Health Risks in Oil Spills
The tanker accident at Chevron’s El Segundo refinery is a continuing example of the hazards involved in transporting, loading and unloading crude oil in ocean-going tankers (Part A, March 18). The Exxon Valdez, American Trader and now Chevron have all cost billions of dollars in damage and untold losses to the marine environment. These types of accidents will continue unless environmental safeguards are strengthened.
The citizens of the Los Angeles area need to know about an important California Coastal Commission meeting that will take place on April 10 in Santa Barbara. Chevron is requesting the Coastal Commission to overrule Santa Barbara County to allow it to tanker offshore oil from Santa Barbara to Los Angeles. Santa Barbara County denied Chevron’s tankering permit because the oil can be shipped to Los Angeles through existing onshore pipelines. Chevron refuses to use pipelines because officials say it costs more--less than one-half cent per gallon. When you add in the billions of dollars a major tanker accident could cause, Chevron’s argument becomes inconsequential.
Better yet, come and visit Santa Barbara on April 10 at the Miramar Hotel to attend the Coastal Commission meeting.
WILLIAM B. WALLACE
Supervisor, Santa Barbara County
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