While most of our recent coverage of California's Attorney General centers on his role at the forefront of multiple lawsuits against the EPA-- and ensuing speculation about his political future-- Brown has also been quietly continuing his planning-centered efforts to limit or offset carbon emissions. The latest focus: oil giant Chevron's plans for overhauling a Bay area refinery, one not too far from the ConocoPhillips refinery that was subject to an earlier landmark settlement. Chevron insists that it is taking global warming into account, but Brown and many local elected officials (along with citizens and environmental groups concerned about emissions from refining more crude oil) are skeptical of efforts to date and have ramped up the pressure:
[Brown's] office has hired a chemist for its analysis and submitted three comment letters so far -- compared with the one or two it usually issues on other projects -- pressing for reductions in air and greenhouse gas emissions. The last letter, dated March 19, came the day before the Richmond Planning Commission began its decisionmaking hearing.
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City officials revised the [Environmental Impact Report] in response to concerns from the AG's office and opponents. Those changes included putting lids on storage tanks to reduce air emissions and prescribing seven measures to mitigate the maximum possible increase in greenhouse gas emissions of 898,000 metric tons a year to zero.
The AG's 14-page letter of March 19 applauded the "positive" changes but said some deficiencies remain. A chemist hired by Brown's office concluded the refinery would have a unit to refine heavier crude, even though Chevron insists it will not process such oil. State attorneys suggest a limit on the crude slate.
In addition, Brown's office is asking the city to declare the projected increase in greenhouse gas emissions to be "significant," and specify that some mitigations occur in Richmond, Alex said.
Adopting the AG's suggested changes arguably could require recirculating the EIR for more public comment, city consultant Ellen Garber said.
Richmond's city planning comission will resume its hearings into the issue on April 10, when it will take into account Brown's most recent comment letter.
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