ExxonMobil refinery fines earmarked for projects favored by residents
By Nick Green, Daily Breeze
Posted: 09/02/16, 8:04 PM PDT | Updated: 46 secs ago
0 Comments
Projects that monitor air quality around the Torrance refinery, improve the
emergency alert system or provide greater outreach to residents will receive
priority for almost $2.8 million in funding from the South Coast Air Quality
Management District.
The agency’s governing board approved issuing a request for proposals for
those kinds of projects at a meeting Friday in Diamond Bar.
Anyone can propose a potential project, said Chief Operating Officer Jill
Whynot in an interview after the meeting.
“We wrote the RFP very generally so we could basically consider any
suggestions community members may have,” she said. “There’s very little
restriction on the money. It just needs to be spent on projects that would
benefit the residents of this area.”
The deadline for proposals is 1 p.m. Nov. 2.
Details are available at the AQMD website at aqmd.gov.
The $2,7771,250 available comes from penalties ExxonMobil incurred in the
wake of a February 2015 refinery explosion and subsequent
dirtier-than-normal restart.
The announced prioritization of the money came as a relief to residents, who
feared the city might attempt to siphon off the funds for pet “green”
projects.
“Spending the funds to purchase electric vehicles for the city and solar
panel-covered parking at City Hall is stretching the stated intent of using
the funds to benefit the residents and provide projects that will result in
public health and quality-of-life-improvements,” said John Bailey, board
president of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners Association.
“We asked for a more robust siren alert system that could be heard in
Southeast Torrance because, if a major accident involved hydrofluoric acid,
it could impact our area,” he added. “SETHA residents cannot hear the siren
during the monthly testing.”
Still, Sally Hayati, president of the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance,
said the money and request for proposals were insufficient compensation for
the environmental harm the plant causes.
“Our community pays the price for excess emissions in short- and long-term
health impacts and in increased fear and worry,” she said. “As recompense,
the community is now being given less than $3 million worth of environmental
projects, without being given a direct say in how it is spent.
“Projects funded by these funds can’t repair health effects from excess
emissions that have occurred and won’t reduce future emissions,” she added.
“Only improved and rigorous enforcement of strict emissions standards can do
that, with far greater fines, other deterrence measures such as temporary
shutdowns, better enforcement budgets, and the political will to reduce
pollution.”
The AQMD’s governing board will decide what projects to fund at its January
meeting.
However, more money for other projects also may be available.
The AQMD has $18.5 million in penalties imposed on ExxonMobil for excessive
flaring at the refinery over the past year.
If there is not enough money for proposed projects in the initial almost
$2.8 million, the other source could be tapped for eligible projects.
Still, Maureen Mauk, co-founder of Families Lobbying Against Refinery
Exposure, said the board’s decision Friday should be considered a victory
for local environmental activists.
“Over 40 FLARE members took the time to craft letters to the AQMD and attend
last week’s community roundtable discussions” hosted by the AQMD, she said.
“Progress can be made when the citizens come together at a grass-roots level
to initiate change.
“It will be imperative for the residents of Torrance and the South Bay
community to continue to keep pressure on those individuals and agencies
that we have empowered to ensure our safety and well-being,” she added.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/government-and-politics/20160902/exxonmobil-refinery-fines-earmarked-for-projects-favored-by-residents#.V8pJkxBICys.email
By Nick Green, Daily Breeze
Posted: 09/02/16, 8:04 PM PDT | Updated: 46 secs ago
0 Comments
Projects that monitor air quality around the Torrance refinery, improve the
emergency alert system or provide greater outreach to residents will receive
priority for almost $2.8 million in funding from the South Coast Air Quality
Management District.
The agency’s governing board approved issuing a request for proposals for
those kinds of projects at a meeting Friday in Diamond Bar.
Anyone can propose a potential project, said Chief Operating Officer Jill
Whynot in an interview after the meeting.
“We wrote the RFP very generally so we could basically consider any
suggestions community members may have,” she said. “There’s very little
restriction on the money. It just needs to be spent on projects that would
benefit the residents of this area.”
The deadline for proposals is 1 p.m. Nov. 2.
Details are available at the AQMD website at aqmd.gov.
The $2,7771,250 available comes from penalties ExxonMobil incurred in the
wake of a February 2015 refinery explosion and subsequent
dirtier-than-normal restart.
The announced prioritization of the money came as a relief to residents, who
feared the city might attempt to siphon off the funds for pet “green”
projects.
“Spending the funds to purchase electric vehicles for the city and solar
panel-covered parking at City Hall is stretching the stated intent of using
the funds to benefit the residents and provide projects that will result in
public health and quality-of-life-improvements,” said John Bailey, board
president of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners Association.
“We asked for a more robust siren alert system that could be heard in
Southeast Torrance because, if a major accident involved hydrofluoric acid,
it could impact our area,” he added. “SETHA residents cannot hear the siren
during the monthly testing.”
Still, Sally Hayati, president of the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance,
said the money and request for proposals were insufficient compensation for
the environmental harm the plant causes.
“Our community pays the price for excess emissions in short- and long-term
health impacts and in increased fear and worry,” she said. “As recompense,
the community is now being given less than $3 million worth of environmental
projects, without being given a direct say in how it is spent.
“Projects funded by these funds can’t repair health effects from excess
emissions that have occurred and won’t reduce future emissions,” she added.
“Only improved and rigorous enforcement of strict emissions standards can do
that, with far greater fines, other deterrence measures such as temporary
shutdowns, better enforcement budgets, and the political will to reduce
pollution.”
The AQMD’s governing board will decide what projects to fund at its January
meeting.
However, more money for other projects also may be available.
The AQMD has $18.5 million in penalties imposed on ExxonMobil for excessive
flaring at the refinery over the past year.
If there is not enough money for proposed projects in the initial almost
$2.8 million, the other source could be tapped for eligible projects.
Still, Maureen Mauk, co-founder of Families Lobbying Against Refinery
Exposure, said the board’s decision Friday should be considered a victory
for local environmental activists.
“Over 40 FLARE members took the time to craft letters to the AQMD and attend
last week’s community roundtable discussions” hosted by the AQMD, she said.
“Progress can be made when the citizens come together at a grass-roots level
to initiate change.
“It will be imperative for the residents of Torrance and the South Bay
community to continue to keep pressure on those individuals and agencies
that we have empowered to ensure our safety and well-being,” she added.
http://www.dailybreeze.com/government-and-politics/20160902/exxonmobil-refinery-fines-earmarked-for-projects-favored-by-residents#.V8pJkxBICys.email
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