1984_01 The Daily Collegian January 1984

              fffrMKB &    Jan. 30.1984
Court's ruling endangers state's rights
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f~\ I though things have been seemingly quiet on the Western
front since the resignation of former Secretary of the Interior
James Watt last November, there is more danger now than
ever before that California is losing the right to control what
goes on along its own coastline.
On January 11, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a 5-4
decision that California, as well as other coastal states, do not
have the legal right to intervene in any federal government
sale of oil and gas leases more than three miles off their
shores. The decision left many California state officals and
environmentalists feeling stunned and somewhat helpless. And
deservedly so. Their own governor — George Deukmejian—
thought the decision "made sense."
As a result of that ruling, California has ji by diction over
ocean waters up to three miles from the shore. Anything
beyond that three-mile limit, known as the "outer continental
shelf," falls under the almighty hand ofthe federal government
In the short run, the high court's decision opens the sale of
oil and gas tracts in the Pacific Ocean near the Santa Maria
Basin (just north of Santa Barbara.) The areas directly
affected by these sales will range roughly from Pismo Beach
to Morro Bay. The broad wording of the ruling leaves no
power to California to oppose any other federally-operated
projects, which includes deep-sea mining, the movements of
nuclear-powered submarines, and the dumping of toxic
wastes. In essence it was a major victory for the Secretary of
the Interior William P. Clark and the Reagan administration
and a slap in the face for states' rights.
In the long run, the approved off-shore drilling projects
pose a direct hazard to various coastal resources as well to the
marine animals who habitate the coastal waters. All too often
wc see and hear about oil spills off the California coast and
how it endangers the lives of many marine species of animals.
The consequences, in these cases, more than outweigh the
purposes of oil drilling: Oil development has never been, nor
will it ever be, free from oil spills. Some of the inhabitants of
the coastal waters are aiready on the endangered species list —
the sea otter for one — and there's no need for man to help
them along in that respect.
Further on down the food chain, oil drilling also poses a
hazard to human health in the consumption of the affected
animals, not to mention the public at large who frequent and
swim in coastal areas. Ask anybody who has ever been around
the beach near an oil spill how hard it is to remove the tar from
their bodies.
Besides being a threat to human and animal life, oil derricks
obtruding from the ocean's surface provide an unsightly and
ugly backdrop to the splendor of an otherwise beautiful
coastline.
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, which in
essence gave the state the authority to control and plan any
kind of development on its own coast, was overturned by
the Supreme Court. This is a prime example of the federal
government overstepping its boundaries in a matter where it
would be easier to determine the exact biological and econom¬
ical effects of offshore oil developments before the oil com¬
panies have invested millions of dollars in getting the projects
underway. Apparently, the federal government doesn't see
things quite that way.
■The California Coastal Commission may be in for one of its
biggest battles ever. Without the power to outwardly oppose
Clark's policies, the state of California has but one real choice:
to have the state Coastal Commission appeal the ruling and
somehow tie up the oil companies in the courts. It is some¬
what reassuring, as well, that the 11 states that make up the
nationwide Coastal States Organization stand behind the
Golden State all the way.
Where James Watt failed in his environmental policies due
to resistance from former Gov. Jerry Brown over oil develop¬
ment, Clark has succeeded. Only those living in a coastal state
such as California can appreciate and respect the uniqueness
of its natural resources and marine animal dwellings, not to
mention the spectacular beauty of these areas. These are
things that go beyond economical or financial value in more
ways than one, and its about time the federal government, in
conglomeration with the oil companies, took its eyes off
its short-sighted goals long enough to sec the light.
At this point in time, it's not whether the oil development
will proceed, but rather when and where the new projects are
to be intiated off the California coast.
Brian Covert
Editor in Chief
■fi"
•3a.»84
Food service to get
new storage facility
The CSUF Food Services will soon be Besides food being stored in the metal
the proud possessors of a much needed building the university will also use the
storage facility, which will be built south    extra space to store equipment used by the
of Barstow Avenue near O'Neill Park. Food Services such as carts.
According to Food Services Director "We've had a problem in the past of
Rick Finlay, CSUF plans to start except- equipment used by Food Services sprout¬
ing bids from builders in the middle of ing legs and walking away mysteriously.
February to construct a 65 x 140-foot This should solve that problem," Finlay
metal building. Finlay added actual con- said.
struction should begin by the end of The University will also use the building
February. to store computer paper there.
"We havea dire need forstoragecapac- Food Services has  had an in :rcasing
ity on this campus," FinUy said. "We have volume of business the la»t: jw > »ars and
most of our supplies are stockpiled in little they have been losing space. Food Servi-
nooks and crannies all over campus." ces currently does four million dollars
The new storage facility would allow worth of business a year,
the university to buy bulk quantities and Food  Services has a budget set at
*     "              ave money. $100,000 for Ihe new storage building.
food items tc
IFA provides answers
By Anna-Maria da la Fuante
Contributing writer
For most students college life is a series
of problems to be tackled and questions to
be asked; there are, however, a select few
who seem to have all the answers.
Five CSUF students, calling themselves
Ihe "IFA: Information For AH", intrigued
passers-by in the Free Speech area Friday
with their knowledge.
"Go ahead, ask us anything," urged
Phil Sutton, one member of the IFA,
while fellow member Mike Niehoff defended
his stance of the Upocoming presidential
"Reagan is goingtowin,"he said co nfidcnlialfy.
"I'm sorry to tell you that, I'm a Democrat
too. But the Democrats will just have to
wait til "88."
Still another member. Lonnie Mtlllins.
entertained the audience of 10'people
with venereal disease statistics. ■
"One out of 10 studenu on this campus
has herpes." he said.
He then began counting: "One, two,
three....nine, ten. You in the plaid shirt
back there, you're the lucky winner." ■
The group also includes Stan Diebert
and Jon Nichols. Sutton said the five
decided to form the group during winter
break, "just to provide information."They
plan to appear in the Free Speech area two
more times this semester, but have set no
definite dates.
Associated
Students
Announces
The Asociated Students Senate
lis now accepting funding requests
from interested organizations
for the 1984-1985 fiscal year.
All interested parties should
contact the
Associated Students Office,
College Union Room 316
between 8AM and 5PM
for a budget request form.
The deadline for
Budget  Requests is
■ Friday, February 10, 1984.
Late requests
will not be considered.
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