Speaker 3: Okay. Motion carries. We are now moving on to the next item, Madam Clerk.
Speaker 4: Item 16 Communication from Councilmember Pierce, Councilman Gonzales, Councilmember, your UNGA recommendation to request a report in no more than 90 days on the current oil and gas operations conducted in Long Beach.
Speaker 3: Council Member Pearce.
Speaker 9: Sorry, guys. Okay. I want to thank city staff and everybody for your time and the meetings that we've had to discuss this. I really wanted to make sure that we as speakers earlier said, don't just take a vote on supporting somebody in another state, but that we look internally about what we're doing. And so this is a simple report that's simply asking to make sure that we look at add new technologies to make sure our operations are safer and more sustainable. Many residents have told me that they feel in the dark about specifics about our safety operations, especially given recent incidences in Porter Ranch and 1986 pipeline accidents that killed more than 500 people, injured more than 4000, and cost nearly $7 billion in property damages. Much of this due to aging pipelines that have not been properly maintained. Given that drilling first started in 1920s, we want to be proactive and looking at infrastructure to know what's most impacted, what the risks are. And so today, what I'm simply asking for is a report from city staff on where our pipelines are, the integrity of them, what safety precautions we've taken in the past to make sure that we're capping off oil derricks. And what is a process that community members can look to or transparency to ensure that they know where these pipelines are and what our community is doing. So it's a simple report back in 90 days and I'm asking for council support in this. Thank you.
Speaker 8: Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Speaker 2: Yes, thank you. I just wanted to reiterate everything Councilmember Pearce said. I think we have received a lot of, you know, information and questions as to much of the pipelines, especially in light of what's happened. And so I know in addition to the pipelines, we would also like to see maybe a report and list of abandoned wells in Long Beach, particularly those that have may not have modern abandonment standards. My best I believe there was an issue with the Gerald Desmond Bridge where it cost us a bit more and also a considerable amount of time as well. So I think, Councilmember Pearce, for bringing this forward, I look forward to hearing more information and what we can do with that information going forward. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Councilmember Ringo.
Speaker 6: Thank you, Rosemary. I want to thank Councilmember Pearce for bringing this forward. It's very timely beginning of the year. As many of you know, I serve on the Coastal Commission and there were a couple of spills last year, repeal one of them. And as a result of that, I asked last year for a report on where we're at with it, with our infrastructure, with our pipes. I don't know what happened to it. It got lost. They're glad you brought it back, because it is important that we know what what's in our infrastructure. There's a big piece of property. For example, in my district, the oil operators, where there's a lot of abandoned pipelines underneath that don't contain water, some contain oil. But I'd like to know what exactly what's underneath there so that when we look at what types of possibilities and possible developments that are going to be taking place there , if at all, what is it exactly we're dealing with in those areas? So I'm glad you brought this forward and I'm looking forward to the report. Thank you.
Speaker 3: The public comment, please.
Speaker 4: Anna Christensen of Long Beach, California. I have a couple of requests. One, that this same report, should this motion pass, be brought in before the Sustainability Commission as well?
Speaker 10: Since the.
Speaker 4: Sustainability Commission has taken such a great role in looking at options for new technology and a greener Long Beach, it only makes sense that they have an opportunity to also ask questions or.
Speaker 10: Hear this report directly from.
Speaker 4: City staff in addition. I would really appreciate an amendment to this report that included any drilling projects that are proposed that are, in other words, that already have either an air or an initial study because weather that they could very likely happen. So they seem to be worth review. And I'm specifically speaking about the Lost Cerritos Wetlands Restoration and Oil Consolidation Project, which proposes to put 120 new oil wells on either side of our active earthquake fault in our wetlands, as we are also proposing a possibility of 6000 new residences there. This is really. You know, important that we take a look at what does this mean? We know that it means that eventually old oil wells, abandoned oil wells that are apparently bursting into flames over there are going to get taken out. That's a good thing. But what's the risk? What is the risk of drilling 120 new wells right next to an earthquake? If we're interested in what our what our status is in terms of public safety and a green city, I hope that that at least that one project would be included, that staff could take a look at it. Thank you very much.
Speaker 3: Thank you very much. Next speaker, please. Thank you. My name's Ellie Gonzales. As I previously mentioned, I'm the current chair of the Sustainability Commission. And as the previous speaker speaker just mentioned, I do believe that this fits within the purview of the commission. This is an item actually we have actually reviewed about a year ago. And what I'd like to do is just simply update the commission with new information as as it was mentioned by the council member, we had a major gas leak. This was the largest gas leak in history. Within my lifetime. I've seen the biggest oil spill in my in in my lifetime. And as well as the biggest gas leak, I think that we are living on a crumbling infrastructure. And I and for that reference, I would like to invite you all to check out The O.C. Weekly. What the frak is happening under Long Beach. There's a quote in there that says that Long Beach is sitting on a ticking time bomb. That's that's a quote given by a geologist. I think I take this very seriously for those who know me. No, I like to have fun. I really enjoy Long Beach. But when it comes to our environment, our air and our water, I take these issues quite seriously. I believe that each of you council members deserve to know all the information that I have been researching on my own. You, a few of you, you have told me, Oh, we're not fracking in Long Beach. Are you aware that we're acid diving? Because I just received an AQ, M.D. notice while I was here in this meeting saying that they're going to acids on the terms islands. Are you familiar with what acid izing is? And if you don't know, you deserve to know and your constituents deserve to know. So I humbly ask that this body will allow our committee to review this item as well. And what we'd like to do is give our comments as a commission so that you all are well informed. And we'd also help like to help with vetting a lot of the public comments. I'm sure it's going to be a really long meeting, much like we've seen today. So we'd like to assist in receiving some of that feedback. Thank you. Thank you. Next speaker, please.
Speaker 4: Thank you very much for listening this late in the evening. This is the item that I'm most excited about. I'm Patricia Chen and with Long Beach 350. And we are delighted that the city council is considering looking into oil and gas operations. We would like you to look for a way to cease operating the wells and pipelines that and crisscross our city and to keep oil and gas, gas in the ground. The reasons are that, first of all, it's great timing. The price of gas and oil are going down. So it's a good time to seek solutions and other revenue sources to wean our city off fossil fuel revenues. Also because of the climate. Long Beach is very vulnerable to climate change because we have a long coast, which means we have businesses and homes and our port at sea levels. And also because of what the extraction, the nature of the extraction is in the city, um, uh, basically it's only tertiary extraction that will get anything out anymore. And that means using hazardous acids and basically poisons that are affecting the, um, the land and the rivers and the oceans here in Long Beach. Um, and finally, because aging pipelines are susceptible to leaks and fires and explosions, and they're just basically a liability. Um, so those are our thoughts as Long Beach 350 but there are so many other perspectives. And so I think that's why it would be a great idea for the Sustainable City Commission to hear the report and ensure that there is, um, a broad perspective and um, so that the report can be shaped and formed into something that doesn't just sit on the shelf. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you. Next speaker, please. Just when you think you saw the last and still another. I wanted to finish with something before, and so I'm going to start with it. These are some words from a gentleman who is no longer with us. It's Mother Earth has been abused. The powers have been abused. This cannot go on forever. No theory can alter that simple fact. Mother Earth will retaliate. The whole environment will retaliate. And the abusers will be eliminated. Things come full circle back to where they started. That's revolution. Those are the words of Russell Means. Russell Means was an Oglala Lakota Sioux. He was born on Pine, the Pine Ridge Reservation, and he was very outspoken as an activist for the environment. And I'm not a big environmentalist, except in my old age. I retired from the oil and gas equipment and repair and service industry, spent 35 years looking at the worst of the worst. And I can tell you, we're we're we're surrounded by it. I would not give a gloom and doom thing because we work.
Speaker 7: Really hard to make sure.
Speaker 3: Everything stays in control. There's some good people out there with good intents, but time takes its toll on everything and everybody. And those wells, it's only a matter of time. Thank you. Next week, please.
Speaker 2: Hi. My name is Elizabeth LAMB. I live in the third district and I'm here speaking as an individual, but I'm speaking as an individual that spent 40 years interested in environmental issues and advocating for the environment. And to me, to assess the gas and oil operations infrastructure of Long Beach just makes good sense. We all know that.
Speaker 1: Oil is a toxic substance.
Speaker 2: And it is important that the infrastructure around it be well-managed. And additionally, I also want to point out to you.
Speaker 1: That due to the many years of.
Speaker 2: Pumping oil in Long Beach, there may well be.
Speaker 4: Some.
Speaker 1: Subsidence issues.
Speaker 2: Related to that.
Speaker 1: Activity. That should also be looked at.
Speaker 2: As you all know, and as was.
Speaker 1: Articulated by the.
Speaker 2: Council members sponsoring this, oil spills can have devastating consequences both for the environment and also for the economy and beyond. So I encourage you to support this. Thank you.
Speaker 3: Thank you, Councilmember Pearce.
Speaker 9: Thank you. I just want to make two additional comments. I think that the idea to send it to the Sustainability Commission is definitely one that I'm open to and I hope that my colleagues will be open to that as well. I also wanted to include in the report, in addition to where our pipelines are, the health and integrity of those pipelines, what is our disaster preparedness should something happen? And three, I do want to say that I know that a lot of us would love to be off of oil, but obviously that's not going to happen any time soon. But how we can continue to raise awareness and support corporate partners that are really doing their best to get off of oil and be innovative in how they move forward. And so thinking about what are some of those technologies that we can continue to support and to have that conversation about how Long Beach is doing things like having charging stations for our green technology and things like that. So thank you.
Speaker 3: Councilman Austin.
Speaker 7: Thank you very much. And I'm going to be supportive of this item, I believe. I want to make sure we have some clarification on what we are asking the city manager to do as it reads. It says, Come back with a report in 90 days on the current oil and gas operations conducted in Long Beach. And the report shall include, but not limited to exploration drilling techniques, capping of oil wells, storage, pipeline maintenance and spill and other emergency preparedness. And then you want to to move this report offer this report to the Sustainability Commission as well. But there is no action after the 90 day report, correct? I think okay. Because I was hearing a whole lot here and I'm feeling really guilty that I'm going to put my keys in my car and leave now.
Speaker 0: Right.
Speaker 3: My gas.
Speaker 0: Pump. I have a big crew.
Speaker 3: Break.
Speaker 7: This evening. Take care.
Speaker 3: There's a motion and a second. Please cast your votes.
Recommendation to request City Manager to report to council in no more than 90 days on the current oil and gas operations conducted in Long Beach. The report shall include but is not limited to exploration, drilling techniques, capping of old wells, storage, pipeline maintenance, and spill or other emergency preparedness.