Berkeley, Enviros Cite Concerns Over Two-City Refinery Project

"BERKELEY -- Oil trains that could roll through some Bay Area cities on their way to a Central Coast refinery will not carry volatile Bakken crude, but another type that comes with equally dire threats to the environment and public safety, environmentalists warn.

Canadian tar sands oil would be the likely cargo under the Phillips 66 Rail Spur Extension Project under review by San Luis Obispo County. Concerns about the project are included in comments submitted last month by the city of Berkeley and environmental organizations about plans to bring crude oil by rail to Santa Maria for pre-processing and from there by pipeline to Rodeo.

The comment period for the Recirculated Draft Environmental Impact Report ended in November and a public hearing is scheduled in February."

Tom Lochner reports for the Oakland Tribune December 9, 2014.