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To drill or not to drill?
Shake it up baby
City council explores new zoning options at Venoco plant BY DaLe MYers
“If the council goes through with (banning drilling), it will cost jobs, and Clean Seas will go out of business.”
The Carpinteria City Council at its Nov. 24 meeting voted unanimously to further review oil and gas develo p m e n t re g u l a tions and heard a lengthy yet civil d e b a t e f ro m a n overflowing crowd on whether or not t o b a n o n s h o re oil drilling in the city, specifically at Venoco Inc.’s prop––Ike Ikerd, General erty. Venoco, which has applied to drill Manager of Clean Seas at its Carpinteria Oil and Gas Processing Facility, has an existing zoning designation that allows it to drill for oil; however, a future alteration of the zoning code is possible, which if approved could re-designate land-use policy and ban drilling at the Dump Road property altogether or more closely regulate drilling projects. Currently, land designated for Coastal Dependent Industry in Carpinteria is zoned to permit drilling for onshore oil, but the council’s decision asks city staff to review and/or recommend alterations to the types of industry that fit into the Coastal Dependent Industry category. Linda Krop, chief counsel of the Environmental Defense Center, urged the council to not be afraid of adopting a designation that protects the public from “risky” oil and gas operations. “You have the ability to re-designate properties in the public interest,” she told the council. Whereas Ian Livett, local vice president of Venoco, stated that any drilling at its Carpinteria location would be on just one acre, with initially a single onshore drill. “This does not include hydraulic fracturing and never will,” said Livett. “It will provide oil needed by California and (millions) in royalties to Carpinteria and Santa Barbara County.” Opposing any ban on drilling were many other Venoco employees and associates who stressed that the company is environmentally friendly and provides much-needed jobs in a tough economy. Ike Ikerd, General Manager of Clean Seas, a Carpinteria company that provides oil-spill response equipment, trained personnel and expertise in the planning and execution of response techniques, said, “If the council goes through with this (banning drilling), it will cost jobs, and Clean Seas will go out of business.”
CITY COUNCIL continued on page 14
RIKI MaTSuMuRa
an autumn tradition at Carpinteria Family school, the annual Harvest Festival, had students, from left, Connor Boyd, Jackson shields, Kayleb Hanacek and silke Leonard, learning how cream turns into butter. Other than shaking jars of cream, students also participated in cleaning and cutting vegetables for stone soup, learning rhythms in a drum circle and seasonally inspired art activities.
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DOBBINS
The City of Carpinteria saw its Hospice Tree craned in on Nov. 24, a sure sign that the holidays have arrived. The Light up a Life celebration, which provides opportunities to celebrate the lives and memories of loved ones with lights and stars, is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Hospice Tree in Seal Fountain Plaza. Hospice of Santa Barbara will host the event for the 31st straight year. The suggested donation to purchase a commemorative star is $15. To purchase one, call 563-8820. For further local holiday event listings, see “Hello Holidays” on pages 12 and 13.