ACTION ALERT- January 26, 2009
Santa Barbara County Action Network
INFORMATION & ACTION ALERT
Greetings SB CAN members and friends! Please take a few moments to review the upcoming events and news. Here they are in brief:
1. California State Lands Commission hearing regarding Tranquillon Ridge, January 29, Santa Barbara
2. Housing Element Update: Affordable Housing Focused Rezone Hearing, January 27, Santa Maria
3. Community Events:
*Santa Barbara - A "Green Carpet" award ceremony celebrating Get Oil Out 40th anniversary, Jan 30
* San Luis Obispo - League of Women Voters Lunch and Learn, January 31
*Guadalupe - Community Planning Meeting, February 5
4. SB CAN Column: Holding Greka accountable for spills
Here's more detail:
1. Tranquillon Ridge at the California State Lands Commission hearing
WHAT: Tranquillon Ridge Hearing, State Lands Commission
WHEN: Tuesday, January 29, Noon
WHERE: Hotel Mar Monte- Cabrillo Room 2nd Floor, 1111 Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara
SB CAN is one of 25 environmental groups supporting the landmark agreement which in April, 2008, EDC and their clients, Get Oil Out! and Citizens Planning Association, negotiated with PXP. This agreement calls for shutting down four platforms and two onshore processing and support facilities in Santa Barbara County. In return, as part of the Tranquillon Ridge project, PXP will be allowed to slant drill from an existing federal platform (Irene, located offshore Pt. Arguello) into state reserves, for a limited period of time.
The project will not require any new construction, and will not extend the life of existing operations. In exchange, PXP will shut down oil production from Platform Irene, the Lompoc Oil and Gas Plant, and hundreds of acres of onshore oil and gas wells, in 2022. PXP will also shut down three other platforms (Hidalgo, Harvest and Hermosa, located offshore Pt. Conception) and the Gaviota onshore facility in 2017. Without this agreement, these platforms can continue drilling for oil and gas indefinitely. In addition, this infrastructure could be used to support future drilling into surrounding areas.
The County of Santa Barbara Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors approved the project in 2008. Now the State Lands Commission and Coastal Commission must act on the proposal. This deal is supported by 25 environmental organizations, including:
Sierra Club California l The Ocean Conservancy l Surfrider Foundation l Planning and Conservation League l
League of Women Voters of California l Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations l The Otter Project l
Sierra Club Los Padres Chapter Sierra Club Arguello Group l Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter l
League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara l League of Women Voters of Santa Maria l Community Environmental Council l
Heal the Ocean l Gaviota Coast Conservancy l Santa Ynez Valley Association l La Purisima Audubon l Santa Barbara Audubon l
Friends of the Ellwood Coast l Santa Barbara County Action Network l Conception Coast Project l Carpinteria Valley Association l
Environmental Defense Center l Get Oil Out! l Citizens Planning Association l
Please send your comments to the State Lands Commission at Lunettk@slc.ca.gov. The following are excellent speaking points:
The Tranquillon Ridge project will benefit the state by shutting down existing oil drilling, thereby decreasing the risks of an oil spill
The Tranquillon Ridge project will benefit the state by removing critical oil infrastructure
The project will be carbon neutral and will provide additional funds to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
The project will result in the conveyance of almost 4,000 acres of lands for permanent public protection and use
For more information on the Tranquillon Ridge project please take a look at EDC's media packet.
2. Housing Element Update: Affordable Housing Focused Rezone Hearing
WHAT: Board of Supervisors Hearing
WHEN: Tuesday, January 27 (Last item on agenda # 9)
WHERE: Betteravia Government Center, 511 E. Lakeside Parkway, Santa Maria
[Or attend by remote video at the Santa Barbara County Administration Building -105 E. Anapamu, 4th floor hearing room]
State law requires that each County conduct a Regional Housing Needs Assessment every five years to ensure that enough land is zoned for all income levels. The County largely mismanaged its obligation to rezone for high-density housing during the 2003-2008 process by not balancing the real needs of the community. The County went from trying to put all the affordable housing rezones in the semi-rural Orcutt area, to putting all of them in Isla Vista, a tiny densely-populated community that serves a large university-hardly what you'd call "fair-share" housing that would meet the real needs of low-income families across the county. The State ended up certifying most of the rezones in Isla Vista, but the County must still account for an additional 370 units and is considering three sites in Orcutt. SB CAN advocates creating sustainable communities by building housing in urban areas within walking distance of basic needs and services, while also preserving open space and recreational areas.
SBCAN SB CAN supports the Planning Commission's and County staff's recommendation to rezone portions of Orcutt Key Sites 3 and 16 to meet the Housing Element requirement for an additional 370 high-density multiunit residences. Key Site 16, located at gateway of Old Town Orcutt, is within a short walking distance of basic urban services needed by residents of high-density, low-income housing. In addition, multi-story units would be compatible in an area that already includes multi-story buildings. Rezoning this site for high-density multi-family units would create a more vibrant, compact Old Town, helping to support current and future businesses. An underground parking garage envisioned for this site could easily be incorporated into a high-density multi-story residential facility.
On the other hand, Key Site 30 ( an option favored by some groups) is located under a no-build flight-path for the airport. Placing high-density housing at the end of a no-build flight zone would be irresponsible. In light of recent airplane crashes in Lompoc, San Diego, and the Hudson River, and the fact that aircraft have been forced to make emergency landings near KS 30 in the recent past, the Board should err on the side of caution when approving high-density development within or at the end of flight paths.
Join us on January 27 to urge the Supervisors to keep in mind the principles of sustainability when planning for affordable housing.
4. Community Events
WHAT: A "Green Carpet" award ceremony celebrating Get Oil Out 40th anniversary.
WHERE: The Cabrillo Arts Center, 1118 E. Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara
WHEN: Friday, Jan 30 at 6:00pm
Get Oil Out! was formed in the first hours following the devastating 1969 oil blowout from Platform A. This catastrophe helped inspire the modern environmental movement, and the creation of many important local environmental organizations, including the Community Environmental Council, the Environmental Defense Center, and UCSB's Environmental Studies Program.
GOO! continues to protect the SB Channel from oil development, and to promote renewable energy.
To look back at an important piece of history & to look forward to a more sustainable future, all Friends of GOO!, including Congresswoman Lois Capps, Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Mayor Marty Blum, members of S.B.'s Environmental Community are all invited to this Green Carpet" award ceremony honoring local environmentalists and commemorating an important chapter in Santa Barbara's history with the premier of a documentary about the 1969 oil blowout. Delicious vegetarian cuisine will be served. (Vegan/wheat-free available - special request on RSVP).
Please RSVP (space is limited, don't delay!) Tickets are $69, to be paid at the door, and includes a membership to Get Oil Out! and carbon offsets for the event. RSVP to rsvp@getoilout.org or hannaheckberg@gmail.com or 805-453-3336
"Santa Barbara Fancy" dress welcome, but not required. Hope you can join us for a wonderful time.
WHAT: League of Women Voters Lunch and Learn
WHERE: Madonna Inn*, 100 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
WHEN: Saturday, January 31st, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
The League of Women Voters invites you to start your New Year with an exciting Lunch and Learn. This event is presented by the LWV South Central Coast Environmental Task Force, with the San Luis Obispo County League as host.
Featured Guest will be Lois Capps, 23rd District Representative, speaking about proposals for Congressional action on offshore oil and alternative energies.
Cost: $25.00. Includes Entrée, served with potatoes or rice pilaf and a vegetable, green salad, homemade dinner roll, coffee, iced tea or milk and a dessert from the bakery. Make checks payable to LWVSLO (League of Women Voters San Luis Obispo). Mail to Jean Holmes, 3749 Brenner Dr., Santa Barbara, CA 93105. We will arrange car pools as needed.
*The Madonna Inn is offering a corporate rate to any one wishing to spend the night in San Luis Obispo. Call 805-543-3000 and mention "LWV corporate rate" or email info@madonnainn.com
WHAT: Guadalupe Community Planning Meeting - Developing Goals and Objections
WHERE: Senior Center, 4545 Tenth Street, Guadalupe
WHEN: Thursday, Feb 5 at 6:30 pm
A group of Cal Poly graduate students are working as consultants to the City of Guadalupe in developing a Community Plan. This is the third meeting in the visioning process with a focus on developing goals and objectives.
We hope you will attend the community meeting, and invite anyone else you know who lives in, works in, or visits Guadalupe. SB CAN believes it is important to be involved in shaping a vision for your community's future.
Childcare will be provided as well as refreshments. The website for the DRAFT Background Report can be found at www.guadalupe2030.com
5. SB CAN Column: Holding Greka Accountable for spills
Every second and fourth Friday, SB CAN writes for the Looking Forward column in the Santa Maria Times. All of our columns are posted on our website www.sbcan.org under the "SB CAN Editorials." Our columns can also be found in the Lompoc Record and Noozhawk.com.
Holding Greka Accountable
by Deborah Brasket, SB CAN Executive Director
Deja vu" is how one reporter referred to the series of oil spills by Greka oil facilities last month, totaling 14,000 gallons, and the frustrated laments of Santa Barbara County supervisors responding to the new spills. This series of spills so clearly echoes similar happenings a year ago.
In January 2008. I wrote a column detailing the series of oil spills that occurred between November 2007 and January 2008, totaling 59,000 gallons of crude oil and toxic water spilled into the creek beds just south of Santa Maria by Greka oil facilities.
Much of what I wrote is still relevant. Here are a few excerpts:
"These spills are only the most recent of hundreds of violations that Greka has committed over the past eight years, incurring more than $2.5 million in fines and penalties.
"Environmental authorities, including representatives from the Department of Fish and Game, Regional Water Quality Agency, county Air Pollution Control District, and county Fire Department, all agree that the number of Greka's violations far exceeds that of any other oil operator in the area.
"The frequency of the violations, averaging one every 10 days, has been particularly challenging to the agencies' limited staff and resources. Most of these violations, spills, and accidents were caused by the dilapidated condition of Greka's equipment and infrastructure.
"One inspector reported finding that a leaky holding tank had been 'repaired' by plugging the corroded hole with a tree branch.
"This lengthy string of accidents, violations, fines and lawsuits provides a strong indication of neglect, incompetence and irresponsible business practice. Such practices jeopardize not only the environment and the health of the community, but also the safety and livelihood of Greka's employees.
"Supervisors Wolf and Carbajal, and Assemblyman Nava are to be commended for drawing attention to a problem that should have been addressed years ago.
"Had measures been taken then to force compliance with county and federal policies, and to demand the repair and replacement of deteriorating infrastructure, our community could have been spared repeated toxic gas leaks and oil spills, and the county saved from countless hours of needless clean-ups.
"Taxpayers could have been saved millions of dollars in wasted spending, and Greka employees and their families spared the potential loss of incomes.
"Greka must be held accountable for its history of neglect and irresponsibility, its failure to adequately repair or replace deteriorating infrastructure, and its disdain for county policies and regulations created to protect workers, the environment and human health. It is not enough to pay a monetary fine for this kind of irresponsibility.
"Habitual violators run the risk of being shut down permanently. Only businesses that take seriously their social responsibility, respect the rule of law and promote the welfare of the community should be allowed to operate in Santa Barbara County."
So what's changed between January 2008 and now? Not much apparently, or certainly not enough to prevent continued spills. County staff created a list of five recommendations to address the problem, which were approved in January 2008.
The recommendations included additional operational efficiency standards, increased inspections and fines, a central database to track offenses, a multiple-response ordinance and a high-risk offender ordinance.
What's been missing is direct action to revoke the permits of those operators who, after all these efforts, and all this time, fail to comply with basic safety and environmental protection laws.
The supervisors discussed this problem Tuesday at their hearing on onshore oil facilities. Hopefully, with a new board majority, they will soon take action to stop the repeated offenses once and for all.
Deborah Brasket is executive director for the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SB CAN). She can be reached at 722-5094, or Deborah@sbcan.org. Looking Forward runs every Friday, providing a progressive viewpoint on local issues.
Date:
26 Jan 2009 - 7:27pm