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INDIAN RIVER COUNTY, FLORIDA BOARD MEMORANDUM TO: Joseph A. Baird, County Administrator THROUGH: Christopher R. Mora, P.E. Public Works Director FROM: James D. Gray, Jr. Coastal Engineer SUBJECT: Ocean DEPARTMENTA Resolution Opposing Seismic Airgun Testing in the Atlantic DATE: December 1, 2015 DESCRIPTION AND CONDITIONS At the August 17, 2015 Beach and Shore Preservation Advisory Committee (Beach Committee) meeting, a motion was approved requesting that the Board of County Commissioners support a resolution to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to ban seismic airgun testing and to consider other ways to conduct testing for oil and natural gas that are not harmful to marine wildlife. On November 3, 2015, at the request of the Beach Committee, Ms. Erin Handy from Oceana presented to the County Commissioners the potential negative effects Seismic Airgun Testing had on Indian River County's ocean environment. During the presentation, Commissioner Solari asked if anyone from BOEM and/or the oil and natural gas industry was present to discuss, from an opposing perspective, the effects seismic airgun testing had on marine life. No representatives from BOEM and/or the oil and natural gas industry were present. Following Ms. Handy's presentation, the Commission directed staff to draft a Resolution that banned seismic airgun testing and supported use of more passive lower -impact alternative technologies to explore oil and natural gas deposits. A draft Resolution has been developed for the Board's consideration and approval. Staff attempted to contact oil and natural gas industry representatives to gather any additional information they might have on the effects seismic airgun testing had on marine mammals, however staff was unable to reach anyone with pertinent information. F.\Public WorksUamesG\Beach and Shore Perservation Advisory Committee\2015 - Committee Updates\BOEM Letter\Resolution\Seismic Airgun Testing Resolution Agenda Item I2-8-15.docx 209