League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Santa Barbara County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Measure P2014 Ordinance Prohibiting Certain Petroleum Operations Santa Barbara County Initiative ordinance - Majority Approval Required Fail: 42965 / 38.78% Yes votes ...... 67838 / 61.22% No votes See Also: Index of all Measures

Arguments For Measure P2014	Arguments Against Measure P2014
Santa Barbara County needs Measure P to protect against extreme oil extraction techniques like fracking, steam injection and matrix acidization. These processes can contaminate our water, endanger our families' health and increase the risk of earthquakes. Measure P protects our health and natural resources without cutting existing jobs or threatening our county's current tax revenue. Contrary to what opponents may claim, Measure P does not ban conventional oil drilling or affect existing lawful oil and gas operations. Nor does it prohibit operators from conducting routine well maintenance activities. Instead, it protects us against extreme techniques that can waste and pollute our drinking water, increase the risk of cancer, asthma and other illnesses, and generate significant air pollution and carbon emissions that worsen climate change. MEASURE P WILL PROTECT OUR WATER: The extraction techniques that Measure P bans--fracking, steam injection and matrix acidization--use enormous amounts of water and turn it into hazardous waste that can contaminate drinking water and farmland. During extreme drought conditions, we must conserve our water for our homes and agriculture, not waste and pollute it. MEASURE P WILL PROTECT OUR HEALTH: The toxic chemicals used in these techniques have been shown to cause cancer, birth defects and infertility. Children are at special risk for asthma and other respiratory ailments. Allowing these dangerous techniques poses an unacceptable risk to our families. MEASURE P WILL PROTECT OUR AIR: These processes dramatically increase air pollution, and generate much higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional methods. Measure P will allow us to keep producing energy while protecting our communities and natural resources. Protect our water. Protect our health. Protect our air. Preserve Santa Barbara's natural beauty, at no cost to our economy. Vote YES on Measure P. The undersigned authors of the argument in favor of Ballot Measure P2014 at the Consolidated General Election for Santa Barbara County to be held on November 4, 2014 hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. /s/ Das Williams, Assemblymember /s/ Terri Zuniga, Santa Maria City Councilmember /s/ Tom Shepherd, Shepherd Farms, Former President SB County Farmers Market Assoc. /s/ Lauren Hanson, Vice President Goleta Water District Board, Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter /s/ David Gold, Chair Rebuttal to Arguments For MEASURE P WOULD FORCE THE SHUTDOWN OF EXISTING OIL AND GAS WELLS. There is no hydraulic fracturing in Santa Barbara County. However, Measure P is so broadly written that it would ban common oil and gas production techniques used in 100% of the active wells in Santa Barbara County. - Source: Santa Barbara County Impact Analysis Report on Measure P, 6/13/14 MEASURE P WOULD CREATE THE BIGGEST FINANCIAL LIABILITY IN COUNTY HISTORY. "[W]hen asked whether he believed passing Measure P could lead to the biggest legal exposure the county could ever have, [Santa Barbara County Counsel] Ghizzoni gave a simple `yes'." - KSBY News, 7/29/14 "[T]he County of Santa Barbara would be on the hook financially for all legal [takings] claims with no insurance". - KCOY News, 7/29/14 The County's liability to owners whose mineral rights would be violated by P is estimated at hundreds of millions of dollars. And, without insurance, the County and taxpayers could face drastic reductions in vital public services, or unprecedented tax increases. MEASURE P WOULD REQUIRE SPENDING MILLIONS ON NEW BUREAUCRACY. The County would be required to hire additional staff and attorneys to process exemption claims from Measure P and to defend against lawsuits driven by Measure P. - Source: Santa Barbara County Counsel, 7/29/14 Maintaining the quality of Santa Barbara County's air, water, and public health is important to all of us. What's needed is a balanced approach, not Measure P, which is flawed, drastic, and would be extremely costly to residents throughout Santa Barbara County. Please Vote NO on P. The undersigned authors of the rebuttal to the argument in favor of Ballot Measure P2014 at the Consolidated General Election for Santa Barbara County to be held on November 4, 2014 hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. /s/ Dr. James Boles, UCSB Professor Emeritus, Earth Sciences /s/ Richard Russell, 3rd Generation Family Farmer, Cuyama Valley Santa Barbara County Firefighters Local 2046 /s/ Tyler Gilliam, Vice President /s/ Riccardo Magni, 2012 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association /s/ Don Oaks, President	Measure P is yet another example of a poorly written, flawed and costly ballot initiative. Measure P would result in an entire industry shutting down in our County, hurting thousands of families. Measure P would shut down oil and gas production. Santa Barbara County has concluded that 100% of the current oil and gas wells use one of the recovery methods banned by Measure P + these are normal production methods that have been safely used for decades. As a result, Measure P would shut down nearly all oil and gas production in Santa Barbara County. Measure P would harm our families, communities and the County. Over 1,000 workers would lose their jobs. Over $290 million annually in economic activity would be at risk. The County would lose millions in funding for vital government services. "Measure P would hurt Santa Barbara County in many ways, including forcing cuts in funding for public safety services and schools." - Adam Estabrook, President, Santa Barbara County Fire Fighters Local 2046 Measure P would put the County at risk for hundreds of millions or more in legal damages. The County's liability for lawsuits brought by owners whose mineral rights would be taken away is estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars or more. The County would be forced to spend millions to defend lawsuits and oversee claims, reducing funding for vital government services, such as firefighters and schools. Measure P would increase dependence on foreign oil. We need a balanced approach to meeting our energy needs that includes continuing local energy production under our state's strict environmental laws, and developing renewable energy resources. We should allow our local oil and gas industry to continue operating under strict regulations, rather than shutting it down and importing more foreign oil from countries with little or no regulations. Please Vote NO on P. The undersigned authors of the argument against Ballot Measure P2014 at the Consolidated General Election to be held on November 4, 2014, hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. /S/ Dr. James Boles, UCSB Professor Emeritus, Earth Sciences /S/ Richard Russell, 3rd Generation Family Farmer, Cuyama Valley Santa Barbara County Firefighters Local 2046 /s/ Tyler Gilliam, Vice President, /S/ Riccardo Magni, 2012 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association /s/ Don Oaks, President Rebuttal to Arguments Against The claims against Measure P are simply false. Oil industry boosters won't admit the serious risks posed by extreme extraction techniques like fracking, steam injection, and matrix acidization, so instead, they resort to making blatantly untrue claims about Measure P. Measure P does NOT affect current oil and gas projects or cut a single job. Existing oil and gas projects will continue to operate as usual and traditional oil and gas projects can still be developed. Any claim that Measure P will shut down oil production is wrong. Measure P does NOT cut any current oil or gas revenues. Opponents'misleading statements are based on the false claim that all production in the county will stop. Funding for schools and public safety is NOT threatened. Measure P is legally sound. Oil companies have been defeated in community after community, and courts across the country have ruled decisively that people have the right to ban these dangerous techniques. Measure P will not affect fuel prices or increase reliance on foreign oil. The small amount of oil produced here is sold on a global marketplace. Here's what Measure P actually does: Stops extreme extraction techniques, including fracking and matrix acidization, from spreading right next to our farms and food, putting our economy and our health at risk. Protects our precious water supply from waste and pollution, preserves our families' health, and reduces air pollution and carbon emissions that worsen climate change. Please vote YES on Measure P. The undersigned authors of the rebuttal to the argument against Ballot Measure P2014 at the Consolidated General Election for Santa Barbara County to be held on November 4, 2014, hereby state that such argument is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and belief. /s/ Marty Blum, Former Mayor of Santa Barbara /s/ Warner McGrew, Former Santa Barbara City Fire Chief /s/ Steve Beckmen, General Manager, Beckmen Vineyards /s/ Susan Epstein, Goleta School Board /s/ Stan Roden, Former Chamber of Commerce President Former District Attorney

Full Text of Measure P2014

The full text of Measure P2014 can be found at http://sbcvote.com/Elections/UpcomingElections.aspx under "Local Measure Information".