Berkeley City Council Votes to Oppose Plan to Transport Dangerous Crude Oil Through City
UPDATE: The Council unanimously passed the resolution, which was amended to include a long list of specific actions for city staff to take to try to stop the plan to transport crude oil by rail through Berkeley and other East Bay cities.
The Berkeley City Council voted tonight on a resolution that opposes plans by Phillips 66 to transport crude oil through Berkeley and other East Bay cities to a new refinery rail spur in San Luis Obispo County.
City Councilwoman Linda Maio, who wrote the resolution along with City Councilman Darryl Moore, admitted in a letter to the community that railroads are exempt from local and state laws because they are interstate operators.
But Maio said, "That must not stop us from fiercely opposing their plans and demanding intervention." -more-