Lizzy Tsuang
Staff Writer
After seven months of negotiations, Hermosa Beach City Council and E&B Natural Resources finalized documents and confirmed the official date of the Special Municipal Election for the proposed Oil Drilling and Production Project, named Measure O, which will be on March 3.
On Nov 17, Hermosa Beach published the final Environmental Impact Report, Health Impact Assessment and Cost Benefit Analysis. These documents provide additional information to aid residents in their vote. The Development Agreement was also finalized and will act as the contract for the project between Hermosa Beach and E&B that will be voted on by residents.
“For the voters to understand the project, they need to fully understand the risks that come with heavy industry oil drilling in our densely populated town,” Stop Hermosa Beach Oil chairperson Stacey Armato said. “Once they understand the risks, the benefits seem small and uncertain and we are hopeful that the voters of Hermosa Beach will see that.”
At the election, residents can decide to either approve or reject the Development Agreement. The ballot will also consist of the Statement of Overriding Considerations, which states the risks and benefits found in the EIR. At the Nov 13 City Council Meeting, revisions were made to the Statement of Overriding Considerations on the terms of E&B’s negotiations, including a promise of a one percent revenue from the profits of oil drilling to the Hermosa Beach Education Foundation.
“We think the City Council did a great job,” E&B representative Ted Cordova said. “We are committed to the agreements and look forward to working towards a March election.”
According to Armato, the changes to the Statement of Overriding Considerations were in favor of E&B and ultimately will not be effective in providing impartial information to the voters.
“The provisions made were merely items that the oil company wanted included to tout more benefits when they campaign,” Armato said. “The city was negotiating with their back against the wall, so in that sense this negotiation was clearly unfair. However, we are grateful to have solidified the March election.”
SHBO plans to increase campaigning in the upcoming months leading up to the voting date. Residents can learn more about the proposed Oil Drilling and Production Project on the City’s website on the page titled “March 3, 2015 Election” which is updated regularly by the City Clerk.
“We are working as a steering committee to employ a plan of action from now until the election,” Armato said. “We don’t have the money that the oil company does but we have the people on our side. We believe that our dedicated volunteers will make the difference in beating big oil in our small town. Ultimately, our plan is to keep the course we established long ago to win this election and protect our beautiful community.”
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