SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. (AP) — A proposal to ship oil to a Central Coast refinery by rail has drawn vocal opposition.
The Tribune newspaper reports the crowd that came to Thursday's meeting of the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission meeting was the largest turnout for a public hearing in years.
The Phillips 66 Co. wants to build a 1.3-mile spur with five sets of parallel tracks from the main rail line to the Nipomo Mesa refinery. The plan also calls for an unloading facility and on-site pipelines.
Hundreds of local residents and others from throughout the state converged on the hearing and commissioners heard hours of appeals to reject the plan. Opponents fear a derailment or spill would impact public safety and health.
Planning staff recommend the proposal be denied.