Republican Bill Could Mean Oil Refinery at Former Fort Ord

REPUBLICAN BILL COULD MEAN OIL REFINERY AT FORMER FORT ORD

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Sam Farr (CA-17) today expressed anger at provision requiring the president to bypass local governments and build new oil refineries at closed military bases contained in a Republican energy bill that will be up for a vote in the House of Representatives on Friday.

"Requiring new oil refineries on closed military bases over the objections of local communities is preposterous! So the president could come in and decide to build a refinery on the former Fort Ord with no consideration of the impact on our communities, or the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, or our rich fields of lettuce, strawberries, artichokes and countless other sensitive crops? Is this administration really so stuck on oil that they're willing to spoil the most beautiful stretch of coastline in the country to protect their interests?," said Farr.

The Gasoline for America's Security Act, H.R. 3893 would require the president to designate federal lands for new oil refineries, including at least three closed military bases. The permitting process for siting and building refineries would be "streamlined" under the bill and federal statutes that protect the right to comment by local officials or public citizens would be preempted.

"The Republican leadership is selling this hastily crafted bill as a response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita when in fact it's an attempt to pass industrial and ideological wish lists in the name of emergency relief. Waiving refinery siting regulations won't provide any immediate relief! Local communities must remain in charge of base reuse decisions in order to achieve the best possible reuse. There's no justification for giving the president overriding authority to plop an oil refinery at Fort Ord or any other closed base other than pandering to special interests," added Farr.

http://www.farr.house.gov/issues2.cfm?id=11191