The Vallejo coalition fighting to block the ORCEM cement plant and related deep-water port, Vallejo Marine Terminal, has won many important victories. City Hall staff, the Planning Commission, the School Board, and the Chamber of Commerce all oppose the dual project, which would bring a major increase in toxic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions to the city.
But the fight is not over. The Vallejo City Council will hold hearings on the project May 30 and June 1. Fresh Air Vallejo is calling on everyone who wants clean air and water, environmental justice, and protection for the climate to call:
Bob Sampayan, mayor, 707-648-4377
Robert H. McConnell, vice mayor, 707-648-4135
Council members:
Pippin Dew-Costa, 707-648-4132
Jesus “Jess” Malgap0, 707-648-4131
Katy Miessner, 707-648-4133
Hermie Sunga, 707-648-5437
Rozzana Verder-Aliga, 707-648-4134
And come out to the City Council hearings to say “No!” to the ORCEM/VMT project.
WHEN
Tues May 30 and Thurs June 1, 4 – 11 PM
WHERE
555 Santa Clara St., Council Chambers, Vallejo
The Vallejo Marine Terminal/ORCEM Project
Residents have been fighting the proposed dual project since fall 2015. While a citizens’ commission was developing plans for a green waterfront, they learned that some city council members had been privately talking with the ORCEM company, which wants to build a slag cement processing plant there instead. In connection with the ORCEM plan, a group of developers wants to create a new deep-water port, the Vallejo Marine Terminal, to take care of shipping associated with the ORCEM plant — and to be available to other customers.
Residents are worried about the toxic pollution and greenhouse gases coming directly from the cement plant, located next to the Vallejo neighborhood with the highest percentages of low-income residents and residents of color. They also worry about pollution of the nearby Napa River.
In addition, operations of both the cement plant and the port would bring huge amounts of truck traffic through this residential community, releasing diesel exhaust, which the California Office of Environmental Health Assessment says “poses the highest cancer risk of any toxic air contaminant evaluated by OEHHA,” as well as producing immediate health problems such as asthma, headaches, and nausea. Diesel pollution is also a major source of greenhouse gases.
Ships docking at the port would release even more diesel pollution while they sit for days, since there are no plans for ships to plug into on-shore electricity. And residents fear a new Vallejo port could become an alternative location for exporting coal, since Oakland has blocked coal exports. Both the Sierra Club and Baykeeper oppose the project, also citing the danger of coal exports.