Category Archives: Valero Benicia Refinery

Bakken Crude, Crude By Rail, Federal Regulation (U.S.), Local Regulation, Surface Transportation Board, Union Pacific Railroad, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

Union Pacific sends letter to Surface Transportation Board in support of Valero

By Roger Straw, June 17, 2016

Union Pacific letter to the Surface Transportation Board in support of Valero Benicia Refinery

Related imageOn June 17, Union Pacific Railroad (UP) sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board ” in support of the request of Valero Refining Company…for the Board to institute a declaratory order proceeding.”

UP is the railroad that would carry dangerous and dirty North American crude by rail through California’s mountain ranges, wildlands, towns and cities to Valero Refinery in Benicia, if Benicia’s City Council gives approval in September. Local observers here in Benicia have seen UP upgrading its infrastructure at great expense in anticipation of a Valero permitting success.

The UP letter is plain in its financial motivation, and says nothing about the health and safety of the earth or its inhabitants. The railroad asks for a free hand in all operations, direct or indirect, involving rail transport of hazardous materials.

Crude By Rail, Public Comment, Surface Transportation Board, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

Surface Transportation Board grants extension for public comments on Valero’s petition

By Roger Straw, June 10, 2016

BEFORE THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD: Request for extension granted

On June 6, 2016, a formal request was filed with the Surface Transportation Board seeking additional time (until July 8, 2016) for replies to the Petition for Declaratory Order filed by Valero Refining Company.

The request was made by attorneys representing Benicians For A Safe and Healthy Community, Center for Biological Diversity, Communities For A Better Environment, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco Baykeeper, Sierra Club, and Stand. The petition sought

The STB granted the request on June 9.

Bakken Crude, Crude By Rail, Derailment, Explosion, Public Comment, Take Action, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

VIDEO: Protest and public comments at Benicia City Council following the derailment in Mosier OR

By Roger Straw, June 8, 2016
[Editor: See also the Benicia Herald report on the protest and Council meeting.  – RS]
DayAfterMosier_BeniciaCA_2016-06-07(pan)
Protesters in Benicia CA following the derailment and explosion in Mosier Oregon. Sponsored by Benicians For a Safe and Healthy Community

At its June 7, 2016 meeting, Benicia’s City Council heard comments from the public on the derailment and explosion in Mosier Oregon. A group of about 30 had gathered to protest oil trains at Benicia’s busiest intersection, East Second & Military. Many of the protesters then marched to City Hall where the Council heard their comments. See the video below for public testimony.

Those speaking against crude by rail included:

    • Constance Beutel
    • Marilyn Bardet
    • Planning Commissioner Steve Young
    • Alan ____
    • Judi Sullivan
    • Pat Toth-Smith
    • Community Sustainability Commissioner Kathy Kerridge
    • Giovanna Sensi-Solani
    • Hadieh Ellias
    • Cathy Bennett
    • Sue Kibbe
    • Phyllis Ingerson
Benicia City Attorney Heather McLaughlin, Benicia City Council, Crude By Rail, Surface Transportation Board, Valero Benicia Appeal, Valero Benicia Refinery, Valero Crude By Rail

VIDEO: City Council directs Benicia City Staff to file a response to Valero’s petition to STB

By Roger Straw, June 8, 2016
(Be sure to scroll down for two videos: the 45 minute Council discussion, and a segment of the same video: 20 minutes of public comment.)

Benicia City Staff receives Council authority to hire an outside attorney to file a response to Valero’s petition to STB

On June 2, 2016, the Benicia City staff released a 5-page report to City Council for Council’s June 7 meeting. In the report, staff asked Council to “provide direction on whether to file a response to Valero’s petition to the Surface Transportation Board related to the crude by rail project and preemption.”

On June 7, City Council received the report and (if I understand correctly) directed staff to hire an outside attorney to file with the STB, and to consider additional attorney candidates other than those mentioned in the report.

The Benicia Herald reported on the Council’s June 7 meeting here. Minutes for the June 7 meeting are not available as of this writing. A video of the Council’s 45-minute STB/attorney discussion is available below.

The following video shows only the 20 minute PUBLIC COMMENT portion of the video above:

For more on Valero’s appeal, including its petition to the STB, go to our Project Documents page.  For public comments on the appeal and the petition, go to our Project Review page.