Marin Voter Approval Required For Onshore Facilities For Drilling

MARIN COUNTY, CA — On Tuesday, the Marin County Board of Supervisors adopted an ordinance that requires local voter approval prior to any development of onshore facilities that would support offshore oil and gas exploration.

With the ordinance, any new or expanded onshore infrastructure that would support offshore oil and gas exploration will be banned unless a simple majority of voters approve the reversal, according to the county.

There will be a second reading for the ordinance next week and, if passed, it will go into effect Sept. 25.

The county found that construction on such facilities could impede public access to the coastline and Bay shoreline, destroy marine resources that the California Coastal Act requires to be maintained, disrupt biological productivity in coastal waters, and threaten industries that depend on a healthy coastline and ocean ecosystem.

"By approving this ordinance, the Board of Supervisors has taken another step in protecting our coastline and coastal economies that add so much to the quality of life here in Marin," said Supervisor Dennis Rodoni, who represents West Marin.

Other counties in California such as Sonoma, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Mateo, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Diego, Mendocino, and Humboldt have similar ordinances.

By Tilly Friedlander / Bay City News Foundation

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