CITY OF HOMER Yourkowski

HOMER, ALASKA

RESOLUTION 03-17

A RESOLUTION OF THE HOMER CITY COUNCIL OPPOSING FEDERAL LEASE SALES 191 AND 199 UNTIL ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS ARE IN PLACE.

WHEREAS, The residents and families of the City of Homer rely on fishing, tourism and other economic pursuits which require healthy fisheries and intact marine ecosystems; and

WHEREAS, Cook Inlet is the only major port in the United States where laden oil tankers ply rough and icy waters without the protection of tug escorts; and

WHEREAS, A recent study by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency found a broad array of oil-type toxic chemicals in Cook Inlet subsistence fish; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Minerals Management Service (MMS) wants to lease 2.5 million acres of offshore tracts in Lower Cook Inlet for oil and gas activities; and

WHEREAS, The MMS estimates the lease sale will create no new direct jobs, will supply only enough oil to meet the Nation’s energy needs for one week, and will result in a 1 in 5 risk of a large oil spill; and

WHEREAS, The MMS has given us poor alternatives with only small proposed exclusions; and

WHEREAS, This lease sale would be a poor idea when we are trying to market Cook Inlet salmon as a premier fish; and

WHEREAS, The area has poor oil spill response capabilities; and

WHEREAS, We have worked hard in Homer to develop a sustainable strong economy based on the beauty around us; and

WHEREAS, Mariculture is a growing industry and relies on clean water; and

WHEREAS, There is no plan in place on how to compensate fisheries, mariculature and tourist industries if there is a spill.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Homer, Alaska hereby opposed Lease Sales 191 and 199 until MMS can commit to providing tug escorts for laden oil tankers, and until all new development is held to a standard of zero discharge of toxic chemicals.

PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Homer City Council this 27th day of January, 2002.

CITY OF HOMER

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ATTEST: JACK CUSHING, MAYOR

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MARY L. CALHOUN, CMC, CITY CLERK Fiscal information: NA