Category Archives: Benicia Planning Commission

Benicia Planning Commission, Crude By Rail, Derailment, Explosion, Local Regulation, Public permitting, Revised Draft EIR (RDEIR), Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

Benicia Planning Commission – no more hearings for now

Repost from NBC Bay Area
[Editor:  IMPORTANT NOTICE: All speakers present were heard at the Tuesday, September 29 Planning Commission hearing, so previously scheduled additional hearings are now cancelled.  There will be no Planning Commission hearings on Sept. 30, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8.  Your comments on Valero’s Revised DEIR can be submitted in writing until October 30, 2015 – more info on sending written comments here.]

Residents Raise Concerns Over Valero’s Proposed Crude Oil By Rail Through Benicia

By Pete Suratos, September 29, 2015


A proposal to transport crude oil by rail through Benicia is not sitting well with residents, who came out in full force to a Tuesday night city planning commission meeting to discuss it.

The chances of the trains being derailed and something disastrous occurring is why residents are concerned with the proposal. Those who oppose the plan have until the end of October to let the city and Valero know their concerns.

During a special session at city hall late Tuesday, Valero pitched its crude-by-rail project to a packed house.

If approved, the refinery can receive up to 70,000 barrels of crude oil per day by rail, instead of by ship. The route would begin in Roseville and end at the refinery. In addition, the route will not replace the crude currently received through pipeline.

Valero said the use of rail is the only way to get the oil.

“The crude that we bring in by rail would offset the crude we bring from foreign sources that we bring by ship,” said Chris Howe of Valero.

The proposal, for resident Christine Caulder, is a risky proposition. Caulder attended Tuesday’s meeting and spoke as a concerned parent.

“When the air is so toxic you can’t go outside, I really can’t go to their school or I’m worried who’s sick or who’s not,” she said.

No actions on the project were taken by city leaders on Tuesday. Three more public hearings are scheduled — one on Wednesday and two more in October.  [CORRECTION: All speakers present were heard at this hearing, so previously scheduled additional hearings are now cancelled.  – RS]

Benicia Planning Commission, Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, Crude By Rail, Environmental Impacts, Environmental review, Public Health, Public Safety, Revised Draft EIR (RDEIR), Valero Crude By Rail

CALL TO ACTION: Public Comment on Revised DEIR for Valero Crude By Rail

Repost from Stop Crude By Rail Facebook Event (by Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, SafeBenicia.org)

HearingCALLTOACTION2015-09-29
Click on the image to go to the Facebook event page. Let them know if you plan to attend.

CALL TO ACTION: Public Comment on
Revised DEIR for Valero Crude By Rail
~ Planning Commission Hearing ~
Tuesday, September 29, at 5:30pm
Benicia City Council Chambers

The City of Benicia Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) for a proposed crude-by-rail project. The proposed project would allow the Benicia Valero Refinery to receive up to 70,000 barrels per day of its crude by rail. The project involves installation of a new railcar unloading rack, rail track spurs, pumps, pipeline and other infrastructure at the refinery.

The environmental analysis conducted to date indicates that there would be significant and unavoidable impacts on air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, hazardous materials and biological resources.

Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community and many other governmental agencies, organizations, businesses and individuals have also determined that there are huge safety risks, not only for Benicia, but for all communities and the environment along the entire uprail line from the extraction point to it’s destination in Benicia.

Please join us to voice your concerns about the added environmental impacts and safety risks that this project will add, by attending the first hearing on the RDEIR.

If you have any questions on this hearing, please contact our spokesperson Andrés Soto by calling him at (707) 742-3597 or emailing us at info@safebenicia.org.

Benicia Planning Commission, Environmental review, Revised Draft EIR (RDEIR), Valero Crude By Rail

Special meetings set for comments on Valero Benicia Refinery’s proposed project

Repost from the Vacaville Reporter (Also appearing in the print edition of the Vallejo Times-Herald and the Benicia Herald.  Most likely a City of Benicia press release.)

Special meetings set for comments on Valero Benicia Refinery’s proposed project

By Times-Herald staff report, 09/23/15, 6:13 PM PDT

Benicia >> A series of special Planning Commission meetings is set next week to give the public a chance to comment on the redistributed Draft Environmental Impact Report, or RDEIR, on the proposed Valero Crude-By-Rail project.

The meetings are set at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday, and Oct. 1 and 8, at the Benicia City Council Chambers, 250 East L St.

The meetings will be held only as needed. If all public comment has been received, the item will be closed and the additional meeting, or meetings, will be cancelled, officials said.

The meetings will provide an opportunity for residents who are seeking to make verbal comments on the document that was released Aug. 31.

Comments on the RDEIR may also be submitted in writing, no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. Written comments should be submitted to amillion@ci.benicia.ca.us or Principal Planner Amy Million at the Community Development Department.

For further information about the RDEIR and the public hearing contact Million at 707-746-4280.

The report can be reviewed at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St.; the Community Development Department, 250 East L St.; or http://bit.ly/1lBeeTt.

Benicia Planning Commission, Crude By Rail, Public permitting, Revised Draft EIR (RDEIR), Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

Public comment period on Valero Crude-by-Rail RDEIR extended by one day

Repost from the Vallejo Times-Herald

Public comment period on Benicia’s revised Crude-by-Rail report extended

By Times-Herald staff report, 09/01/15, 5:46 PM PDT

Benicia >> The city announced Tuesday afternoon that the public comment period for the revised report on the Valero’s proposed Crude-by-Rail project has been extended by a day.

“Due to the delay in the distribution of the Notice of Availability for the Revised Draft EIR (environment impact report) via mail,” the period has been extended to 5 p.m. on Oct. 16, according to the announcement.

The report was redistributed to the public Monday after comments from the public when the draft was first released in June, 2014.

The proposed project, would allow Valero Benicia Refinery to transport crude oil through Benicia via two 50-tanker car trains, rather than shipping the crude oil by boat. It will not replace the crude that is transported by pipeline.

The revised portions of the report are subject to a 45-day public comment period.

The Planning Commission will hold a formal public hearing to receive comments on the revised report on Sept. 29.

In anticipation of the number of speakers, additional Planning Commission meetings to receive comments are scheduled for Sept. 30, Oct. 1, and Oct. 8.

These additional meetings will only be held as necessary to hear public comment. All meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, Benicia City Hall, at 250 East L St.

No action on the projects will be taken at these meetings, staff said.

Comments may be provided at the public hearing, or may be submitted in writing, no later than the new deadline.

Written comments should be submitted to amillion@ci.benicia.ca.us or Principal Planner Amy Million at the Community Development Department 250 East L St.

The report can be reviewed at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L St.; the Community Development Department, 250 East L St.; or here.