Natural gas may be next on North American rails

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

NEW YORK, – As politicians debate the dangers of a massive increase in oil carried by rail in North America, railroads and energy producers are considering the same for natural gas.

By Reuters   Jun2 17, 2014

http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/19585/

Posted in Danger! Crude-by-Rail, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Important Upcoming Events for Other Oil Port Cities

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

Reposted from Sunflower Alliance

Planning Commission Hearing on Chevron Project FEIR

Wed., July 9, 6:30 pm

John F. Kennedy H.S. Cafeteria
4300 Cutting Blvd., Richmond

The first hearing on the FIER for the Chevron Project will be held by the Richmond Planning Commission. This hearing is a vital opportunity to restate how important safety –for workers and residents– and emissions controls are and to express support for the alternative endorsed by the AGO, 6.5.11, along with robust mitigation measures and “other improvements.”

For details, map and directions, go to Richmond Planning Commission Chevron Project EIR

Benicia City Planning Commission Protest

Thursday, July 10, 5:00 pm
Benicia City Council Chambers
250 E L St., Benicia

Join Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community to protest Valero’s dangerous crude by rail project proposal and/or to comment under the public comment portion of the hearing. Please arrive at 5 PM to assemble for the protest before the Planning Commission meeting. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), an environmental impact review must be done for this project. A Draft Environmental Impact Report (“DEIR”) has been created and the community currently has a 45 day comment period.

For details and more information, go to Benicia Planning Commission Valero Protest

Posted in Featured Events, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Help educate parade-goers about the proposed Crude by Rail expansion in Benicia!

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

Benicia Torchlight Parade. Thursday, July 3

Original Post by Nick Despota  Sunflower Alliance   June 30, 2014
You are invited to join Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community in the Independence Day eve, torchlight parade on Thursday, July 3, in downtown Benicia on First Street. We are opposing Valero’s dangerous crude by rail project being proposed in Benicia.

Help us educate the community by passing out informational flyers to the public as we march in the parade. Benicia’s Independence Day parade stretches along First Street and includes dancers, floats, clowns, entertainment – and this year, a call for health and safety in Benicia. We will have some posters, but please feel to bring your own. Meet at the Benicia Community Center outside on the deck at 5:30 to gather before the parade.

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Letter to the Editor: Volatile crude by rail IS a concern

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

By Martinez Environmental Group  June 26, 2014  The  Martinez Gazette

“In other words, this train is going right through Martinez! It rolls over the (rusty) Alhambra trestle carrying 3,000,000 gallons of Bakken crude, the same oil that has been exploding all over North America and that killed 47 people in Lac-Megantic, Quebec.  According to maps recently released by the Natural Resources Defense Council, an explosion by an oil train on that track would threaten thousands of Martinez residents and endanger five schools located within the zone of impact.”   

http://martinezgazette.com/archives/15628

Posted in Martinez Gazette Column | Leave a comment

HazMat Commission Supports the Public’s Right to Know

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group
On June 26th, the Contra Costa County Hazardous Materials Commission voted 8-0 with 3 abstentions that AB 380 should not be supported unless it is amended to include the right for the public to get information on crude by rail shipments moving through communities! The Commission will send a letter to the County Board of Supervisors advising them of their position. The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors will discuss AB 380 and SB 1319 at their July 8th meeting.
 
Please send letters of support for the AB 380 revision and for SB 1319!  
Send them addressed separately to each Contra Costa County Supervisor:
John Gioia
Mary Piepho
Federal Glover
Karen Mitchoff
Candace Andersen
at
[Name of Supervisor]
651 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Posted in Bakken Crude, Danger! Crude-by-Rail, Tar Sands | Leave a comment

Revealed: Routes for Trains Hauling Volatile Crude Oil in California

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

[MEG Note: There is some speculation that UP is not reporting trains spotted coming over the Carquinez trestle and through downtown Martinez only because they are hauling TAR SANDS oils which are not reportable under the DOT May 7 Order. This may be why it has been so hard to identify the unit trains in downtown Martinez.]

By Molly Samuel   KQED Science   June 25, 2014

Image.

http://blogs.kqed.org/science/2014/06/25/revealed-volatile-oil-train-routes-in-california/

Posted in Danger! Crude-by-Rail | Leave a comment

Martinez: Most crude oil delivered by pipeline, not rail

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group
By Dana Guzzetti   CC Times   06/24/2014
[MEG note: The amount of crude oil by rail imported to California’s refineries is set to increase from
1% of total imports in 2013 to 25%, or 150 million barrels, by 2016, according to state energy officials.]

http://www.contracostatimes.com/News/ci_26024221/Martinez:-Most-crude-oil-delivered-by

Posted in Bakken Crude, Danger! Crude-by-Rail, Tar Sands | Leave a comment

Wolk responds to delayed release of report on crude-by-rail shipment

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

Timely disclosure to state, communities urged

Woodland Daily Democrat   06/25/2014

“While I applaud the Office of Emergency Services’ release of BNSF Railway’s after-the-fact disclosure of a crude-by-rail shipment through nine Northern California counties earlier this month, what the public wants and what local responders need is information regarding future shipments of crude oil by rail, in order to better prepare any necessary response in the event of any potential accident or mishap with this hazardous cargo,” Wolk said. “I call on the federal and state government to require railroads to provide advance notice regarding hazardous material shipments through our communities.”

http://www.dailydemocrat.com/breakingnews/ci_26033887/wolk-responds-delayed-release-report-crude-by-rail

 

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Environmental Water Caucus Shreds ‘Misleading’ Bay Delta Conservation Plan

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

By Dan Bacher  EGN  June 14, 2014

“Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta (RTD), characterizes the BDCP as ‘a construction project masquerading as a habitat conservation plan.'”

Image

http://www.elkgrovenews.net/2014/06/environmental-water-caucus-shreds.html#sthash.TLD1OKLh.dpuf

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Supreme Court upholds rules curbing greenhouse gases from power plants

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

By David G. Savage  LA Times   June 23, 2014

“…requires new or rebuilt factories and power plants to use the “best available technology” to limit their emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.”

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http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-supreme-court-power-plants-20140610-story.html#page=1

Posted in Climate Change, Refineries | Leave a comment