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Attn: Central Coasters, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties et al, re: oil trains.
Something has been going on under our noses. Phillips66 and Union Pacific have entered an alliance to bring Alberta tar sands by rail to the Phillips/Conoco refinery in Nipomo. They want to build a railway spur so that they can accommodate the extra trains going there. Considering the frail state of our rails that really need infrastructure upgrading and the volatility of the product in the oil tank cars, it seems to be a very bad situation for the Central Coast considering that not one drop of the oil will be for the use of the residents in the path of potential dangerous explosions.
Here is a rundown of our civil rights in this debacle.
Civil rights in the “blast zone.”
The Phillips 66 oil train terminal project proposes to bring mile long oil tanker trains, each carrying 2.4 million gallons of toxic, flammable, explosive tar sand crude oil from Alberta, Canada through our county and communities five times a week for the next twenty years. The imported oil is refined primarily for export sale to Asia.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has formally designated a “blast and evacuation zone “ of one mile running parallel to the tracks in case of an oil train derailment (six so far this year in U.S. with five of them exploding). Thirty seven percent of the population of SLO county and forty plus public and private schools are in this blast zone. In some communities it is much more (Paso Robles 45%, San Luis Obispo 71%, Grover Beach 78%; Oceano 88%). Over 95,000 people are directly impacted yet very few of them even know it. There has been no formal notification to blast zone residents by any governmental agency. Why? Because the Phillips 66 “project,” for government purposes, only consists of the oil train terminal at the Nipomo Mesa refinery. It doesn’t count the many thousands who every week for the next twenty years will be subjected to the threat of derailment, fires, explosions, massive amounts of new air pollution from diesel engine exhaust and toxic, carcinogenic fumes vented from the tank cars carrying the dirtiest crude oil on earth. It doesn’t count the eleven significant environmental impacts on people, especially those living in the blast zone.
Local citizens have taken it upon themselves to begin canvassing the blast zones throughout the county with factual information flyers which inform people of the potential dangers to themselves and their property. What we are finding is that typically upwards of 90% of residents and business owners we talk to have NEVER heard any specifics about the Phillips 66 project. Just two days ago a colleague and I canvassed within one block of the train tracks running through Oceano. Only four of the approximate 100 persons we contacted knew anything about the project. Not surprising, after we briefly shared the facts of the project, 95% of them were opposed to it. It is easy to see when your community is being put at great risk simply for the profits of the seventh biggest corporation in the U.S. There is no significant benefit to us; just a lot of huge risks and for sure negative health consequences (not to mention huge economic and environmental risks).
When a multinational oil refining corporation proposes a project that puts your health, property, businesses, schools, economy, and environment at risk do you think you have a right to know about it? Why was Phillips 66 not directed to send a letter to EVERY residence and business in the blast zone across the entire county? The County is requiring Phillips 66 to inform every parcel within 300 feet of a new oil pipeline being laid along Old Oak Park road in Arroyo Grande and Pismo—and oil pipelines are the relative safest mode to transport crude oil. The most dangerous mode is mile long oil trains but the many thousands impacted by these disasters waiting to happen get no official word. The county planner in charge of the oil train project says the local media and county website provide sufficient publicity and they will do no more than the minimum required by their attorneys. A search of the Telegram Tribune data base shows six news stories regarding the P66 project in 2015. Local television stations have had virtually nothing to say about the project and featured a brief, and distorted piece, about the July 11 rally and march in SLO.
This is a civil and human rights issue—the right to know that something of this magnitude and impact is planned for your neighborhood should not be the responsibility of citizen volunteers. This is a fundamental responsibility of government—to inform us of significant risks to life and property so we can be part of the decision making process if we so choose . To not require specific public notification of all persons living in the blast/evacuation zone is a clear dereliction of duty and keeps the public uninformed and thus, uninvolved. Who likely benefits from that?
Local city councils and advisory bodies are beginning to show some interest in having more public discussion, as well they should. Most say they will await the final EIR before scheduling such events. This means that the County Planning office must leave a sufficient window of time (minimum eight weeks) between the release of the final EIR and the beginning of public hearings.
Thank you for your attention to the important issues this letter raises.
Charles Varni, Ph.D.
South County Coordinator, Stop Phillips 66 Project
Oceano Ca
The Phillips 66 oil train terminal project proposes to bring mile long oil tanker trains, each carrying 2.4 million gallons of toxic, flammable, explosive tar sand crude oil from Alberta, Canada through our county and communities five times a week for the next twenty years. The imported oil is refined primarily for export sale to Asia.
The U.S. Department of Transportation has formally designated a “blast and evacuation zone “ of one mile running parallel to the tracks in case of an oil train derailment (six so far this year in U.S. with five of them exploding). Thirty seven percent of the population of SLO county and forty plus public and private schools are in this blast zone. In some communities it is much more (Paso Robles 45%, San Luis Obispo 71%, Grover Beach 78%; Oceano 88%). Over 95,000 people are directly impacted yet very few of them even know it. There has been no formal notification to blast zone residents by any governmental agency. Why? Because the Phillips 66 “project,” for government purposes, only consists of the oil train terminal at the Nipomo Mesa refinery. It doesn’t count the many thousands who every week for the next twenty years will be subjected to the threat of derailment, fires, explosions, massive amounts of new air pollution from diesel engine exhaust and toxic, carcinogenic fumes vented from the tank cars carrying the dirtiest crude oil on earth. It doesn’t count the eleven significant environmental impacts on people, especially those living in the blast zone.
Local citizens have taken it upon themselves to begin canvassing the blast zones throughout the county with factual information flyers which inform people of the potential dangers to themselves and their property. What we are finding is that typically upwards of 90% of residents and business owners we talk to have NEVER heard any specifics about the Phillips 66 project. Just two days ago a colleague and I canvassed within one block of the train tracks running through Oceano. Only four of the approximate 100 persons we contacted knew anything about the project. Not surprising, after we briefly shared the facts of the project, 95% of them were opposed to it. It is easy to see when your community is being put at great risk simply for the profits of the seventh biggest corporation in the U.S. There is no significant benefit to us; just a lot of huge risks and for sure negative health consequences (not to mention huge economic and environmental risks).
When a multinational oil refining corporation proposes a project that puts your health, property, businesses, schools, economy, and environment at risk do you think you have a right to know about it? Why was Phillips 66 not directed to send a letter to EVERY residence and business in the blast zone across the entire county? The County is requiring Phillips 66 to inform every parcel within 300 feet of a new oil pipeline being laid along Old Oak Park road in Arroyo Grande and Pismo—and oil pipelines are the relative safest mode to transport crude oil. The most dangerous mode is mile long oil trains but the many thousands impacted by these disasters waiting to happen get no official word. The county planner in charge of the oil train project says the local media and county website provide sufficient publicity and they will do no more than the minimum required by their attorneys. A search of the Telegram Tribune data base shows six news stories regarding the P66 project in 2015. Local television stations have had virtually nothing to say about the project and featured a brief, and distorted piece, about the July 11 rally and march in SLO.
This is a civil and human rights issue—the right to know that something of this magnitude and impact is planned for your neighborhood should not be the responsibility of citizen volunteers. This is a fundamental responsibility of government—to inform us of significant risks to life and property so we can be part of the decision making process if we so choose . To not require specific public notification of all persons living in the blast/evacuation zone is a clear dereliction of duty and keeps the public uninformed and thus, uninvolved. Who likely benefits from that?
Local city councils and advisory bodies are beginning to show some interest in having more public discussion, as well they should. Most say they will await the final EIR before scheduling such events. This means that the County Planning office must leave a sufficient window of time (minimum eight weeks) between the release of the final EIR and the beginning of public hearings.
Thank you for your attention to the important issues this letter raises.
Charles Varni, Ph.D.
South County Coordinator, Stop Phillips 66 Project
Oceano Ca
I don't have a link for this but here are other links if you want to know more.
http://www.mesarefinerywatch.com/home.html
http://nebula.wsimg.com/5927055d8749f1ef9b3d0a60e1f44746?AccessKeyId=0E60C475556B74BDD577&disposition=0&alloworigin=1
Also, not in the links but talked about in the meetings is the fact that the trains go over the Cuesta Grade. If there is a derailment and explosion there, the resultant holocaust will pretty much wipe out the City of San Luis Obispo. Just some food for thought.
If you are an environmentalist, the railroad track also runs alongside a stretch of beach where whales and sea lions are playing, and our butterfly grove and Monarch sanctuary is there. Also this is a rural and wilderness area. Our wildlife stands to harmed. With all the sympathy for Cecil, the lion, all the way in Africa. Please have some empathy for our cougars, deer and coyotes that inhabit our landscape.
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= new reply since forum marked as read
the time bombs trains would run right through the middle of his District 2. 
That is, until there is an event. 
