SAN FRANCISCO NRDC and a coalition partners submitted technical comments on Draft Environmental Review of the largest global biofuel refinery conversion project.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), is intended to ensure that agencies take into account all environmental impacts of large-impactful projects. Contra Costa County failed to consider a wide range of environmental concerns in its CEQA review on impacts to the Phillips 66 Rodeo Renewed Project, and the Marathon Martinez Refinery Renewable Fuels Project. These projects would convert crude oil refining to biofuel refining.
Coalition comments highlighted the possibility of increased flaring and excessive use of food crop oils (such soybean) as well as a host of other issues that point towards an inadequate environmental review.
Below is the reaction of Ann Alexander, senior attorney for NRDC.
If an oil company asks for your approval to approve the biggest refining project of its nature in the world using technology that could be prone to accidents, and capable of consuming a large portion of the countrys entire soybean supply, you need to make sure you’ve asked the right question before you answer yes. The County’s draft environmental impact statement doesn’t even try to answer those questions.
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