<
https://phys.org/news/2024-09-california-national-marine-sanctuary-years.html>
'A long-running effort by native tribes and environmentalists to establish the
first new national marine sanctuary along California's coastline in 32
years—the aquatic version of a new national park—where offshore oil drilling
would be prohibited forever, reached a key milestone on September 6.
The Biden administration published the final environmental impact statement for
the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, selecting boundaries that will
stretch along 116 miles of coast in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties.
The area, which includes popular spots like Pismo Beach and the Gaviota Coast,
is home to humpback whales, sea otters, leatherback sea turtles, kelp forests,
rocky reefs and more than 200 shipwrecks. Under the proposal, the new sanctuary
will cover 4,543 square miles—an area nearly four times the size of Yosemite
National Park—and extend out to 60 miles offshore.
The Biden administration said Friday that it plans to publish final rules in
October, with the designation officially finished by the time President Joe
Biden leaves office in January. Former President Donald Trump, during his time
in office, attempted to allow new offshore oil drilling along California,
Oregon and Washington.
The plans never came to fruition, however, due to local and state opposition,
including a law former Gov. Jerry Brown signed in 2018 banning the construction
of new pipelines, terminals, and other oil drilling equipment in state waters
out to three miles off the coast.
The Chumash sanctuary will be the first national marine sanctuary in the nation
proposed by a Native American tribe. The Northern Chumash Tribe, based in Los
Osos, near Morro Bay, began advocating for the idea in 2015.
"This is a huge moment for the Chumash People and all who have tirelessly
supported our campaign over the years," said Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of
the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, on Friday.'
Via Susan ****
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
