To: Board of Supervisors
From: Supervisor Mike Wilson
Agenda Section: Initiated by Board Member
Vote Requirement: Majority
SUBJECT:title
Resolution Opposing New and Existing Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling and Deep Seabed Mining and Approving the County of Humboldt’s Participation in the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalitionend
RECOMMENDATION(S):Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Adopt the attached resolution opposing new and existing offshore oil and gas drilling and deep seabed mining and approving the County of Humboldt’s participation in the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition; and
2. Nominate a Board member to represent the County of Humboldt in the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition; and
3. Authorize the County Administrative Officer, or a designee thereof, to engage in advocacy that reflects the County of Humboldt’s opposition to new and existing offshore oil and gas drilling and deep seabed mining.
Body
STRATEGIC PLAN:
The recommended actions support the following areas of the Board of Supervisors’ Strategic Plan:
Area of Focus: Core Services/Other
Strategic Plan Category: 9999 - Core Services/Other
DISCUSSION:
The announcement of a new five (5) year Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Plan is anticipated to originate from the United States Department of Interior this fall, possibly as early as October 15, 2025. At this time, there is no indication as to whether or not offshore tracts along the coast of Humboldt County will be offered for lease to the petroleum industry. Leases anywhere off the California Coast, however, can be anticipated to impact the coastline of Humboldt County. Upon release of the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Plan, the County of Humboldt has the opportunity to maintain its right to local control over its own coast and coastal waters by adopting formal comments in the form of a resolution of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. When released, the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Plan will trigger a forty-five (45) day comment period during which the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors would be well-served to adopt and submit appropriate local comments, either acting alone or in concert with other interested coastal counties. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors has consistently commented on this issue for the past several decades.
Additionally, in April 2025, President Trump signed the Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources executive order, which promotes deep seabed mining that poses serious threats to California’s coastal economies, marine ecosystem, and climate goals.
In response, there is an attempt by Santa Cruz County to re-establish the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition to ensure coordinated, science-based and timely engagement with federal decisionmakers. Participation in this effort will ensure that the County of Humboldt’s voice is amplified alongside other cities and counties, without requiring significant diversion of local staff resources. While the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition will be hiring a firm to coordinate advocacy efforts, the County of Humboldt is not required to contribute funding to the service. However, if the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors chooses to re-engage with the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition, a representative of the County of Humboldt should be selected.
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
General Fund
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
While the annual costs for coordination of this effort is estimated at Two Hundred Ninety Thousand Dollars ($290,000.00), to be shared among participating jurisdictions, the recommended actions will not require the County of Humboldt to provide any funding other than the time of a member of the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors to participate and staff to advocate on behalf of the County of Humboldt, as necessary.
STAFFING IMPACT:
The recommended actions will not impact current staffing levels.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Various California coastal counties.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Board discretion.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution Opposing New and Existing Offshore Oil and Gas Drilling and Deep Seabed Mining and Approving the County of Humboldt’s Participation in the Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition
2. Local Government Outer Continental Shelf Coordination Program and Coalition Information Sheet
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Meeting of: February 27, 2018
File No.: 18-102