Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES CC 2008 2710 2008 0416RESOLUTION 2008 -2710 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA, OPPOSING THE PREFERRED OFF -LOAD SITE OF THE WOODSIDE OCEANWAY LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG) TERMINAL PROPOSAL WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Moorpark opposes the Woodside Energy Preferred Alternative STS -1, which encroaches upon the activities and interests of Naval Base Ventura County and is an impediment to the proper functioning of the Point Mugu Sea Range, creating a circumstance which is not in the best interest of national defense; and WHEREAS, based on the fact that a proposal to establish an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal has been developed and submitted to the United States Coast Guard by Woodside Energy, Inc., and if deemed complete by the United States Coast Guard, it will subsequently have to go through the normal public review and public comment process, and similarly it will be subject to review by the California Energy Commission. There may also be additional reviews required by other agencies, as well as other opportunities for public comment in additional forums; and WHEREAS, this specific proposal is unique in that it would involve open ocean ship -to -ship transfers of liquefied natural gas from large tanker transport vessels to smaller ships, called "coastal lighters," which would subsequently carry the LNG to a coastal area terminal, either offshore or onshore, for off - loading. As part of their application, Woodside has proposed to conduct ship -to -ship transfers of LNG at three ocean locations, referred to as STS -1, STS -2 and STS -3. During the ship -to -ship transfer, both vessels would essentially be free - floating drifts. Their preferred location for this transfer is STS -1 which is in the heart of the Sea Range. The regasification of the LNG could apparently occur either aboard the coastal lighter, during the transfer process, or at the terminal; and WHEREAS, Woodside Energy projects approximately 65 transfers annually requiring 30 hours per transfer to complete, cumulatively 80 days or more with free - drifting vessels in the designated transfer zone. The designated preferred transfer site is described as on the open ocean directly in the heart of the Point Mugu Naval Sea Range, the primary west coast site for naval weapons testing and evaluation. Thus, the proposal would represent a serious impediment to the conduct of naval testing and training on the Sea Range; and WHEREAS, Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC), of which the Point Mugu Sea Range is an integral part, represents in excess of two billion dollars to the regional economy and provides 17,000 jobs to Ventura County residents. Many of these are highly skilled and well -paid scientific and engineering jobs. The Sea Range is a critical element required for the Navy to perform vital functions in weapons systems development testing and training, and any project which could compromise its ability to Resolution No. 2008 -2710 Page 2 do the job for which it was established would threaten the viability of the base itself in any future consideration of potential base closure. It is clearly not in the interest of national defense or specifically the City of Moorpark to have any LNG project approved that would fundamentally encroach upon the Naval Base or compromise its future viability. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MOORPARK DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council hereby opposes the Woodside Oceanway's STS -1 Alternative of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal proposal as currently submitted to the United States Coast Guard. The City Council indicates its opposition to the Woodside LNG proposed preferred alternative, specifically, the use of the ship -to- ship transfer point designated as STS -1 and authorizes any and all of its official representatives to express said opposition formally before any and all governmental or regulatory bodies or other agencies or organizations demonstrating an interest in or concern with the issue. SECTION 2. The City Council, at this time, takes no other position on the Woodside Oceanway LNG propq,%6T'6-t—heNkan its stated position in Section 1. above. SECTION 3. The CP Clerk shall certqy to the adoption this Irolution and shall cause a certified resol tion to be filed in th book of o ' a oluti PASSED AND ADgPTED this 16th day ogApril, P008. ATTEST: Maureen Benson, Assistant City Clerk unter, Mayor Resolution No. 2008 -2710 Page 3 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF VENTURA ) ss. CITY OF MOORPARK ) I, Maureen Benson, Assistant City Clerk of the City of Moorpark, California, do hereby certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing Resolution No. 2008 -2710 was adopted by the City Council of the City of Moorpark at a regular meeting held on the 16th day of April, 2008, and that the same was adopted by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Mikos, Parvin, Van Dam, and Mayor Hunter NOES: None ABSENT: Councilmember Millhouse ABSTAIN: None WITNESS my hand and the official seal of said City this 25th day of April, 2008. Maureen Benson, Assistant City Clerk (seal)