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Goleta council adopts resolution opposing oil transport by pipeline, citing Refugio spill risks
Summary
The city council unanimously approved a resolution opposing oil transport by pipeline and agreed to transmit the resolution to the county and state agencies; local environmental groups urged the council to act ahead of a proposed pipeline restart.
The Goleta City Council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing oil transport by pipeline and said it will transmit the adopted resolution to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and several state agencies if the county considers pipeline restart approvals.
Council members framed the measure as consistent with earlier local action and with the community’s experience from the 2015 Refugio oil spill. “That was a devastating environmental disaster. We never ever want to see anything like that happen again,” Council Member Carriaco said, drawing on local memory of the spill. The council accepted a staff‑prepared resolution (consent calendar item A8) and voted to transmit it to the county and state entities if adopted.
Environmental groups and local advocates pressed the council during public comment. Ted Morton, executive director of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper, told the council that the 2015 Refugio spill released more than 120,000 gallons of heavy crude, damaged shoreline habitats and cost “more than $700,000,000 in cleanup, assessments, penalties, and settlements.” Morton recommended the council adopt the resolution and forward it to county, state and federal agencies overseeing any pipeline restart.
Brady Bradshaw of the Center for Biological Diversity urged cities to press state agencies to subject any restart to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and to public hearings. Jeremy Frankel of the Environmental Defense Center and Jonathan Ullman of the Sierra Club echoed those concerns and urged the council to send the resolution to all agencies with oversight roles.
The council’s vote was recorded by roll call: Council Member Smith — yes; Council Member Kiriakou/Kyriakou — aye; Council Member Luis Reyes Martin — aye; Mayor Pro Tempore Casden/Casdon — aye; Mayor Paula Perotti — aye. The resolution was adopted unanimously and staff were instructed to forward copies to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and relevant state agencies as part of the council’s outreach plan.
