untitled

need for full disclosure and effect on local community

Valero Energy receives a lot of tax breaks.


Remember: Louisiana has spent the past several years slashing its operating budget. For example, since 2008, the higher education budget has been gutted by $673 million. With a $1.6 billion budget gap projected for the 2015-2016 fiscal year, yet more cuts are expected for higher ed, not to mention other critical budget priorities.
But none of that has curbed the state's business incentive programs.
A large number of Louisiana's incentives are handed out through the Industrial Tax Exemption Program. It waives property taxes for 10 years when a manufacturer makes a capital investment.
State records show, since 2008, Valero Energy has received $315,514,865 in those exemptions, ExxonMobil $263,647,394, and Cleco $180,603,508.
http://www.fox8live.com/story/28037527/zurik-11-billion-later-louisianas-incentives-fail-to-deliver


AND Valero Energy receives tax breaks in Houston
http://airalliancehouston.org/news/houston-gives-valero-yet-another-tax-break/

soil borings

Valero zoning on Jacob Drive

Soil boring work began along the Jacob Canal, presumably for the construction of multiple parking lots and an Admin Building.  Although the Public Hearing to Amend our Land Use Map and Comprehensive Plan was cancelled due to weather, it seems soil boring work has begun, indicating Valero likely will continue efforts to change the zoning from Residential to Commercial. 

St Bernard Parish Government reviews its land use plan for Major Changes every five years. However, anyone can submit a Minor change  proposal in January of any year. The February meeting to decide whether or not to adopt such Minor amendments was cancelled due to weather. It is unclear if Valero's proposal to expand into our neighborhood was classified as a Minor amendment or not. That vote on the amendment seems to be re-scheduled for March 22 2016.


Even without the Amendment to Commercial Land Use, Valero can apply for a Zoning change from Residential to Commercial.  A reasonable constituency would expect such an application to be denied on all accounts as not being consistent with the land use plan----  but then again, maybe local officials have an understanding with Valero that has yet to be revealed to the residents.


Even though Valero repeated assured residents there were no plans for the neighborhood properties, other than the existing empty lots which serve as the intended greenspace, and despite multiple public records requests of local government for any agreement with St Bernard Parish Government  and Valero Energy for development of the greenspace, including use of Road Home LLT lots, it seems Valero expects the residents to “accommodate adjacent Valero refining expansion.”   

Valero could be a good neighbor, and honor its agreements with the residents, and stay on their side of the fence.  Not the first time Valero has been disingenuous.

oil in AT&T box along St Bernard Highway

Historical groundwater contamination may be cause of seepage of oil into AT&T utility box.

March 25, 2015, January 13, 2016, and January 27, 2016 incidents under investigation, due to potential impact to groundwater.  No indications it is associated with current or historic refining operations.

Earlier observations were believed to be residual surface runoff from an October 2013 crude oil release.  


It was only on January 27 2016 when seepage was described by AT&T personnel inside the box, that Valero determined that this may, instead, be the result of historic groundwater contamination.

On January 27 2016, AT&T personnel arrived outside the Valero fence-line to conduct maintenance activities inside a concrete service box located along St. Bernard Highway.  After noticing an oily sheen and standing water in the box, AT&T personnel coordinated with Valero to pump down and enter the box.      Incidents remain under investigation.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0brISkNUPw2bDZsVVZhZXRlVGM/view?usp=sharing


http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=10088035&ob=yes&child=yes

puzzling developments

Recent unsolicited offers by Valero Energy to purchase residential homes in Chalmette include stipulations that the homeowners may not remove any existing home security cameras, plants, vegetables, fruit trees, and other personal items, such as bathroom mirrors and ceiling fans     ……………  Is this an indication Valero seeks to house workers in our neighborhood?
or do Valero's demolition crews need to supplement their pay …………..  

last Tuesday's public hearing was canceled due to weather and the cancellation sign indicated the meeting was re-scheduled to March 22 2016

which direction are we going in St Bernard ?

PUBLIC HEARING TUESDAY 4pm Proposal to change land use to Commercial
Friday a sign was placed near Ohio Street


 "The land use designation [change to commercial] is to accommodate adjacent Valero Refining expansion."   
http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2016/02/valero-energy-meraux-refinery-expansion.html




Thomas Friedman The first law of Petropolitics

http://foreignpolicy.com/2009/10/16/the-first-law-of-petropolitics/

 

The first law of Petropolitics :  the price of oil and the pace of freedom always move in opposite directions

“. …the higher the oil prices rise, the more free speech, free press, free and fair elections, an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and independent political parties are eroded… the higher the price goes, the less petrolist leaders are sensitive to what the world thinks or says about them …the lower the price of oil the more petrolist countries are forced to more toward a political system and society that is more transparent, more sensitive to opposition voices, and more focused on building the legal and educational structures that will maximize their people’s ability…. “

Valero Energy Meraux refinery expansion plans

Valero Energy Meraux refinery expansion plans includes administration building in adjacent neighborhood.   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0brISkNUPw2dVVIQUlBSm9fNTA/view?usp=sharing

 "The land use designation is to accommodate adjacent Valero Refining expansion."

The Public Hearing is Tuesday February 23rd at 4pm in the SBPG Council Chambers. 




Below is from a 2/16 meeting of the planning executive committee, which meets to receive such proposals, but does not have public hearings. 


Hopefully Valero sends the appropriate representatives Tuesday so it can be a public meeting with resident input and not a PR meeting .... residents in this neighborhood have gone that route, more than once, for many years. Let's keep all discussions in public so we all know what's being negotiated. 

The homes on Despaux Drive are noted Residential properties currently being sought out by Valero? (Not on critical path for admin bldg completion if buffer zone can fall on side of block already owned by Valero).  There are also two houses on the river end of Despaux and one house on the river end of Lena that Valero indicates in commercial use.


It is unclear what this proposed land use map change really is; it doesn't seem this could be the entire plan, because there were several references about other inherent parts of the plan that are not in this proposal.