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What’s Up with the Plains Oil Pipeline?
May 16 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara invites you to bring your brown bag lunch and a reusable cup or bottle for water to this oil pipeline update presentation. The in-person event is being held at Direct Relief headquarters, 6100 Wallace Becknell Road, Santa Barbara 93117.
Starting with the screening of a 56-minute, award-winning documentary film titled “BROKE: The Santa Barbara Oil Pipeline Spill of 2015,” a panel will then discuss three current applications by Pacific Pipeline Corp. (owner of the pipeline) and efforts to restart Exxon’s platforms off the Gaviota Coast. Independent film maker, environmental activist, and Santa Barbara resident Gail Osherenko produced and directed the acclaimed film. She is a Santa Barbara League of Women Voters Board member and chairs the League’s Criminal Justice Reform Task Force.
On April 26, 2023, the Santa Barbara Planning Commission rejected – on a 3-2 vote – the pipeline company’s application to install 16 new automated safety valves. The applicants are likely to appeal that decision to the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors.
One of the permit applications would authorize Plains All American Pipeline company to transfer ownership of the pipeline to Exxon. Exxon plans to transfer the pipeline to a company that has stated it plans to reopen the pipeline. That permit has been approved by the Planning Director, but the decision has been appealed by the Environmental Defense Center (EDC) on behalf of Get Oil Out! (GOO!) and the Santa Barbara Community Action Network (SBCAN). Another application is for a smaller diameter replacement pipeline, and the third is for adding safety valves to the still damaged and severely corroded pipelines 901 and 903.
Panelists
• John Zorovich, Deputy Director, SB County Planning & Development Department
• Linda Krop, Chief Counsel, Environmental Defense Center (EDC)
• Ana Citron, Attorney for the Gaviota Coast Conservancy (GCC)
• A representative from Exxon has been invited to join the panel
Moderator
Claire VanBlaricum, Board Member and Voter Service Co-Chair, League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara
Co-Sponsors
Environmental Defense Center
Gaviota Coast Conservancy
Santa Barbara County Action Network
The League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, nonpartisan organization.
