CITY OF PACIFICA
170 Santa Maria Avenue • Pacifica, California 94044-2506 www.cityofpacifica.org
MAYOR
Christine Boles
VICE MAYOR
Greg Wright
COUNCIL
Sue Beckmeyer
Mary Bier
Mayra Espinosa
Scenic Pacifica
Incorporated Nov. 22, 1957
August 21, 2026
Nicole R. LeBoeuf,
Assistant Administrator for Ocean Services and Coastal Zone Management NOAA/National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
Subject: “Comments on Performance Evaluation of the California Coastal Management Program” Nicole R. LeBoeuf:
I am writing to comment on the Federal Performance Evaluation of the California Coastal Management Program. The City of Pacifica is a strong supporter of the Coastal Act, Coastal Management Program, and the efforts taken by the Coastal Commission to protect and preserve our coastline.
Pacifica is a coastal community in San Mateo County, just south of San Francisco. The city is defined by the coast, the mountains, and a strong commitment to open space. Approximately 50% of the land within the City boundary is protected open space.
Pacifica Mayor Christine Boles said: “Our coastline is an integral part of what makes Pacifica so special.
Protecting our coastal beaches, wetlands and critical habitat, trails, fishing spots, and surfing breaks for current and future generations is key to our economy and to our collective mission of stewardship. The Coastal Commission protects our amazing coastline for all of us by carefully reviewing and balancing these issues. I am in full support of the Coastal Zone Management program including the prohibition of offshore drilling.” California’s coastline supports one of the world’s richest marine ecosystems. It provides habitat for whales, sea otters, seabirds and sea turtles, and sustains commercial and recreational fisheries. It attracts millions of visitors each year and fuels coastal economies. At the same time, our state has opened more than 2,500 ways for people to reach the shoreline, launched more than 1,000 miles of the California Coastal and Bay Trails, restored more than 50,000 acres of environmental habitat, removed almost 24,000 acres of fill in the San Francisco Bay, and invested more than $2 billion in protecting our coast from extreme events, conserving coastal landscapes and expanding public access.
For more than 50 years, the Coastal Act has given California and other coastal states a meaningful voice in federal decisions affecting their shorelines. Coastal Commission efforts have restored more than 100,000 acres of habitat, from kelp forests and estuaries to coastal dunes; removed over 26 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways; and given Californians (and Pacificans) a voice in decisions affecting their shoreline.
California works with federal agencies and project proponents to ensure that federally authorized activities are consistent with the state’s coastal policies. It notable that since 1978, the California Coastal Commission has 2 supported approximately 96% of the federally regulated applications while simultaneously protecting our coastline.
This data driven and collaborative approach to protecting our coastline is especially important given that the Federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Draft Leasing Program, released in November 2025, proposes 34 lease sales covering 1.3 billion acres. These proposed lease sites, which could start as early as 2027, include potential lease sites in the “Central Californian Program Area,” which includes the entirety of the coastline in Pacifica. (See:
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/24/2025-20760/notice-of-availability-of-the-11th-nationalouter-continental-shelf-oil-and-gas-leasing-draft) The Coastal Commission’s balanced and pragmatic approach to coastal protection is needed now more than ever. Many Californians remember the catastrophic coastal oil spills of the past. While we might have disagreements with the Coastal Commission on detailed and specific local issues, we enthusiastically support the Coastal Commission’s efforts to protect our cherished coastline.
Please contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions.
Best Regards,
Sean Charpentier
City Manager
cc:
Congressman Sam Liccardo
State Senator Josh Becker
State Assemblymember Marc Berman
San Mateo County Supervisor Ray Mueller
California Coastal Commission staff and Commissioners