Santa Cruz County voters appear poised to expand restrictions around new offshore fossil fuel drilling to related onshore facilities.
About 85% of early returns in Tuesday’s election were in favor of Measure D, which needs a simple majority to pass.
In 1986, voters passed a measure that would require voter approval for any permit to be issued to an offshore drilling operation. None has been approved since.
Advocates, including the nonprofit Save Our Shores and the Santa Cruz County Area Chamber of Commerce, decided to try to expand that voter check to onshore facilities and expand the restricted activities to include seabed mining, which involves processing sand mined from the seafloor to obtain rare earth minerals.
Backers of Measure D pointed to a recent effort by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to expand seabed mining under the current administration of President Donald Trump as a reason to enact the new regulation.
Ballots postmarked by Election Day can be counted if they are received by the county Elections Department by Nov. 10. But if the results hold, the measure looks to easily pass.