To the Editor
Good Day to you Fillmore.
I am here once again to give you a little feed back about the Chevron superfund project A.K.A Pacific Coast Pipe Line project. I was unable to make it to some of the Remediate and Redevelopment meetings in June and July but during the June site tour my substitute told me that there was discussion on the odors that were emitted and there was discussion about the height of the hill area directly adjacent to the Island View Street neighbors. Chevron was also told that some neighbors are considering moving and they (Chevron) did their best surprised look at such a statement. July’s meeting neither I nor my substitute were able to attend so I cannot comment on that meeting. Chevron has reported that the “clean up” work is done that the last thing they will be doing is installing the sparging unit and then they will be finished. So as I see it they could be done soon and stop all the continued stress brought on by more Earth work that building will bring again to neighbors.
Well this week some of the neighbors received a flyer from EPA stating that they (Chevron) hit yet another snag while digging and contaminated soil has been found again, will it ever end? At one of the Thursday night meetings months ago the EPA told us that the site is clean until they find stuff then it is no longer considered clean and must be reworked, so this will mean that as long as they are over there working we have the possibility of them hitting more and more stuff (debris pits, contaminated soil, etc). A Chevron rep told me that they have no idea where all the areas are where things are buried, so this problem I see as an on going problem.
Most of you know that California is in a 3-year drought and we have most recently been told by the state that the 20% recommended water reduction is now being required of water companies, so now how does this affect our city or this project? I feel that if we the citizens are going to be asked to do this reduction then the city should also follow suit by looking into how much water this project Chevron is proposing will take from our city’s resources. We as a city do not get our water from any other source so we currently are self-sufficient but our water levels are low from what they normally are at this time of year (but not as low as others in the county). I feel that even if Chevron does pay for our water for their project it is water we may want or need if things don’t get better. Our city already has houses that are being built and more scheduled right behind them along with another dollar-something store now in the works. All these projects use a lot of water. Why would we think about the HUGE project like the one Chevron is proposing if this may become a problem for us down the line?
From what I have been told the site is currently zoned open-space in Ventura County, so I may be wrong on this but if this is true then from what I understand nothing could be built there unless it was on the list of SOAR-approved projects or goes through a process which would require the zoning to be changed and go to a SOAR vote. So for those who worry that Ventura County would get tax money or build a prison, as I was told could happen if we don’t jump on the Chevron wagon, it looks like that currently would not even be an option for them at this time. Could it change? Yes, the world is always changing as is the ever disturbing hillside we the neighbors, teachers and students look at, listen to and smell every day.
The scoping meetings have been moved yet one more time so look for it to happen maybe in November. During this meeting you the public will have a chance to voice your opinions on the project.
I would like to thank the one and only city council member who had a meeting with me even though I gave them all my number and requested a meeting.
Thank you again for letting me bore you once more with this but my hope is to keep you all in the loop of this neighbor’s view on this proposed project.
Kathy Pace
Fillmore