Valero Appeals Rejection Of Major Roadblock To Oil Train In Benicia

BENICIA (CBS13) — The battle against an oil company's plan to ship crude oil via train isn't over despite the Benicia City Planning Commission unanimously rejecting the project.

The Valero Energy Corporation is now appealing the decision, and people who live along the route voiced their concerns on Wednesday.

Talks surrounding the project date back three years, and people wanted everyone to know the proposal goes beyond Benicia. The trains carrying the crude oil would be going through the heart of Downtown Sacramento and several other cities.

"These so called oil trains, may be passing through my neighborhood, near where my daughter graduated," said Sacramento resident Valerie Williams.

"There are more than 13,000 students within the blast zone," said Sacramento resident Chris Brown. "Hundreds of thousands of people coming from Truckee, Roseville, Davis, Sacramento."

Valero's proposal would allow two 50-car trains, each carrying 35,000 barrels of crude oil through major urban centers. Valero officials say the train shipments will allow them to stay competitive.

While some argue the fears of environmental damage or human injury from potential accidents are exaggerated, the risk of derailment or a mishap is real.

"We mobilized a lot of people, including from sacramento and davis, who spoke at the planning commission," said Benicia resident Andres Soto.

The rallying of the troops worked. The planning commission unanimously rejected Valero's proposal despite a city staff recommendation.

With Valero appealing the planning commission's decision this week, residents are gearing up for the next city council meeting. Even though the trains would be passing through many other cities, the final decision will fall to Benicia.