THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, COUNTY OF SAN MATEO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA DESIGNATING SEPTEMBER 11-17th, 2005 AS ” TOBACCO LITTER AWARENESS WEEK”

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WHEREAS, tobacco litter is the leading source of pollution found on San Mateo County’s beaches, and has ranked as the number one item collected during annual Coastal Clean Up Day for more than 15 consecutive years; and

WHEREAS, cigarette butts represent the single most prevalent component of our litter stream ~ three times greater than the second leading source of litter (food wrappers); and

WHEREAS, the 165 toxic chemicals trapped in a cigarette’s cellulose acetate (thermoplastic) filter leach into water and sediment contributing to non-point source pollution, compromising water quality and the welfare of wildlife habitats in our coastal watershed environment; and

WHEREAS, every year, the American Association of Poison Control Centers receives 8,000 reports of toxic exposure among children under the age of seven due to ingesting tobacco products; and

WHEREAS, the UN International Marine Organization reports that 177 species of marine animals and 111 species of seabirds are affected by discarded cigarette butts ~ needlessly causing starvation, malnutrition, and death of wildlife by ingestion; and

WHEREAS, litter clean up is estimated to be more than $1.7 billion in the state over the next decade representing a significant and growing cost to taxpayers, public health and safety, and the environment; and

WHEREAS, San Mateo County’s open space is 553 square miles of Northern California’s spectacular watershed landscape ~ 45 miles of coastline and beaches, 275 parks, three coastal estuaries, the bay and an ocean sanctuary, and where more than half of the endangered plant species in the United States, and 23 endangered or threatened wildlife species are found among San Mateo County's rare and important ecological habitats; and

WHEREAS, beaches are integral parts of coastal ecosystems and coastal communities, the leading recreational destination for residents and visitors alike, and the basis for coastal tourism ~ representing $9.9 billion annually and the largest of the seven “ocean dependent” industries contributing to the state’s economy;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that the Board of Supervisors of the County of San Mateo, State of California, hereby designates September 11 - 17th, 2005 as Tobacco Litter Awareness Week calling upon its citizens to observe this week by joining the effort to remove the growing amount of tobacco litter from our beaches, streets, parks and community neighborhoods during Coastal Clean Up Day, on Saturday 17, 2005 from 9:00 am – 12 noon; and thereby reducing the harmful impacts caused by cigarette butts and restoring the natural beauty of our coastal watershed landscape.

Dated: September 13th, 2005

SUPERVISORS:

RICHARD S. GORDON, PRESIDENT

MARK CHURCH

JERRY HILL

ROSE JACOBS GIBSON

ADRIENNE J. TISSIER

Attest:

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Deputy Clerk of the Board of Supervisors