A small volume of carbon dioxide leaked from two Union Pacific Railroad cars on Monday evening. City officials first received 911 calls about the incident around 5 p.m. The Benicia Fire Department traveled to the vicinity of 200 East Industrial Way and found two rail cars used by welding supply store Praxair Distribution, Inc. were […]
Union Pacific still investigating cause of derailment Saturday
A Union Pacific Railroad train derailed in Benicia on Saturday afternoon. The train, consisting of nine hopper cars, derailed near Bayshore Road in the Benicia Industrial Park around 3:40 p.m. No injuries were reported from the incident, and no hazardous materials were spilled. Union Pacific Railroad is currently investigating the situation, representatives for the company […]
What Benicia can learn from the Oregon train derailment
On Friday, June 3, a Union Pacific train carrying Bakken crude oil derailed in the town of Mosier, Ore. Fourteen rail cars came off the tracks, and four exploded over a 5 hour period. There are several things that the City Council needs to keep in mind whenever they re-open discussion of the appeal of […]
State AG: Valero DEIR ‘inadequate’
■ Kamala Harris letter to city: Crude-by-rail report fails to address multiple key issues In a letter composed Oct. 2, California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris urged Benicia to revise the Draft Environmental Impact Report prepared for the proposed Valero Crude-by-Rail Project. She and Deputy Attorney General Scott J. Lichtig wrote Benicia Principal Planner Amy […]
Open letter to the City Council: Support CBR
TO BENICIA CITY COUNCIL AND BENICIA PLANNING COMMISSION, RE: THE VALERO CRUDE-BY-RAIL PROJECT: Ladies and gentlemen, This letter is written in support of the proposed Valero Refinery crude by rail (CBR) project. I have a unique perspective on the issue, for two reasons: • I am a board-certified occupational and environmental medicine physician. Having researched, […]
Valero refinery engineers to address DEIR
Monday meeting requires RSVP Valero Benicia Refinery engineers will speak Monday at a public meeting on the refinery’s Crude-by-Rail Project and Benicia’s Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) that was released June 17. “Valero remains committed to informing the community about the project and to promoting public discussion of the DEIR,” refinery officials said in an […]
‘Significant’ impact to air quality from crude by rail
Long-awaited environmental report addresses, dismisses some concerns over Valero proposal, but says effect on area air would be ‘unavoidable’ After months of investigation and more than one delay, Benicia released the draft of an environmental report on the Valero Crude-by-Rail Project on Tuesday. The city chose to have the report drafted to meet requirements of […]
Planning Commission prepares for release of oil-by-rail report
Several residents spoke out Thursday about the proposed Valero Benicia Refinery Crude-by-Rail project, which would add train track to the refinery’s own property so Union Pacific could deliver domestic crude oil, replacing some of the oil currently supplied to Valero by oceanic tanker ships. Residents speaking to the Planning Commission asked that the public get […]
For Benicia’s sake, stop Crude by Rail
MANY THANKS TO THE BENICIA HERALD for its detailed coverage of Valero’s presentation earlier this week on its Crude-by-Rail Project. Donna Beth Weilenman’s lengthy report presented the very best in understanding Valero’s message. I was somewhat disappointed, however. A small but growing segment of Benicia residents and business owners attended Valero’s meeting, offering a peaceful […]
Crude by rail: An opportunity to lead
THE VALERO REFINERY WANTS TO BRING IN A NEW FORM OF CRUDE OIL to process in their refinery here in Benicia. Union Pacific Railroad will be the transporter. There is a host of safety concerns, not the least of which is the volatility of this newer crude. Should a mishap in transportation cause any one […]