Thursday, April 21, 2016

An interesting evening at City Hall last night By Craig Snider

An interesting evening at City Hall last night

By Craig Snider, April 19, 2016It was an interesting evening at City Hall last night.

http://beniciaindependent.com/craig-snider-an-interesting-evening-at-city-hall-last-night/

According to Valero, and the “City’s” Valero-funded contract attorney; the City of Benicia has no right to deny the project, because Valero is a “shipper” and when a shipper uses a train to ship their goods, under federal law, nobody can stop them. That’s it in a nutshell.

In other words, if Valero wanted to ship nuclear waste to their refinery and store it there, the City can do nothing to stop them. End of discussion.

Someone needs to tell the citizens of Oakland to stop wasting their time fighting the Utah coal proposal since that city is apparently powerless to prevent a coal exporter from setting up shop and shipping coal out of the Port of Oakland.

Fortunately, our Attorney General and many other knowledgeable attorneys have informed the Council that this interpretation is wrong. A shipper’s rights do not trump State, County, or City zoning laws.

Unfortunately (for those of us that are tired of this issue), three City Council members agreed to postpone the decision until an “opinion” can be obtained from the Federal Surface Transportation Board which may or may not choose to offer their opinion regarding our situation.

Their opinion, if they offer it, is just that. And the City Council will still have to weigh the merits of the various arguments on either side of this issue and choose.

And in either case, a suit will likely follow.

Please share!

Thursday, April 14, 2016

pending buffer zone changes

The planning commission used the term "Recreation" for areas along canals to stop development and help with drainage. They also decided to use this "Recreation" land use designation for the Valero Energy buffer zone to lower residential, commercial, and industrial future development. The Comprehensive Plan adopted the definition of buffer zone as a landscaped area. And, Valero Energy planted a row of trees to comply.

For the Valero buffer zone: Recreation land use adjacent to the Valero Refinery in order to lower the amount of development – including residential, commercial and /or industrial- that may occur there in the future.

http://www.stbernardparishcompplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/StBPCP-Comments-Final.pdf

Now Valero seeks changes which are very disruptive to an entire neighborhood.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0brISkNUPw2bUhjMmRaMmIzaUU&usp=sharing

The item is advertised for another planning commission public hearing on April 26 2016 at 4pm in council chambers

Link to St Bernard Parish land use and comprehensive plan

http://www.stbernardparishcompplan.com/news/section-1-st-bernard-parish-comprehensive-plan-cover-and-table-of-contents/

Page 30 http://www.stbernardparishcompplan.com//wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Section7-LandUse.pdf

Page 67 http://www.stbernardparishcompplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Section11-ParksRec.pdf

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

ground water concerns

Valero Energy Meraux refinery ground water contamination concerns in a former solid waste unit and also in near by utility service boxes.

Valero's former solid waste unit was an in-ground unit; since closed, continued monitoring for ground water contamination is performed semiannually.

February 2016 monitoring detected indicator parameters of concern; with results believed to be anomalous due to error in laboratory analysis; therefore, verification re-sampling conducted.

LDEQ EDMS 101279379

Results showed detections of phenol at 0.0076 milligrams per liter and total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) aromatics > C16-C21 at 0.161 mg/l. The practical quantitation limits for phenol and TPH aromatics >C16-C21 are 0.001 mg/l and 0.15 mg/l, respectively.

In another area of the Valero Energy Meraux, Louisiana plant, recurring seepage of oil into an ATT service box has prompted investigation to identify the source and potential areas of concern for ground water contamination. Valero Energy seeks appropriate permits and letters of no objection for soil boring -- 20 (twenty) 10-foot deep soil borings to be drilled near the Mississippi River Levee. LDEQ EDMS 1014407 and 10088035

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

untitled

Sunday, March 27, 2016

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/

Friday, February 26, 2016

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.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

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

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SOS St Bernard

The Port of New Orleans wants to change our quaint quiet neighborhoods into an industrial wasteland. There are more suitable locations and alternative regional options that would better serve Louisiana and our nation in international container terminaling. It doesn't take much imagination to picture what thousands of daily 18 wheeler trucks will do to the only two roads in St Bernard Parish, or how the increased rail traffic will contribute to the unacceptable night trains and lack of rail infrastructure. #SOStbernard https://www.facebook.com/SoStBernard/posts/pfbid0ytfGpvgfRVDxqyiKky76GUN8of7H3H4muajw91o75onZBFZ8ncZxdeUiyz7E53qel

We all need to do our part

_______ ________ ________ ______ Paraphrasing another Council member's comments on sulfur dioxide issue. Our community has made tremendous strides to get where we are today. We are the fastest growing parish in Louisiana. That accomplishment took a lot of effort from the federal, state and local governments. But the credit mostly belongs to our residents. Those who chose to return and rebuild, and to our new residents who believe that we have something special to offer. And we do. Since the construction of the main hurricane protection wall, the fear of a storm surge (like Katrina) has been minimalized. Our residents recently voted to fund our local government's take over management of the internal storm water system, and we are taking steps to improve our ability to handle major rain events. But one factor that is beyond our control that could have a devastating impact on our ability to grow, and retain residents, is the environment we live in. That's where the role of LDEQ and EPA is so important. You see, we are a RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY that happens to have a couple of industrial residents. I say that because I hold industry as accountable to our community as I do our residents. I hold EPA and the LDEQ to the same standards. We don't have the technology, nor the expertise to handle environmental matters on our own. We will continue to do everything in our power to ensure that our community continues to grow and prosper, we just need EPA to do their part. A community that has economic development, but is losing residents, is not a community. That's not who we are. That's not where we want to go.

It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood; if they be repealed or revised before they are promulgated, or undergo such incessant changes that no man, who knows what the law is today, can guess what it will be tomorrow. Law is defined to be a rule of action; but how can that be a rule, which is little known, and less fixed?"

-- James Madison, Federalist #62

Public Participation

http://www.cleanwatershedcampaign.org/public-participation/

Over the years, this would be a familiar model of public participation. If
the panel was critical, its life was usually brief. Citizen oversight of one of
Michigan’s most powerful Fortune 500 companies would not be popular with
regulatory authorities, elected officials or more importantly, the Dow Chemical
Company......

Is this yet another exercise in futility or is it the finality so many of us
hope has arrived?

Do we participate in good faith? Eight years of Dow’s tactics of denial and
delay, eight years of frustration at the state’s impotence. Can the federal
government succeed? Can

the CAG succeed? Each individual active in this clean up will have to answer
these questions for themselves. I for one am not prepared to let any
opportunity to hold Dow and the EPA accountable slip away.

Terry Miller, Chairman Lone Tree Council

Land Use Plan Proposed

.

The St. Bernard Parish Government is proposing a new parish-wide Master Land Use Plan. Funding for this endeavor may be the Murphy Oil Crude Oil Spill "Cy Pres" Fund, according to the former Chairman of the Planning Commission. Councilmembers indicated they would have community meetings in each district for resident input and public information on the proposed changes to zoning and landuse throughout the parish.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/123449388/SBPG-Cy-Pres-Funds-Request-for-Master-Land-Use-Plan

Waste Not Want Not

The waste water treatment plant design requires flows to the ponds and canals which will never fully meet LPDES requirements. [*] This is a violation of the Clean Water Act.

AND, it's completely avoidable.

In fact, the permit does not require sampling of the waste flow from the waste treatment facilities (south of Judge Perez) to the conveyance ditch which feeds the ponds (north of Judge Perez). The only sample of this flow is after it has been diluted with the ponds and before it is discharged into the local canals.

The applicant should be prohibited from ever sending chemicals or waste waters to any of the canals. The permit should prohibit -- under any conditions -- ever sending waste flows north of Judge Perez to the earthen conveyance ditches, storm water ponds or basins interconnected to the ponds, because any chemicals and materials sent north of the waste treatment facility goes into our neighborhoods and sensitive Central Wetlands.

The permit should prohibit storage and treatment of wastes north of Judge Perez. Once the refinery wastes are sent to the Secondary stormwater basins or ponds, it is impossible to send it back for treatment, because, by that time, it is already mixed with the pond's water.

Even the smallest portion of wastes will have long term effects on the ecology system. (page 13 Vol. 1)

[*] Murphy Oil USA Inc. Solid Waste permit application for secondary storm water basins or "ponds" (not yet public noticed)

Vol 1 http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7885455&ob=yes&child=yes

Vol 2 http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=7885902&ob=yes&child=yes

The ponds discharge into the local canals, which meander through neighborhoods before discharging in the sensitive Central Wetlands, Bayou Bienvenue, and Lake Bornge. The plan to prevent the refinery process campus from flooding is to release process campus storm water through the same route; if there is a backup of storm water on the process campus, it overflows onto residential streets. The requirement to maintain the ponds with adequate freeboard is sometimes met with similar discharges. The design of the waste treatment facilities, when it rains or malfunctions is to store the harmful chemicals and wastes in an unlined ditch within very close proximity to a Church which hosts vacation bible school for children. It is impossible to send all the contaminants back from the ponds to the waste treatment facility for treatment and all these wastes and chemicals are eventually discharged into our neighborhoods or released into our air.

And it's completely avoidable by segregating process water and waste streams from storm water and instead piping malfunctions and "emergency" discharges to storage tanks, treatment ponds on the river side (away from human inhabitants), or into the river itself.

Allowing storage and partial treatment of the wastes in the storm water ponds exposes our residents to harmful and carcinogenic chemicals. Discharges have a lasting effect on the estuaries and environment.

DEQ must consider alternatives to sending chemicals and wastes into the canals and alternatives to storage of chemicals and wastes north of Judge Perez.

UPDATE MARCH 2012
DEQ concluded (page 80) that by providing personal income for the facility's permanent and contract employees outweigh the environmental costs.
http://edms.deq.louisiana.gov/app/doc/view.aspx?doc=8330751&ob=yes&child=yes

Public Meetings

Tuesday November 15, 2011 6:30pm

The monthly public meetings are open to the public and scheduled to convene on the third Tuesday of the month at the former Murphy Oil Administration Building, 1615 East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. .
*Updates on EPA Consent Decree Provisions
*Ambient air monitor station

http://lena.providenceeng.com/Default.aspx

The new air monitor on Ventura Drive in Chalmette samples our air for benzene, toluene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide and other chemicals. The monitoring results post on the public website: http://lena.providenceeng.com/Default.aspx

Murphy Oil has also provided computer access in the public library.

Preservation Priority

The Villere Plantation was listed as a War of 1812 Preservation Priority in the 2007 American Battlefield Protection Program Report to Congress. "The priorities indicate which sites, in the opinion of the National Park Service, merit immediate preservation action, which need ongoing preservation action, which require additional study, and which are best suited for commemoration rather than preservation."

http://www.nps.gov/hps/abpp/Rev1812_Final_Report.pdf

The recent EPA Consent Decree with Murphy Oil agreed to a conservation servitude for the Villere Plantation land area of the crop fields drainage machine. The conservation servitude unfortunately expires in approximately 7 to 10 years along with the consent decree.

http://concernedcitizensaroundmurphy.blogspot.com/2011/04/villere-plantation-ruins.html

FOREVER GREENSPACE
Read OUR VISION

Our neighborhoods will no longer be referred to as the Murphy Oil buyout area, but rather will remain residential properties of the Floral Estates, James Place, Despaux and Ventura, and Sandra Park Subdivisions in the community of Chalmette, St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana

The neighborhoods around Murphy Oil's Louisiana refinery in Meraux have been revitalized since as early as Fall 2005 and are a vibrant part of the Southeast Louisiana community of St Bernard Parish which has experienced rapid repopulation and rebuilding, due to the spirit and commitment of returning residents.

We want what any other St. Bernard Parish neighborhood would want; clean air, clean water, and uncontaminated soil; and for families and friends to live peaceful lives. As we restore our homes and revitalize our community we are preserving the integrity of our residential neighborhoods and improving our quality of life.

We join with our neighbors for neighborhoods to effect the ever changing decisions that empact our community by encouraging citizen particpation and providing advocacy for all residents who are committed to return, rebuild and remain in St Bernard Parish Louisiana

Read more here
Jacob Drive Firestation and Murphy Oil Refinery Expansion

A petition is being circulated asking the St. Bernard Parish Council and Administration to oppose the sale of the Jacob Drive Fire Station to Murphy Oil Meraux Refinery.

Comprehensive plans based on Fire Insurance Rating Determinations for the placement of Fire Stations throughout St Bernard Parish are paramount to both fire protection level and 'first responder' response time and should be the predominate factor in this decision. Because these determinations are not yet available since the August 28, 2007 fire rating review, Summary No. 2037 has been tabled since August 2007 (see item #15 on the Agenda 08/21/07 ).

Should the Jacob Drive Firestation ever be taken out of service, the property should not be sold to the Murphy Oil Meraux Refinery for Expansion of facilities.

Please join us in opposing this sale by signing the petition and contacting your council representative. Fire Protection Level and 'first responder' response time are a priority.

Remember, the house you save may be your own.

To sign the petition contact CCAMLA1@gmail.com or

download the petition atSAVE OUR FIRESTATION

Letter to LDEQ (Jan. 24, 2008)

Your time and attention to this ongoing sediment problem is appreciated.

To our knowledge those properties on Lena Drive South were never seeded. For the life of me I cant understand why they just wont plant grass already; or at least grass seeds or plant grass sodding on the curb side of the property (in accordance with local parish ordinances which no parsh compliance officer seems to want to enforce on this project). Regardless, your efforts within your jurisdiction should bring a solution that residents have been asking for since the summer; keep the mud out the street and especially out of the storm drains.

Please keep in mind that what the corporation terms a buyout zone, we call home. It is our neighborhood, revitalized since the flood and crude oil spill. It is not a construction zone and its not for sale. Its a subdivision and we expect this corporation and its employees to demonstrate the same level of respect to its new neighbors that it would want in their own hometowns (where ever that maybe).

Thankyou again.

CCAM and Rediscover District C

Thursday, April 21, 2016

An interesting evening at City Hall last night

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

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

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SOS St Bernard

SO2 Nonattainment

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We all need to do our part

citrus grove

Villere drainage 1930's

Villere sluice gate ruins

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proof in permit

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Public Participation

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Waste Not Want Not

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residents rights violated

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2010 Summer Vacation Starts Soon

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Refinery Accident Sickens Neighbors

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