Repost (lead-in only) from Argus Media

Benicia seeks federal guidance on Valero rail

Houston, 21 April (Argus) — Officials in Benicia, California, have delayed a decision on an embattled Valero rail project proposal for up to five months to seek clarification from federal regulators.

The Benicia city council on 19 April voted to delay a decision until as late as 20 September as they seek an opinion from the Surface Transportation Board on whether federal rail regulations preempted local control over land use involving a proposed 70,000 b/d railed crude unloading facility at Valero’s 170,000 b/d refinery in the city.

“That is a precious decision-making ability that we have as a city and I wouldn’t give that up easily,” Benicia mayor Elizabeth Patterson, a project opponent, said before voting against the decision during the meeting. “I will go down fighting.”  (continued…)