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Board discusses ordinance to limit storage/handling of offshore-produced oil on district lands; supporters urge broader language
Summary
The board received a status update on an ordinance that would prohibit storage, handling and related activities for offshore-produced oil on district-owned property; public commenters and environmental advocates urged expanding the measure to include natural gas and to consider offshore mining.
The Humboldt Bay Harbor District board on March 16 received a status update on efforts to amend Ordinance No. 21, which would prohibit the storage, handling and related activities for offshore-produced oil on district-owned property.
Staff said the proposed ordinance is limited to district lands (the district owns and manages the primary marine terminal sites) and is intended to prevent the use of district property to facilitate leasing or extraction offshore. District staff recommended coordinating with the county because county zoning and the local coastal program may be amended in parallel; the district plans to allow county actions to advance before bringing a restated ordinance back to the board for further action.
Matt Simmons of the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) commented in support of an ordinance but urged the district to expand the language to cover natural gas and to consider whether offshore mining should also be addressed, saying those are additional extractive risks to ocean ecosystems.
Board members emphasized the ordinance would not ban use of petroleum products entirely on district property (for example, diesel for working vessels) but would target activities that directly facilitate offshore leasing and production. Staff said next steps include continued drafting, coordination with county planning processes and a planned return for fuller board consideration in the coming months, possibly in May.
Next steps: staff will continue ordinance drafting, coordinate with county planning/zoning updates, and return with a revised draft for public consideration and potential adoption.
