San Mateo County supervisors are urging federal officials to preserve California's authority to protect its coastline as the federal government conducts a review that could affect the state's role in decisions involving offshore oil drilling and other coastal projects.
Supervisor Ray Mueller testified in Santa Monica during a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration performance evaluation of California's Coastal Management Program. "I traveled here today to express support for the California Coastal Management Program and express our County's unequivocal opposition to the issuance of any offshore oil drilling leases and permits off our coast," Mueller told federal officials.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in January to oppose the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's proposed 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which identifies waters off San Mateo County for potential future leasing.
Supervisor Jackie Speier said the coast is one of California's most valuable assets generating billions of dollars from tourism, recreation and maritime industries, and the county firmly rejects offshore drilling.