military Mission Line, and other areas are shown in Attachment 1. Under the proposed Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act of 2015, the distance to the coastline of the State of Florida is reduced to 50 miles in the Eastern and Central planning areas, and the Military Mission Line would be reduced to extend only 50 miles into the Gulf from the edge of Florida’s territorial waters. In addition to the environmental threat posed by the proposed reduction in protective buffers, the proposed act would also create conflicts with the military missions occurring within the military operating areas of the Gulf of Mexico. Tourism, anchored by the beaches, fishing, and other outdoor activities associated with the Gulf of Mexico that rely on a clean environment, and the military missions assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and other installations, are the foundations of Okaloosa County’s economy, and the economic foundation of many communities along the Gulf coast. Exploring, and ultimately drilling, for oil in close proximity to the Florida coastline threatens these activities, and also endangers national security by degrading the utility of the military operating areas within the Gulf of Mexico Range Complex. OPTIONS: The Board may adopt or not adopt the proposed resolution. RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached resolution opposing the reduction of the protections of the State of Florida and military operating areas afforded under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 as proposed by the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act of 2015, and which opposes the opening of areas to oil exploration and related activities in the Gulf of Mexico that threaten the economy and environment of Florida, and that would in any way degrade the usefulness of the Gulf of Mexico military operating areas. RECOMMENDED BY: APPROVED BY: John Hofstad, County Administrator