WHEREAS:

AFSCME members recently involved in cleaning up perhaps the worst inland oil spill in the San Francisco Bay Region; and

WHEREAS:

The Environmental Protection Agency was found lacking in surveillance of oil storage tanks adjacent to environmentally sensitive areas; and

WHEREAS:

The Deukmejian administration has curbed the effectiveness of the California State Fish & Game in its efforts to restore the devastated land by an ecological plan instead of an oil industry's plan; and

WHEREAS:

The Reagan administration has proposed to allow off-shore drilling along the Northern California Coast in areas that are more vulnerable and unstable than in a contained environment around an oil refinery.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the U.S. Congress to halt any present and future attempts to proceed with off-shore oil drilling along the beautiful and pristine Northern California Coast; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the U.S. Congress to provide the Environmental Protection Agency with increased financing and the authority necessary to assure the protection of our inland waterways; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME urge the California State Legislature to direct Fish & Game to take a more pro-active and energetic role in guarding against environmental disasters and seeking swift prosecution of violators and restoration of spoiled areas in a manner that is consistent with environmental rather than industrial needs.

SUBMITTED BY:

Margaret Kelley, Vice President
AFSCME Local 2428, Council 57
Albany, California