Comments on: Chevron Ordered to Halt Richmond Refinery Expansion http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/ The Understory is the official blog of Rainforest Action Network. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:33:44 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Dan http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-383974 Dan Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:41:15 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-383974 Hi, I was just reading the comments to this post and I thought I'd offer a few thoughts. It seems like there are quite a few people that are upset that the invalidation of the environmental impact report will postpone refinery upgrades and lead to the loss of many union jobs. This is absolutely true and something worth being upset about. However, it is completely unfair to pin the blame for the loss of jobs on the environmental groups that had the report set aside. It is not RAN's fault that Chevron had a bad EIR prepared. It is not RAN's fault that Chevron failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act. You guys should be upset with Chevron for having a poor EIR prepared, not with RAN for having the audacity to point out that they did something illegal. Hi,

I was just reading the comments to this post and I thought I’d offer a few thoughts.

It seems like there are quite a few people that are upset that the invalidation of the environmental impact report will postpone refinery upgrades and lead to the loss of many union jobs. This is absolutely true and something worth being upset about.

However, it is completely unfair to pin the blame for the loss of jobs on the environmental groups that had the report set aside. It is not RAN’s fault that Chevron had a bad EIR prepared. It is not RAN’s fault that Chevron failed to comply with the California Environmental Quality Act.

You guys should be upset with Chevron for having a poor EIR prepared, not with RAN for having the audacity to point out that they did something illegal.

]]> By: Jesus Garcia http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-380075 Jesus Garcia Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:56:48 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-380075 I want my job back soon. i worked at chevron now I have nothing very soon I am going to say good bye to my house too I'dont have money for the mortgage I want my job back soon. i worked at chevron now I have nothing very soon I am going to say good bye to my house too I’dont have money for the mortgage

]]> By: Josh http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-376090 Josh Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:39:40 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-376090 We are not addicted to oil. We are dependent on it as the only source of fuel that we can currently use to power our society. If we desire to return to the level of pollution we had during the middle ages,we would have to return to that standard of living. We can develop cleaner fuels, but it takes time, and resources. It is better to continue modernizing what we have, while pursuing other energy sources, than it is to destroy our current energy infrastructure, and leave only the wealthy few with anything resembling our current standard of living (because it's nothing more than a pipe dream to say that the rich would actually cut back as well) We are not addicted to oil. We are dependent on it as the only source of fuel that we can currently use to power our society. If we desire to return to the level of pollution we had during the middle ages,we would have to return to that standard of living.
We can develop cleaner fuels, but it takes time, and resources. It is better to continue modernizing what we have, while pursuing other energy sources, than it is to destroy our current energy infrastructure, and leave only the wealthy few with anything resembling our current standard of living (because it’s nothing more than a pipe dream to say that the rich would actually cut back as well)

]]> By: Tar Sands Fighters to U.S. News Media: WAKE UP! « It’s Getting Hot In Here http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-373831 Tar Sands Fighters to U.S. News Media: WAKE UP! « It’s Getting Hot In Here Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:59:32 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-373831 [...] This is especially ridiculous, given that U.S. corporations are far more involved in the tar sands than their British (or Norwegian) counterparts. Chevron and ExxonMobil have invested a total of over $10 billion in Alberta tar sands projects - Chevron is the majority owner of the 85,000-acre Ells River tar sands project, while Exxon’s subsidiary, Imperial Oil, owns 465,000 acres of “quality oil sands leases.” Citigroup is the biggest tar sands investor outside Canada, with $5.9 billion invested in Canadian tar sands companies since 2007 alone. And oil companies across the U.S. are building pipelines and retooling refineries to be able to process oil from Canada’s tar sands: a new pipeline from Alberta to Wisconsin, capable of pumping 450,000 barrels per day of Canadian tar sands oil to refineries in the Midwest, was recently approved by the Obama administration. And Chevron has been fighting against community activists for years to be able to “upgrade” its refinery in Richmond, California, so that it can process tar sands oil. [...] [...] This is especially ridiculous, given that U.S. corporations are far more involved in the tar sands than their British (or Norwegian) counterparts. Chevron and ExxonMobil have invested a total of over $10 billion in Alberta tar sands projects - Chevron is the majority owner of the 85,000-acre Ells River tar sands project, while Exxon’s subsidiary, Imperial Oil, owns 465,000 acres of “quality oil sands leases.” Citigroup is the biggest tar sands investor outside Canada, with $5.9 billion invested in Canadian tar sands companies since 2007 alone. And oil companies across the U.S. are building pipelines and retooling refineries to be able to process oil from Canada’s tar sands: a new pipeline from Alberta to Wisconsin, capable of pumping 450,000 barrels per day of Canadian tar sands oil to refineries in the Midwest, was recently approved by the Obama administration. And Chevron has been fighting against community activists for years to be able to “upgrade” its refinery in Richmond, California, so that it can process tar sands oil. [...]

]]> By: The Understory » Tar Sands Fighters to U.S. News Media: WAKE UP! http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-373408 The Understory » Tar Sands Fighters to U.S. News Media: WAKE UP! Fri, 11 Sep 2009 07:12:24 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-373408 [...] This is especially ridiculous, given that U.S. corporations are far more involved in the tar sands than their British (or Norwegian) counterparts. Chevron and ExxonMobil have invested a total of over $10 billion in Alberta tar sands projects – Chevron is the majority owner of the 85,000-acre Ells River tar sands project, while Exxon’s subsidiary, Imperial Oil, owns 465,000 acres of “quality oil sands leases.” Citigroup is the biggest tar sands investor outside Canada, with $5.9 billion invested in Canadian tar sands companies since 2007 alone. And oil companies across the U.S. are building pipelines and retooling refineries to be able to process oil from Canada’s tar sands: a new pipeline from Alberta to Wisconsin, capable of pumping 450,000 barrels per day of Canadian tar sands oil to refineries in the Midwest, was recently approved by the Obama administration. And Chevron has been fighting against community activists for years to be able to “upgrade” its refinery in Richmond, California, so that it can process tar sands oil. [...] [...] This is especially ridiculous, given that U.S. corporations are far more involved in the tar sands than their British (or Norwegian) counterparts. Chevron and ExxonMobil have invested a total of over $10 billion in Alberta tar sands projects – Chevron is the majority owner of the 85,000-acre Ells River tar sands project, while Exxon’s subsidiary, Imperial Oil, owns 465,000 acres of “quality oil sands leases.” Citigroup is the biggest tar sands investor outside Canada, with $5.9 billion invested in Canadian tar sands companies since 2007 alone. And oil companies across the U.S. are building pipelines and retooling refineries to be able to process oil from Canada’s tar sands: a new pipeline from Alberta to Wisconsin, capable of pumping 450,000 barrels per day of Canadian tar sands oil to refineries in the Midwest, was recently approved by the Obama administration. And Chevron has been fighting against community activists for years to be able to “upgrade” its refinery in Richmond, California, so that it can process tar sands oil. [...]

]]> By: denise http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-365763 denise Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:54:51 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-365763 Well it looks like this issue is staring to die down, therefore the work should resume soon! It seems like environmental groups just like stir s--t up! Well it looks like this issue is staring to die down, therefore the work should resume soon! It seems like environmental groups just like stir s–t up!

]]> By: Eli http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-364469 Eli Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:22:32 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-364469 Enough said.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1DTAX0WtWI Enough said….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1DTAX0WtWI

]]> By: David http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-364343 David Wed, 29 Jul 2009 07:24:49 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-364343 Pardon me. Months of unemployment stress and the anxiety produced by a dwindling unemployment claim have reduced my brain to mush. Please substitute ''Chevron'' for ''Shell/R.D.P.'' in the prior post. While my point remains the same regarding the clash between corporate versus community and environmental concerns, I realize that this is also a very specific matterregarding Chevron, local politicians and the Richmond community. Pardon me. Months of unemployment stress and the anxiety produced by a dwindling unemployment claim have reduced my brain to mush. Please substitute ”Chevron” for ”Shell/R.D.P.” in the prior post. While my point remains the same regarding the clash between corporate versus community and environmental concerns, I realize that this is also a very specific matterregarding Chevron, local politicians and the Richmond community.

]]> By: David http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-364290 David Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:35:30 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-364290 Responsible action on the part of Shell could have averted this cacastrophe. Investing record high mult-billion dollar profits in community environmental monitoring, healthcare and disease prevention could have shown a spirit of stewardship for the community. I can't comprehend why people attack community and environmental activists for standing up for people and our home planet ? Are people really so shortsighted that they don't understand that the installation of pollution control systems and monitoring them requre job creation ? Shouldn't doctors and healthcare workers be rioting because fewer children. elderly and others in the community will be sick and/or dying ? If Royal Dutch Petroleum were an ethical company they would be creating jobs by improving their plants and the communities in which they are located. It's too bad that the law. by requiring corporations to maximize profits, works against this. Posted by a union worker (As if !- I worked for five weeks in March and April) with a brand new $132 T.W.I.C. card. If Shell were honest, we'd be working - for a healthier economy and environment. Why demonize those who are trying to keep them honest ? Do you really value your own integrity (and health, for that matter ) so cheap ? Responsible action on the part of Shell could have averted this cacastrophe. Investing record high mult-billion dollar profits in community environmental monitoring, healthcare and disease prevention could have shown a spirit of stewardship for the community. I can’t comprehend why people attack community and environmental activists for standing up for people and our home planet ? Are people really so shortsighted that they don’t understand that the installation of pollution control systems and monitoring them requre job creation ? Shouldn’t doctors and healthcare workers be rioting because fewer children. elderly and others in the community will be sick and/or dying ? If Royal Dutch Petroleum were an ethical company they would be creating jobs by improving their plants and the communities in which they are located. It’s too bad that the law. by requiring corporations to maximize profits, works against this. Posted by a union worker (As if !- I worked for five weeks in March and April) with a brand new $132 T.W.I.C. card. If Shell were honest, we’d be working – for a healthier economy and environment. Why demonize those who are trying to keep them honest ? Do you really value your own integrity (and health, for that matter ) so cheap ?

]]> By: ANDREW PARK http://understory.ran.org/2009/07/02/breaking-chevron-ordered-to-halt-richmond-refinery-expansion/comment-page-1/#comment-364122 ANDREW PARK Tue, 28 Jul 2009 05:12:21 +0000 http://understory.ran.org/?p=3179#comment-364122 I agree with the environmental aspects of this job, but it has forced myself to lose my house, go on unemployment, not spend money in this horrible economy. I had to pull my daughter out of her private school and relocate. My job loss wil probably cost the State over $ 700,000, and I'm only 1 of 1500 who lost there jobs, and some much more than just there job. My friend/co-worker lost his opportunity to buy his first house. This chevron refinery is one of the safest construction sights I've ever worked at. This is going to cost the city, county and State of California at least $ 300,000,000 directley and indirectly... there goes the State budjet cuts again ! What a victory, huh? I agree with the environmental aspects of this job, but it has forced myself to lose my house, go on unemployment, not spend money in this horrible economy. I had to pull my daughter out of her private school and relocate. My job loss wil probably cost the State over $ 700,000, and I’m only 1 of 1500 who lost there jobs, and some much more than just there job. My friend/co-worker lost his opportunity to buy his first house. This chevron refinery is one of the safest construction sights I’ve ever worked at. This is going to cost the city, county and State of California at least $ 300,000,000 directley and indirectly… there goes the State budjet cuts again ! What a victory, huh?

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