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Campaigns
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Northern California Campaigns and ProjectsContra Costa
For Chevron Refinery Expansion contact Jessica Tovar at jessica@cbecal.org or 510-302-0430 ext 24 for more information. Flares Prevention Measures Flaring continues to be a chief concern among Richmond residents, episodes at Bay Area refineries still pollute in amounts that can impact local air quality an average of twice per week. The landmark flare control rule we won last year needs to be enforced. That means each refinery's “Flare Minimization Plan” needs to include all feasible prevention measures to prevent and minimize flaring, as required by the rule. We will organize to demand that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District require all feasible measures in the plans. We expect that the District will hold public workshops on each refiner's plan in early 2007. We are depending on community voices and active participation to hold the AQMD responsible for implementing the Flare Control Rule they adopted!
Richmond General PlanAs part of the Richmond Equitable Development Initiative (REDI), CBE is engaging its members with other community-based allies making specific “cumulative impact” policy recommendations for the Richmond General Plan. The REDI will be conducting leadership development workshops for community members on topics related to public health, including “cumulative impacts” (the combination of exposure to multiple sources of pollution), environmental justice, land use and green industry, scheduled to begin in February 2007. NIEHS Sampling StudyIn October 2006, CBE successfully completed a National Institute of Environmental Health-funded research project called Breast Cancer and Environmental Justice – Household Exposure Study. CBE carried out this study in collaboration with Brown University and the Silent Spring Institute, a scientist-activist organization based in Boston. CBE completed collecting indoor air and dust samples in 40 homes in Richmond to test for particulate matter and other chemicals that are linked to various health effects prevalent in the area – among them breast cancer – as part of a study that links environmental justice and breast cancer advocacy. Our next steps are to convene a gathering of grassroots leaders, community members and health professionals to discuss results from the sampling, health impacts from chemical exposure and strategize around how the community can use the study to support its demands for pollution control and reduction. |
CBE is continuing its long-standing organizing and political work in West Contra Costa County in 2007. This year, CBE will be challenging 2 of Contra Costa's refinery's plans for major expansion. We will be addressing the environmental and health impacts of the expansion plans and working to ensure that modern and updated equipment results in pollution reduction for our communities. In addition, our work on the ground will include building on some of our important recent victories, conducting community-wide educational forums, and begin advancing new policy goals with local allies in the City of Richmond. 