CBR – 2016 Project Review

Here you can download critical studies and public comments on Valero’s dangerous and dirty Crude-By-Rail proposal.  Comments are arranged most recent at the top.  This page displays ONLY 2016 comments.  See CBR – PROJECT REVIEW at right for earlier years’ comments.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON VALERO CRUDE BY RAIL – 2016

MOST RECENT COMMENTS:

Recent expert and officials’ comments OPPOSING crude by rail:
Recent COMPOSITE public comments on the City’s website, including expert reports and public letters

City Council hearing – March 15, 2016

Planning Commission hearing – Feb. 8-11, 2016

Planning Commission WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTS – Feb. 8-11 Hearings       On March 4, 2016, the City of Benicia released written transcripts of the public hearings on Valero Crude By Rail, Feb. 8-11.  Download directly from the City’s website, or from belowNote that “Condensed Transcripts” include all text, but pages are reduced to appear 4 pages on each page – AND they also include an extensive INDEX at the end. “Full Transcripts” show a single page on each page, and have no index.

The highly anticipated RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION to deny certification of the EIR and to deny a use permit for Valero’s Crude By Rail project. (This is the Benicia Independent’s searchable-text version of the Resolution.  The City’s original can be found here.) HIGHLY IMPORTANT Comments on the FINAL DRAFT EIR  (The City posted the following letters in “composite” PDF documents.  Because of their importance and for easier access, I have separated them out into individual letters.  For links to the City’s originals, see below.)

Public Comments posted to the City website on 2/11/16:

    • Public Comments February 11, 2016 – 8 MB, 112 pages. In addition to many letters from concerned citizens, this document includes notable letters from Benician Amir Fioruz, Charles Davidson of Hercules, attorney Melissa Hagan of Union Pacific Railroad, Carol Warren of the Yolano group of Sierra Club, Jean Jackman, Dana Stokes, Lynne Nittler, Nancy Price and Frances Burke of Davis, Roger Straw of the Benicia Independent, Certified Law Students Rylee Kercher and Claudia Antonacci of Stanford Mills Legal Clinic.
    • Public Comments  February 9-10, 2016 – 2.8 MB, 39 pages. In addition to many letters from concerned citizens, this document includes notable letters from the Iron Workers Local 378, Laurie Litman of 350 Sacramento, Former Davis Planning Commissioner Nancy Price, Benician Pat Toth-Smith, Marilyn Bardet of Benicians For a Safe and Healthy Community, attorney Jackie Prange of NRDC, and Public Affairs Director Francisco Castillo of Union Pacific Railroad.
Public Comments January 29 – February 8 14.6MB, 265 pages.  Including a new letter from the Bay Area Air District (BAAQMD).  The document is too big to post here – the link takes you to the doc on the City’s website.  I am posting excerpted important letters below.  Here is my INDEX of this huge document, including discovery of an important omission.  – RS

EARLIER PUBLIC COMMENTS:

For safe and healthy communities…