Why is SLO County Planning Commission ignoring Phillips 66 environmental report?

The Final Environmental Impact Report addressing the Phillips 66 rail spur and crude oil unloading facility that would be located at the Santa Maria Refinery in Nipomo, and that was prepared for the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission, has been completed.

The FEIR identifies five potential and unavoidable Class 1 impacts:

1. Agricultural resources: Oil spills along the Union Pacific railroad tracks bring risks to agricultural areas.

2. Air quality: Both rail and refinery operations bring pollutant emissions along the mainline rail routes.

3. Hazards and hazardous materials: There are spill risks to public safety associated with the movement of trains.

4. Public services and utilities: Currently, there are insufficient fire protection and emergency services along the UPRR mainline.

5. Water resources: There is the potential for accidental oil spills along the UPRR mainline tracks that would impact water resources.

Why would the Planning Commission request an EIR if, after the results are reported, they disregard it in the name of jobs and profits?

Watch this May 16 Planning Commission meeting at www.slocounty.ca.gov/planning/meetings.htm and see for yourself. If you were a Planning Commissioner with integrity, collaboration, professionalism, accountability and responsiveness as guiding values, would you dismiss the conclusions of your own EIR?

This story was originally published July 17, 2016 at 6:52 PM with the headline "Why is SLO County Planning Commission ignoring Phillips 66 environmental report?."