Report Highlights Prop. 23 Backers' Pollution History

[TomCADem]

Source: The Bay Citizen

Opponents of Proposition 23 released a report on Wednesday detailing safety violations at Valero’s and Tesoro’s refineries in California. The two Texas-based companies, which operate refineries in the Bay Area in Benicia and Martinez, are the largest financial backers of Prop. 23, the ballot initiative that would suspend AB 32, the state’s landmark global warming law.

The report, entitled “Off the Charts: How Tesoro and Valero Routinely Violate California’s Health and Safety Laws,” was issued by the No on 23 campaign and is based on documents obtained from state Air Quality Management districts through public record requests. The districts regulate the refineries.

“These powerful documents, which have previously not been made public, go to a matter of public trust when it comes to motives of the two Texas oil companies funding the initiative,” said Tom Steyer, chair of No on 23, in an e-mailed statement. “The documents make clear that Tesoro and Valero have repeatedly violated California's health and safety protections, exposed our people to harmful toxins and put our communities in harm's way.”

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AB 32 requires the state to develop regulations that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. While the law concerns greenhouse gas emissions, left unchecked global warming will harm overall air quality, according to Bonnie Holmes-Gen, senior policy director for the American Lung Association in California, which opposes Prop. 23. “Increased temperatures increase formation of ozone in the atmosphere,” she said. “Smog or ozone is generated in the air, from specific pollutants. Nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons have to cook in the air. Hotter temperatures generate more ozone.”

Read more: http://www.baycitizen.org/proposition-23/story/report-highlights-prop-backers-pollution/

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The mainstream cable media still largely ignores the efforts of oil companies to undermine efforts to wean our nation off of fossil fuels, but here is a nice local newspaper noting the sordid pollution history of Proposition 23's backers.

[Suich]

1. Tesoro just got find $2.4 million for an explosion

at their plant in Anacortes WA on 4-2-10 that killed 7 people.

"The state says Tesoro failed to check for cracks in the 40-year-old equipment involved in an explosion that killed seven workers. The agency also says Tesoro disregarded workplace safety rules, postponed maintainance and failed to adequately protect its workers.

The agency is citing the company for 44 violations of state workplace safety and health regulations."

btw, Tesoro is one of many refineries owned by the Koch brothers, multi-billionaires, who are contributing heavily to oust and/or undermine Obama.

[defendandprotect]

2. K&R ---