Ordinances Related to Protections Against On-Shore Support Facilities for Off-Shore Oil and Gas or Deep-Sea Mining or Exploration

The City of Santa Cruz is enacting two ordinances to strengthen protections against on-shore infrastructure supporting off-shore oil and gas drilling and deep-sea mining and exploration. Ordinance 2026-13 amends the zoning code by adding a new section and revising existing provisions to explicitly prohibit on-shore support facilities for deep-sea mining in General Industrial and General Industrial/Performance Districts, extending the existing restrictions already in place for oil and gas operations. It also mandates that any future zoning changes to permit such facilities—whether for oil and gas or deep-sea mining—must be approved by a vote of the people, ensuring direct public oversight. Ordinance 2026-12 similarly updates the Local Coastal Program Implementation Plan to align with these zoning amendments, closing regulatory gaps and applying the same prohibitions to deep-sea mining activities within the coastal zone. Both ordinances incorporate science-based findings that detail the ecological, public health, economic, and climate risks associated with these industries, reinforcing the city’s commitment to evidence-driven policy. New definitions are added to the municipal code to clarify terms like “on-shore support facilities” and “deep-sea mining,” ensuring consistent enforcement and reducing ambiguity. The changes create a unified regulatory framework that treats off-shore oil and gas and deep-sea mining with equal concern, reflecting the growing scientific consensus on the environmental harm caused by both. These updates apply specifically within Santa Cruz's jurisdictional boundaries and are designed to safeguard local ecosystems, community health, and long-term economic stability by preemptively blocking infrastructure that could enable destructive industrial activities near its coastline.