OPC calls for Resignation of MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Member

OPC calls for Resignation of MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force Member, increased MPA protections

(Comments Submitted to the MLPA Blue Ribbon Task Force on July 21)

by Judith Vidaver

I am the Chair of Ocean Protection Coalition. For over 25 years OPC, with our fisher and seaweed harvester allies, has protected our ocean from threats such as aquaculture projects, nuclear waste dumping, offshore oil development and recently, wave power plants.

We are requesting that final Marine Protected Area (MPA) designations under the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA) Initiative include language prohibiting industrial-scale commercial activities such as those cited above. Allowing such activities would not only threaten the very goals of the Marine Life Protection Act, but would also disrespect the incredible effort put forth by our community towards trying to implement this mandated program.

Additionally, OPC respectively and regrettably requests that Catherine Reheis-Boyd voluntarily step down from her position on the Blue Ribbon Task Force (BRTF). Oil and water do not mix—as we are daily being reminded by the disaster spewing in the Gulf. Mrs. Reheis-Boyd’s position as President of the Western States Petroleum Association and her lobbying efforts to expand offshore oil drilling off the coast of California are a patent conflict of interest for which she should recuse herself from the BRTF proceedings which are ostensibly meant to protect the marine environment.

OPC does not believe Mrs. Reheis-Boyd can provide unbiased, objective and science-based recommendations regarding placement and sizes of MPAs—especially if she may be privy to confidential oil industry information regarding areas of the coast of interest to the oil/gas industry.

Mrs. Reheis-Boyd’s recusal would also foster a greater sense of trust amongst the public—public trust being a commodity in short supply.

If Mrs. Reheis-Boyd does not recuse herself, OPC will request a full conflict of interest investigation.

The federal government is just now initiating the development of a National Ocean Policy. The MLPA process will be scrutinized as a model of how to proceed in the formulation of this policy. Therefore it is vital that the deficiencies of the MLPA be addressed and corrected. Removing the perception of a conflict of interest by one representing an ocean polluting industry would go a long way towards legitimatizing the MLPA process.

Ocean Protection Coalition
PO Box 1006
Fort Bragg, CA 95437
July 21, 2010