Repost from KCBX FM Central Coast Public Radio
Santa Maria Refinery’s controversial oil train project is topic of public forum
By KCBX Newsroom, Tue March 31, 2015 5:16 pm
A controversial plan to ship oil by train to the Phillips 66 Santa Maria Refinery will be the topic of a public discussion Thursday night in Grover Beach.
Key players from both sides of the issue are scheduled to attend. Representatives from Phillips 66, as well as the Oil Refinery Watch Group [Mesa Refinery Watch Group] are expected to present their arguments for and against the rail project.
The forum is being organized by Karen Bright with the South County Democratic Club of San Luis Obispo County. Bright says this issue is important to many people in the area.
“We had put it out to our members—various things and items, subject matter that they’d like to have presentations on throughout the year—and this was the one that rose to the top,” said Bright. “I think because it’s so current and there are so many differences of opinion, so we just wanted to get the facts from both sides.”
A growing number of cities, counties, and other governmental bodies located along the Union Pacific rail line have expressed concern over the project. They’ve sent official letters to the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission.
Phillips 66 says a quarter million barrels of crude oil would arrive at the facility each week, should the rail connector be approved.
The company says that crude would be transported on modern rail cars that exceed current regulatory safety standards.
MEETING DETAILS:
- Wednesday, April 1, 2015
- The Grover Beach Trouville Community Center, 1230 Trouville Avenue, Grover Beach, CA
- Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m.
- Contact: South County Democratic Club of San Luis Obispo County