Construction Halted @ Calera Creek Biodiesel

We await official comment from Whole Energy Fuels officials on the status of construction at the proposed Calera Creek biodiesel plant site (see above). Meanwhile, read Todd Bray's and others' updates and opinions on the controversial project (click Comments below).

Comments

[todd bray]

Whole Energy Fuels (WEF) has received money from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) grant. A numeric total was not provided. The Coastal Commission staff has forwarded the reported violation issue to the enforcement unit. The enforcement unit is looking into the reported violations of WEF's coastal development permit to determine if a violation occurred. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is working with the city and "proponents" of the biodiesel facility to resolve Endangered Species Habitat (ESH) issues with the proposed plant and the Calera Creek wastewater treatment plant. USFWS has not permitted the project.

[Lance Fernork]

San Francisco has nothing on Pacifica when it comes to poorly planned, underfunded, and dangerous biodiesel plants. We win. Our illustrious council decided that a biodiesel refinery is just what this coastside town needed. In fact, let's put it on the coast. Next to our ailing wastewater treatment plant, also on the coast. In fact, this is such a good idea, let's try something that has never been done before and hook the exhaust from the biodiesel plant into the scrubbers of the noxious-fume-belching-poorly-operating poop factory. Better yet, let's start building it before we have the permits because that's how things are done in Pacifica. Oh, wait a minute, did i forget to mention that it's going to be built 200 yards from an elementary school, day care center, and the school district offices? But why worry, the police department is right across Highway 1 from this potential gas bomb. They'll have 30 seconds or so to warn the rest of the people and children located in the box canyon that is directly upwind from this plant that they better get out. Too late. Only one way out. Well, shelter in place and don't breathe.

San Francisco is concerned? Hell, that's business as usual in Pacifica.

(This letter was sent to the editor of the San Francisco Chronicle in response to an article by Chronicle reporter Robert Selna, and posted by Mark Stechbart.)

[todd bray]

There is a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) requirement that a biologist be present during all phases of construction at all times. This would include the trenching operation that was halted.

No matter which way you view this event, Whole Energy Fuels (WEF) acted outside the scope of the CDP and those issued by the City of Pacifica.

It has posted various documentation on a website, but that list of documents is incomplete. There is no official document from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) showing the Service has finished reviewing or even started to review this project.

Complaints have been made to the California Coastal Commission (CCC), the California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which has granted more than $600,000 to this project, and last but not least, USFWS.

Unconfirmed reasons for WEF making an illegal start on their project include the CARB grant WEF received but has not used to date. The CARB grant must be used by June 2009 or it returns to the state's general fund. It is believed that WEF started construction to falsify a milestone to receive some, if not all, of its CARB grant and/or to get an extension of the funds beyond June 2009.

[Carl May]

Okay, I'm struggling to understand what the World Trade Federation (WTF) has to do with this local issue.

But worse is trying to decide what "WEF" means. Water Environment Federation or World Economic Forum? Or the lesser known "Whole Energy Fuels," as one poster states?

So, taking all into consideration, here's what might be divined from the discussion so far: locally produced biodiesel may become an export that will tilt the balance of trade on world markets toward Pacifica for a change, just as long as its production does not pollute Calera Creek and poison school children. I only work here, so the regulars pre-occupied with jousting in the indigenous political dialect might actually be trying to say something else.

[Jeffrey Simons]

it appears Whole Energy has provided the Coastal Commission with documents indicating they have permits to build. or work. or build some parts but not all parts of the plant. with or without the sign off of the fire department and USFWS.

My confidence in this project has been restored. or not. Perhaps we can get someone with more construction management experience than myself to comment on how frequently a rogue backhoe driver will dig an enormous trench without a proper permit. After being told not to.

I hope this is not a precursor of how the rest of this plant will be built and operated by Whole Energy.

[stechbart]

you all are such rookies and borgs. If you gonna complain, do so professionally. And loudly. Vreeland/Hall put this beast 200 yards upwind from a child care center and a school.
email SF Chron. writer as below [email protected].

stechbart, Rip irregular. Out

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/03/BAQ516RSCV.DTL

Environmentalists delay S.F. biodiesel plans
Robert Selna, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, April 3, 2009

Plans to build San Francisco's first biodiesel plant have been tripped up by environmentalists who argue that the city failed to consider hazards associated with converting fat into fuel.
Darling International Inc. has operated since the 1960s at Pier 92, south of Islais Creek. Darling creates tallow by processing bones and other animal parts from meatpacking facilities and restaurants. The company now sells the rendered tallow for the production of soap and fertilizer, but wants to start using the tallow to produce biodiesel - a cleaner fuel that can be blended with petroleum-based diesel or used on its own to run vehicles with minor modifications.
The city of San Francisco uses a blend of biodiesel in all of its 1,500 diesel vehicles, but the fuel is delivered by truck or rail from as far away as the Midwest. The city would like to get all of its fuel from local sources.
Biodiesel is created from recycled products, but producing it can pose environmental threats. Biofuel spills can foul waterways and harm birds and fish. And some of the chemicals used to process the fuel, such as methanol, are highly flammable.
A group of environmentalists and neighbors became concerned when the city's Planning Department concluded that Darling's new biodiesel operations required no environmental review. That decision was appealed to the Board of Supervisors.
"Once constructed, Darling's proposed biodiesel facility will cause air pollution, wastewater discharges, hazardous waste and increased truck, rail and boat traffic in a neighborhood already over-burdened with a high level of industrial activities," stated the appeal by a group called the Bayview Hunters Point Community Advocates. The advocates are represented by an environmental law clinic at Golden Gate University School of Law.
"There was no opportunity for the public to be able to understand whether the project was safe and clean and operated in a manner compatible with the area," said Karen Pierce, a group member who lives in the Bayview. "We don't have a full picture of what is going to happen to decide if we should be concerned or not."
Pierce said that on the whole, she supported the biodiesel plant, but simply needed to know more about it. The Planning Department has since agreed to do the report, which could take four to six months.
Industrial toxins have long been blamed for high incidences of asthma and other illnesses in southeast San Francisco. It is home to the former Hunters Point Shipyard and other polluted industrial sites.
The new biodiesel facility would add 12 aboveground storage tanks and would be capable of producing 10 million gallons of biodiesel annually.
City planners concluded that the new facility fit in with the area's current heavy industrial zoning and did not create significant new environmental impacts. In addition, air and water quality issues are already regulated by regional, state and federal agencies, officials said.
"Things like methanol tanks and wastewater discharges have to be approved by federal and state authorities and so we were very comfortable with that," said Bill Wycko, the Planning Department's environmental review officer.
E-mail Robert Selna at [email protected].

[jjadco]

Good work guys..

Does anyone have a contact name and number at the US Fish & Wildlife??

[mike bell]

Can someone please verify this?
My understanding is that if the Vreeland-Hall Biodiesel Refinery is not operational in 2 more months the grant money goes away and so does the $150,000 seed investment that Jim and Nancy "borrowed" from Pacifica taxpayers. I suppose the sales tax hike will cover this loss.

[Jeffrey Simons]

contacts for the California Air Resources Board Biofuels staff:

Staff Contact:

Hardip Judge - Phone: (916) 324-9512
Email:[email protected]

Bob Rogen - Phone: (916) 323-0018
Email: [email protected]

[todd bray]

And just in case you are curious, WEF has not paid any rent yet. They are not obliged to start paying rent until the project is operational. The USFWS has not yet approved this project. And if you are so inclined you can contact the Coastal Commission Enforcement Division and register a complaint against Whole Energy Fuels for starting construction without a legal permit. The Enforcement Division can be reached at 415 904 5269. These are the same folks that forced Peebles Co. remove their No Trespassing signs from the quarry two years ago.

[Lance]

Well if anyone wants to see some more of our fine city oversight of projects, one need not look any further than Millwood Ranch. Rumor has it ravines are being filled in, (in fact further rumor has it the scraping from the recent resurfacing in Park Pacifica went there for fill) barns and structures have been erected with no permits, and pilings for an enclosed arena are in place with no engineering work done. What's planning say, well rumor has it, not much.

Ah, I love this city.

[Dan Underhill]

'The quote I heard is: "Better to have to say you're sorry than ask permission".'

How about "It is always easier to get forgiveness than permission"? I don't know that this is true but it is the way I heard it.

[todd bray]

lionel, i did just that.

[Lionel Emde]

"I have heard that it is easier to go ahead with your plans and then you can always say "sorry".

The quote I heard is: "Better to have to say you're sorry than ask permission".

Brother Todd, My wife defines proper journalistic style as identfying the agency and/or entity, followed by the acronym, and then the acronym can follow as many times as necessary.

"Can't put it on Riptide" (WTF?)

[mike bell]

IB,
I misinterpreted your intent. I too am very appreciative of our policy wonk TB.
Mea culpa.
mb

[Dan Underhill]

I appreciate concerned citizens with integrity looking out for our interests.

I appreciate that the city issues stop-work-orders when that is the right thing to do.

I look forward to learning more.

[todd bray]

Ian'
I got it after I posted my WTF, and figured there were way TMIW for most folks to follow. I was simply trying to LTRL of most readers. Thanks for the USC and I'll keep it in mind next time I WFTH.

There is a prize ...

[Ian Butler]

Todd,

You may be so accustomed to speaking/thinking/writing in initials that you may not realize that the rest of us can't keep up.

I was not making a judgment on the merits of your point, only recommending that you dispense with the shorthand so us laypeople can keep up.

(But I am glad that Riptide has a dedicated policy wonk in residence!)

[Ian: Me, too! Todd's expertise comes in handy. —JM]

[mike bell]

"WTF? I would hope if the CCC finds WEF acted outside the scope and spirit of WEF CDP that the CCC will rescind it's CDP awarded to WEF."

Your glib quip obscures the fundamental rot that underlies "business as usual" in Pacifica.

[Jeffrey Simons]

"Did the city or some other government agency issue a stop-work-order?"

YES

"Did WEF recognize the error of their ways and stop the work themselves?"

NO

"How do we know about this?"

because concerned citizens had enough integrity to speak up when someone tried to build something without a proper permit.

[jjadco]

After the city council telling us tar balls washed up on the beach for months when it was a spill from the wastewater plant

Do we want a company that doesn't understand the permit process to be
using lethal chemicals near a school??

[Lance]

Hey Underhill, stop, I repeat, stop drinking the kool-aid!

[todd bray]

Ian I'm not sure WTF your WTF is asking. Dan a senior city staff member said the work was started by WEF and later halted by the city.

[John Maybury]

i just posted todd bray's edited/updated comment on the city/biodiesel mixup, and i am still waiting to hear from whole energy fuels, so your guess is as good as mine

[Dan Underhill]

I am not seeing exactly how the construction project was halted at the biodiesel plant. Did the city or some other government agency issue a stop-work-order? Did WEF recognize the error of their ways and stop the work themselves? How do we know about this? This appears to be an excellent opportunity for some of us to lay blame at the feet of our favorite "culprits" but there is not enough information here to know if this was a nefarious conspiracy or a poorly informed backhoe driver.