Brentwood will temporarily ban new oil and gas development as it studies a long-term plan for regulating such activities.
The City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to implement the moratorium for 45 days, possibly to be extended if staff needs more time to finalize regulations.
The city currently regulates all oil and gas development in the city and exploratory operations in certain areas of Brentwood, though currently there are no active or pending permits or applications, City Manager Tim Ogden said. Because of that, the moratorium won’t have any immediate or anticipated effect on private property or development rights, he said.
Previously, after hearing residents and council members’ concerns, the City Council directed staff to examine the possibility of a stronger set of regulations, including considering an increased buffer zone for sensitive areas and a total ban on new oil and gas development within city limits.
Several residents spoke in favor of the moratorium on Tuesday.
“We don’t need any more oil or gas drilling near residential properties,” Rod Flohr said. “And, there’s no place in Brentwood anymore that’s within a safe distance… It’s so important. It’s really for everyone that lives here and especially the children that live here to provide a safe, clean and healthy environment.”
Flohr acknowledged that the measure was “somewhat symbolic,” but noted that one only needed to look around the city to see where previous oil and gas wells existed.
“We probably won’t have any drilling in Brentwood anytime soon, but that threat actually does exist,” he said.
Heritage High senior Alexi Lindeman also supported the ban, noting it sends a message to Brentwood developer Bob Nunn of Sunset Exploration Inc., which operates wells nearby in unincorporated Contra Costa County.
“Brentwood is not the place for any future oil or gas drilling,” Lindeman said. “…We should be moving away from these fossil fuels and not expanding them with everything that’s been going on with climate change, the forest fires, the drought. We need to be transitioning to clean energy as soon as possible for the health and safety for ourselves and our future.”
Resident Carolina Villaseca asked the city to urge the county not to approve future oil and natural gas drilling as well.
“I think it’s important that the cities in East Contra Costa start passing these bans to send a message to the county that is really strong because it would be regional; it wouldn’t just be the city of Brentwood,” she said. “We need to continue putting pressure on the county.”
Mayor Joel Bryant said he and other council members have sent a “strong opposition” letter to the county board of supervisors against oil drilling in Contra Costa.
“I am happy to continue to meet and speak with the other mayors in our area to encourage them to do likewise, ” he said.
When asked by Councilwoman Susannah Meyer about costs of a study, Ogden said the city would use current studies to put together the findings for a new ordinance.
“We’re not initiating a new study and looking at the impacts per se. There’s plenty of that out there that we can utilize for our research.”
Councilwoman Jovita Mendoza said she also supported the moratorium before moving to approve the measure.
“I’m just gonna say that I’m happy we’re getting here,” she said. “…It’s taken a long time but I am very proud of this council for moving it forward. I think it’s the right thing to do for all of our future generations because we’ll be gone soon, but they’ll be the ones that are left with the ramifications.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com