[Note from BenIndy: Take the $1.2 million penalty Valero must pay for major flaring incidents at the Benicia Refinery in 2017 and 2019, for example. These incidents directly impacted the health and safety of Benicia residents, and yet it’s possible that Benicia may never see a dime of that penalty. Why? What can be done to ensure that communities directly, immediately, and tangibly impacted by negative health and safety situations created by refineries are directly, immediately, and tangibly compensated? Frequent BenIndy Contributor Kathy Kerridge got in touch with the following.]
ATTENTION to everyone who would like to see refinery penalties go to the community
We’ve all been waiting for the time when we can have input about how penalty fines from refineries can get back to the local community.
On Thursday, January 18, at 6:00 pm, the Community Advisory Council of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) will hear from the Air District staff about possibilities.
This is your chance to weigh in on what should happen to the fines the refineries pay when they pollute our air, and how much of the fines will be returned to the local community.
Here is the link to information about the meeting:
Advisory Council Meeting Re.: Penalty Funds
There will be community input.
The meeting will be both in person in SF and on Zoom. I hope that people who are concerned about this can go into the meeting in person. If not, please plan to attend by Zoom.
This is particularly important for all refinery communities. These fines have been substantial, and we want to make sure that the communities that have been harmed at least benefit from some these penalties.
Please spread the word. Contact kathykerridge@gmail.com if you have questions or if you would like to try to carpool or go together on BART.
Kathy Kerridge
BCAMP Board Member
Good Neighbor Steering Committee
Progressive Democrats of Benicia Chair
SEE ALSO:
- Bay Area air regulators didn’t tell public about illegal emissions for three years. Can residents trust what comes next? | SF Chronicle, March 2022
- Big Oil reaps record profits while the planet burns. California should curb its greed | LA Times, February 2023
- Governor Newsom Unveils Price Gouging Penalty on Big Oil’s Excessive Profits to Protect Californians from Being Ripped Off | Oct. 2022 Press Release
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