A controversial proposal to use tanker trucks to move oil from three oil platforms off Santa Barbara County’s coastline to oil refineries is the focus of a hearing Monday night.
ExxonMobil is hoping to use the trucks to allow the reopening of the platforms which have been shut down since the rupture of an onshore oil pipeline in 2015.The proposal is to use the trucks until a rebuilt pipeline system reopens.
The proposal calls for a seven day a week operation, with up to 70 trucks a day. The trucks would take oil from the Las Flores Canyon processing facility west of Goleta to plants in Santa Barbara, and/or Kern County.
Environmental groups opposed to the proposal say if the trucks are permitted, they would create an explosion, fire, and spill hazard on the region’s highways.
The hearing is an opportunity to review, and take comments on the draft supplemental environmental impact report for the project.
