<
https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/09/06/california-to-get-first-new-national-marine-sanctuary-in-32-years-banning-offshore-oil-drilling-along-more-than-100-miles-of-coastline/>
"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 Friday.
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 such as 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
sanctuary will cover 4,543 square miles — an area nearly four times the size of
Yosemite National Park — and extend 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 the president
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 3 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,” Violet Sage Walker, chairwoman of the
tribal council, said on Friday.
Walker, whose father, tribal Chief Fred Collins, led the campaign until his
death in 2021, noted that tribal members “will always be connected to past,
present and future by this special stretch of coastline and the true magic its
waters hold.”
Chumash and Salinan people have lived along the Central California coast for
thousands of years."
Via
Reasons to be Cheerful:
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/what-were-reading-future-marine-sanctuary-california/>
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
