Category Archives: Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community

Bakken Crude, Bay Area, Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, Communities For A Better Environment (CBE), Crude By Rail, Derailment, Emergency Readiness & Response, Explosion

KPIX VIDEO: Bay Area activist Andrés Soto on explosion in West Virginia

Repost from KPIX News
[Editor: Thanks to KPIX for local coverage, but we regret that this report did not mention Mr. Soto’s role as spokesperson for Benicians For a Safe and Healthy Community. This report also missed an opportunity to cover the highly successful grassroots efforts here in Benicia to stop a proposed crude by rail development at Valero Refinery.   – RS]

West Virginia Train Derailment Is Reminder Of Bay Area Bakken Oil Shipment Vulnerability

Bay Area environmentalists are anxiously watching reports of a train derailment in West Virginia because the same Bakken crude oil is transported through Martinez and Richmond.  Christin Ayers, (2/16/15)

Benicia CA, Benicia Herald, Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

Valero Crude by Rail ranked #1 news story in Benicia for 2014

By Roger Straw, January 30, 2015

The Benicia Herald published a separate section today, “The Year 2014 In Review.”  Counting down dramatically from #14, the #1 story of the year was “Opponents, supporters of Crude-by-Rail Plan square off as city leaders mull decision.”  Subtitle: “For second straight year, Valero Refinery’s permit request dominates Benicia news.”

Editor Marc Ethier will not be publishing the special section online.  When asked, he indicated it would only be for print subscribers.

The article bends over backwards to present a balanced view of the controversy, giving Valero’s perspective and naming our local organized opposition, Benicians For a Safe and Healthy Community and other groups and government entities that were critical of the project and/or it’s environmental review.

It’s appropriate that our local paper recognized the controversy as the City’s #1 story last year.  Benicia finds itself in the crosshairs of a growing nationwide debate, and Valero’s dangerous and toxic proposal would, if approved, affect communities all up and down the rails.

The Benicia Herald’s #6 story of 2014 was “Mayor, city attorney in free speech flap.”  For more on this, see our Local Media page.

Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, Crude By Rail, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

VIDEO: Benicia Community Forum on crude by rail, Jan. 18, 2015

Community Forum & Update on Crude By Rail

Benicia, California, January 18, 2015

Speakers:
Antonia Juhasz – 4:18
Diane Bailey – NRDC 21:36
Marilyn Bardet, Benicia Activist – 40:03
Andrés Soto, Benicia Activist – 1:02:03

Many thanks to videographer Constance Beutel!

On Jan 18, 2015 Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community held a Forum to update the community on the Valero Crude by Rail project status.

DETAILS …

    • Nearly 100 people gathered to learn more about Valero’s crude by rail project and how it might affect Benicia residents at a Community Informational Forum on Sunday, January 18, 2015, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Doña Benicia Room. The Forum was sponsored by Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community (BSHC), a grassroots organization advocating responsible environmental action and currently working to STOP crude by rail in Benicia.
    • Guest speakers included:
      • Antonia Juhasz, oil and energy analyst, award-winning author and investigative journalist, and
      • Diane Bailey, Senior Scientist in the Health and Environment Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council.
    • Members of BSHC also provided an update on their work.
      • Marilyn Bardet discussed the history and status of the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).
      • Andrés Soto discussed the local, regional and cumulative impacts of transporting crude oil by rail.
    • Questions, discussion and brainstorming followed.
    • For more information about the Community Forum or BSHC, please call (707) 742-3597, or email info@SafeBenicia.  For more information about Valero Crude by Rail check out  SafeBenicia.org.  Of course, you can find lots of info here on BeniciaIndependent.org.
Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community, Crude By Rail, Valero Benicia Refinery

Benicia Community Forum & Update, January 18, 1-4pm, Benicia Library

ANNOUNCING . . .
Community Forum & Update, Sunday, January 18, 1-4pm, Benicia Library

FacebookStopCrudeByOil_cover(267)Learn more about Valero’s crude by rail project and how it might affect Benicia residents at a Community Informational Forum on Sunday, January 18, 2015, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Benicia Public Library, 150 East L Street, Doña Benicia Room. The Forum is sponsored by Benicians for a Safe and Healthy Community (BSHC), a grassroots organization advocating responsible environmental action and currently working to STOP crude by rail in Benicia.

You’ll hear from guest speakers:

  • Antonia Juhasz, oil and energy analyst, award-winning author and investigative journalist, and
  • Diane Bailey, Senior Scientist in the Health and Environment Program for the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Members of BSHC will also provide an update on our work.

  • Marilyn Bardet will discuss the history and status of the project’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR).
  • Andrés Soto will discuss the local, regional and cumulative impacts of transporting crude oil by rail. There will be plenty of time for questions, discussion and brainstorming.

For more information about the Community Forum or BSHC, please call (707) 742-3597, or email info@SafeBenicia.  For more information about Valero Crude by Rail check out  SafeBenicia.org.  Of course, you can find lots of info here on BeniciaIndependent.org.