CALIFORNIA IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Oil Projects Denied Review Exemption
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Legislation to exempt an estimated $5 billion to $9 billion in new oil refinery construction from review under the California Environmental Quality Act was defeated in the state Senate Governmental Organization Committee. The oil companies said the exemption was needed if they were to meet a 1996 deadline for producing cleaner-burning gasoline. But environmentalists told the committee that the 1970 law is the only way for people living near refineries to make sure harmful emissions from the plants are reduced.
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