By Roger Straw    June 17, 2014   The Benicia Independent
The City of Benicia posted the downloadable version of the Valero Crude By Rail Draft EIR this morning. The print and digital copies will be made available at the Benicia Planning Department later in the day.

We now have just 45 days to study this document and submit our thoughts, questions and critiques. These 45 days will be split into two segments:
We have 24 days between today and the Planning Commission hearing on July 10.
The remaining 21 day period following the public hearing might be extended for further study and comment. If not, the clock will stop on July 30.

We have petitioned the City for an extension to a total of 90 days. We hope the Planning Commissioners will also want more time, and will support our request.

Send your thoughts to the City of Benicia – You can make a difference! Ask questions and voice your concerns to the Planning Commission, City staff and our Mayor and City Council. (Note: When writing to the City Manager and Principal Planner, it helps to open with the phrase, “Please add my comments to the public legal record on Valero’s Crude By Rail Project and incorporate them as part of the review of its DEIR.“)

Send your comments to:
Brad Kilger, City Manager, by email: bkilger@ci.benicia.ca.us AND
Amy Million, Principal Planner, Community Development Department, by email: amillion@ci.benicia.ca.us.
Both may also be contacted by delivery to 250 East L Street, Benicia, CA 94510, or by Fax: (707) 747-1637.
To direct email to Planning Commissioners, send email to Amy Million, requesting her to forward on to Planning Commissioners.
Send your thoughts to the news media:
Benicia Herald, 820 First St, Benicia, CA 94510, or by email to Editor Marc Ethier, beniciaherald@gmail.com AND
Vallejo Times-Herald, P.O. Box 3188, Vallejo, CA 94590, Fax: 643-0128, or by email to Editor Jack Bungart, jbungart@timesheraldonline.com.

Stay tuned, and plan to attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings when Valero Crude By Rail comes up on the agenda. The formal hearing will be at the Planning Commission’s July 10 meeting, 7pm, City Hall. BE THERE! (Watch for further announcements on the Benicia Independent’s Events page.)