San Luis Obispo County cannot legally require Phillips 66 to make oil trains safer because only the federal government has authority over rail traffic. Investigators in Mosier, Oreg., determined a flaw in the Union Pacific tracks caused the recent oil train derailment, explosion, and fire. Our county’s Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors do, however, have authority over land-use decisions and permits, and can—and must—reject the permit application of Phillips 66 for an oil train rail spur. That’s why they should reject it: because our county cannot require any conditions or enforce any measures for emergency response, routing, tracks, or operations. 

Come to Mitchell Park in downtown SLO for a rally and march on Saturday, July 9, 12:30 p.m. Mayor Arlene Burns of Mosier, Oreg., will be our keynote speaker. Hear her firsthand report, a warning to us all. Do not let SLO County be the next Mosier.

— Gina Whitaker – San Luis Obispo

— Gina Whitaker – Arroyo Grande

— Gina Whitaker – San Luis Obispo

This article appears in Jul 7-14, 2016.

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