Richmond Planning Commission to Require a Comprehensive Cap on Chevron's Crude Oil

The Richmond Planning Commission voted to require a "comprehensive crude cap" as a part of Chevron's proposed expansion of its Richmond oil refinery. "This was a significant step fotward for environmental justice in the city of Richmond and beyond," said Dr. Henry Clark, executive director of the West County Toxics Coalition. Hundreds of community members with the Richmond Alliance for Environmental Justice, a coalition of community-based organizations, packed the hearing and urged Richmond's Planning Commission to stop Chevron from expanding the refinery's capacity to process heavier and dirtier crude oil.

The crude cap would limit the quality of the oil entering into the refinery and was a central demand of the Alliance. Three of the five Planning Commissioners (Charles Duncan, Nagaraja Rao, and Stephen Williams) voted to require a comprehensive crude cap as a condition of approval of Chevron's project, going beyond what the Planning Department staff had recommended.

"The proposed cap on one unit by the city staff was a good start, but it was not sufficient. It would not have prevented Chevron from refining dirtier crude and increasing its pollution," said Roger Kim, associate director with APEN. "The Commissioners recognized that and should be commended for requesting a comprehensive cap." "Chevron says a crude cap would be unprecedented. We say it's necessary to address serious environmental racism," said Carla Perez, program director with CBE.

"We look fonvard to seeing a full and comprehensive crude oil cap that ensures no increase in pollution. We still have work to do on this and reducing the refinery's existing pollution." Thoungsoun Phuthama, a Laotian leader with APEN said, "I feel like I can sleep a little bit better and breathe easier tonight knowing that we are close to stopping Chevron from refining dirtier oil in Richmond."

The Planning Commission continued the hearing until June 19 where the language for comprehensive ap on the quality of Chevron's crude input into the refinery will be considered. esidents rallied before the hearing spinning "Chevron's Wheel of Misfortune," playing on the popular ame show. Residents and supporters of the Alliance were rewarded with pie pieces that read
"childhood asthma," "cancer" and "skin irritations." uring the spirited rally, residents and supporters also delivered speeches next to a banner reading,

Don't Let Chevron Gamble with Richmond's Future." Several talked about their own health onditions or noted the death of friends and family members from respiratory ailments and cancer.

Richmond Alliance for Environmental Justice includes: Atchison Village Environment Committee, Communities for a Better Environment, West County Toxics Coalition, Laotian Organizing Project/Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Richmond Progressive Alliance, Richmond Greens, Richmond Vision 2000, ACORN Contra Costa County, Richmond Equitable Development Initiative, Urban Habitat, Faithworks!, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy, Rainforest Action Network, Amazon Watch, Direct Action to Stop the War and Environmental Health Coalition (partial list).