Successful Rally Against Kinder Morgan

Posted on May 31, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

ImageAbout 75 people gathered at the Kinder Morgan rail yard in Richmond, CA to protest the transfer of explosive Bakken crude oil from train to tanker truck. The product is unloaded in Richmond then trucked on Highway 4 to the Tesoro Refinery in Martinez, putting thousands of residents at risk along the way. A lawsuit was filed against the Bay Area Air Quality Management District for approving the transport of this type of crude without an Environmental Impact Report or any sort of public hearing.

   Speaking out against this dangerous practice were representatives from Idle No More, West County Toxics Coalition, 350.org, GreenAction, Communities for a Better Environment, Richmond Progressive Alliance, Sunflower Alliance, Global Community Monitor, and our very own Martinez Environmental Group, as well as author and oil industry expert Antonia Juhasz.

Image  Image

 

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

State denies Martinez plans for new school

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

”   unacceptable because it is transected by two gas pipelines, one water line and three oil pipelines. That means the existing school cannot be improved and no new public school may be built there.”

By Dana Guzzetti   05/27/2014

http://www.contracostatimes.com/martinez/ci_25843846/state-denies-martinez-plans-new-school

Posted in Health, Refineries | Leave a comment

New Report on Crude By Rail in North America

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

Imagehttp://priceofoil.org/content/uploads/2014/05/OCI_Runaway_Train_Single_reduce.pdf

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

Shell proposes project at its Martinez refinery to help decrease global warming while enhancing efficiency

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

By Tom Lochner   Contra Costa Times   05/27/2014

Imagehttp://www.contracostatimes.com/News/ci_25844954/Shell-proposes-project-at-its-Martinez

Posted in Shell | Leave a comment

See The Devastated Landscape Of The Alberta Tar Sands From 1,000 Feet Above

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

Hidden in plain sight, the Alberta tar sands fields are an industrial expanse where forests once stood. These aerial images capture the scenes of destruction.
By Photographer Alex MacLean

Imagehttp://www.fastcoexist.com/3029771/see-the-devastated-landscape-of-the-alberta-tar-sands-from-1000-feet-above

Posted in Tar Sands | Leave a comment

INCREASED OIL TRAIN TRAFFIC RAISES POTENTIAL FOR SAFETY CHALLENGES

Posted on May 26, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group
By Casey Christie    The Californian   May 17 2014
 
http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/business/oil/x1372326354/
Increased-oil-train-traffic-raises-potential-for-safety-challenges
Posted in Danger! Crude-by-Rail | Leave a comment

How to tell an oil train apart from others: photo guide

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

By Rob Davis   March 31, 2014 The Oregonian

Imagehttp://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/03/how_to_
tell_an_oil_train_in_or.html

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

Shell Public Affairs statement on flaring event yesterday (emphasis by MEG)

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

23rd May 2014
FLARING AT REFINERY–INCIDENT CONTROLLED

An operational issue at the refinery has caused some flaring on the Pacheco Blvd. side of the facility. The incident has now been controlled with no injuries and no community impact beyond the noise and an odor. A Community Warning System Level 1 incident has been called as a precautionary measure, which means there is no need for residents to shelter-in-place. This particular flare can be noisy, and Shell would like to apologize to our neighbors for any impact this caused.

A flare is a safety device used to combust excess gas at the refinery, and it was used properly in order to contain the operational issue we had. For business and competitive reasons, we cannot discuss the specific unit involved or production levels. As always, we would like to acknowledge our outstanding employees at the refinery for quickly addressing this situation.

– Steve (Lesher)

Posted in Shell | Leave a comment

What has Changed Since the Lac-Mégantic Disaster?

Posted on May 24, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

By Adam Federman   Utne Reader (This post originally appeared at Earth Island Journal.)

“…the oil has to travel long distances, in some cases thousands of miles, and is subject to fluctuations in temperature and pressure, a factor that Smith says can contribute to its volatility. As temperatures rise, the oil warms and expands. As the rail cars move and shake, volatile compounds like propane and butane can separate from the oil and rise to the surface, collecting in the headspace above the liquid petroleum. A small puncture, leak, or derailment accompanied by a static charge or spark can set off an explosion.”

http://www.utne.com/environment/lac-megantic-disaster-zb0z1405zjhar.aspx#axzz32Y6IzhAw

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

MEG Supports Los Angeles Moratorium on Fracking in CA

Posted on May 22, 2014 by Martinez Environmental Group

http://www.latimes.com/local/political/la-me-pc-groups-increase-pressure-for-moratorium-on-fracking-in-calif-20140522-story.html

Posted in Fracking | Leave a comment