Letter to the Editor: Former Supervisors Oppose Drilling Vote
Dear Gov. Schwarzenegger,
As recently retired Santa Barbara County supervisors, with 28 accumulated years of service, we write to you to strenuously object to the Aug. 26 3-2 decision by the board majority to request that you approve expanded oil and gas drilling off our shores.
Offshore drilling remains an extremely hazardous activity despite industry attempts at improvements since 1969. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has just accepted a settlement from Exxon-Mobil of $2.64 million for allowing nearly 400 gallons of highly toxic PCB fluids to leak for two years on Platform Hondo in the Santa Barbara Channel from 2002 to 2005. These cancer-causing PCBs contaminated workers and can remain in our environment for decades.
We commend and agree with your stated position that “the direction we need to go in, and where California is already headed, is toward greater innovation in new technologies and new fuel choices for consumers.” And we deeply appreciate Secretary Chrisman’s remarks in The New York Times ("California County’s Resolve Against Drilling Fades,” Aug. 27) that indicate that your opposition to offshore oil drilling off the California coast remains unchanged and unaffected by the recent Board of Supervisors request.
Thank you for your continued leadership on this issue.
Naomi Schwartz, Susan Rose and Gail Marshall
Former Santa Barbara County supervisors
» wrote on 09/06/08 @ 11:49 AM
The Tide is changing the socialist are worried, and we are taking our country back.
» wrote on 09/05/08 @ 10:28 AM
This is why they are FORMER Supervisors! If they would have accomplished anything in office we would not be in this state financial budget crisis. Thanks for all your hard work and lack of public service.
» wrote on 09/05/08 @ 10:23 AM
Offshore oil development is going to happen. John McCain has choosen a strong pro oil running mate, Sarah Palin. As VP she will, with no doubt, be given the task of getting offshore projects built.
This year’s presidential election will be a repeat of 2004. Ohio will be the decisive state, and McCain/Palin will be better received by Ohio voters than Obama/Biden. The people of Ohio don’t care about your Snowy Plovers and ocean views. They want gasoline for their cars and diesel fuel for their farm equipment.