PUBLIC INTEREST AND ATTITUDE 



Public and government response to the accelerated OCS leasing pro- 

 gram and the environmental issues it raises for California has been 

 quite obvious. Two governmental organizations, in addition to the OCS 

 Task Force, were formed to consider the dangers posed by leasing and 

 development. The Southern California Council of Local Governments, 

 organized by Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, and the Santa Barbara County 

 Task Force, organized by Albert Reynolds, Director of the Santa Barbara 

 County Office of Environmental Quality. 



The Southern California Council of Local Governments concerned 

 with the federal government's proposal for accelerated OCS oil and gas 

 development consists of the following: the Cities of Los Angeles, San 

 Diego, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Santa Barbara, Riverside, Newport 

 Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes Estates, Rancho Palos Verdes, Laguna 

 Beach, Huntington Beach; the Counties of San Diego, Santa Barbara, 

 Orange; and the Southern California Association of Governments. 



Representatives of twenty-six organizations testified at the hear- 

 ings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Sale 35. Hearings 

 on the Draft Environmental Statement on development of Santa Barbara 

 Channel OCS lands drew speakers from eight local environmental groups, 

 and several local and State officials also spoke. Among those who 

 testified in opposition to development were Congressman Charles Teague, 

 Assemblyman Don MacGillivray, Santa Barbara Mayor David Shiffman, Santa 

 Barbara Supervisor James Slater, and representatives of the State Divi- 

 sion of Fish and Game and the League of Women Voters. 



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