24 minute read
NEWS
City council seeks study on SoCalGas compressor expansion in West Ventura
by Kimberly Rivers
kimberly@vcreporter.com
On April 26 the Ventura City Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting the state agencies that have jurisdiction over a plan for the expansion of a West Ventura natural gas compressor facility to ensure proper studies are done to protect public health and safety of the residents of West Ventura. Holly Johnson and Erich Schaffer (front) of West Ventura join the march on Ventura Ave. with about
Ventura Mayor Sofia Rubalcava, who represents the district the com- 160 residents and supporters protesting the expansion of the Southern California Gas Co. compression pressor site is located in, challenged the two Southern California Gas Com- facility on April 24, 2021. Photos by Barry Harrington. pany (SoCalGas) representatives on various aspects of the plan to clean up contaminated soil under the area where existing office buildings at the site will be replaced. SoCalGas also plans to upgrade three compression engines with four new modern engines that will increase the overall horsepower of the facility.
Rubalcava asked whether the facility had the capability to detect the leaks in 2017, when NASA found the site to be a “super emitter” of methane.
“We do test our facilities consistent with all applicable regulations,” answered Jessica Foley, public policy planning manager in the construction department with SoCalGas. She described how “any kind of operation can have mov[ing] parts, vibration and have really small leaks occur.” SoCalGas reports it has fixed the leaks identified by NASA.
“It could have been going on for months or for years,” said Tomás Rebecchi, a resident of Ventura who lives two blocks from the compressor station site. He was speaking during public comment and said his two small children will attend E.P. Foster Elementary School, which is just across the street from the project site. “We have many concerns, and not a lot of answers.”
Modernization or expansion?
Maria Ventura, public affairs manager for SoCalGas, emphasized that in the view of the company, the project is needed for proper maintenance and modernization. When asked by councilmembers about the use of the word “modernization” rather than “expansion,” she said the project would not result in any increase in service; the same customers would be serviced by the site. Ventura emphasized that the project is aimed at ensuring “affordable and reliable” natural gas supply to existing customers from Ventura County to Santa Maria.
After being pressed by Councilmember Mike Johnson (Dist. 3), who confirmed the increase in horsepower at the facility with the new compressors, Foley admitted that more gas could be going through the facility.
“There may be more gas flowing through this station in order to offset the loss of the gas in the northern system,” said Foley. “The dynamics of the energy delivery system has changed, not just with SoCalGas but as a collective total in the energy system.” According to Foley, the upgrade is needed because of a decrease in natural gas production in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties and so the additional horsepower is needed at this compressor site to push more gas through the facility all the way to Santa Maria.
“To me that sounds like an expansion,” said Rubalcava.
SoCalGas officials say it’s a needed modernization project to provide reliable energy as the company transitions to meet its net zero goals by 2045, but local residents and community organizations say it’s merely a profit-driven expansion plan that isn’t warranted given the decrease in natural gas demand overall. By mischaracterizing the project as a mere modern upgrade, the project circumvents a thorough environmental review, including an assessment of how it will impact residents of the state-designated disadvantaged community.
This tactic is referred to as piecemealing, and diffuses the environmental impact of the full project. The project in pieces may be able to avoid full environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Questions regarding safety, operation and groundwater contamination
Only one public speaker, David Grau with the Ventura County Taxpayers Association, spoke in support of SoCalGas. Grau emphasized the findings of the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), which found that the project would not have a significant environmental impact. DTSC has jurisdiction over the portion of the plan that involves soil cleanup, not the additional gas compressor engines.
Continued on next page.
VC COVID Update
Masks indoors, walk-up vaccinations, bars can open
by Kimberly Rivers
kimberly@vcreporter.com
Ventura County is in the Orange Tier. This means that most everything is open, with various restrictions. Everyone is expected to wear masks inside and social distance. Those fully vaccinated can take their masks off outside.
Recreation centers, including amusement parks and indoor activities, can open. Sky Zone, an indoor trampoline park in Ventura, reopened on April 15 with a reduced capacity for social distancing and increased cleaning measures.
Bars that don’t serve food can open outdoors, and bowling alleys can operate as well.
Schools are back in session, on campus for the most part. Some are still offering distance learning options. Plans for next fall look more like normal overall.
On Monday, May 3, Ventura County reported 76 new cases over the weekend, and on April 30, 20 new cases were reported. By the end of April the county reported that the death of a 40-year-old woman was related to COVID-19. There were just 13 people in area hospitals being treated for COVID symptoms and two requiring treatment in intensive care units.
While the number of new cases is very low, the virus is still something everyone is contending with in daily life. Vaccination is the main solution available and Ventura County is reporting that 60.7% of residents in the county have received one dose of the vaccine. Compared to the state rate of about 19%, the county is vaccinating the local population at a much higher rate.
Testing
Coronavirus testing is still encouraged. No symptoms are needed to get tested. Locations and times vary across the county. All testing is free. Appointments are available but walk-ins are welcomed as well.
State testing locations in Fillmore, Newbury Park, Oxnard and Thousand Oaks require appointments. Call 1-888-634-1123 or register online at www.lhi.care/covidtesting.
No appointment needed for vaccination
Today, every person age 16 and over is eligible to be vaccinated in Ventura County. Note that only the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for ages 16 and 17. The Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines received emergency use authorization for those 18 and up. Last week the county announced that no appointment is needed at many of the vaccination sites around the county. ALL VACCINES ARE FREE.
You can still make an appoint online at www.myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255.
No appointments are needed at these following locations:
Pfizer vaccine available at:
• Thousand Oaks | Goebel Adult Community Center, 1385 E. Janss Road
Mon.-Wed. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Tues. 10:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Ventura | Ventura County Fairgrounds, Anacapa Hall, 10 W. Harbor Blvd.
Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Santa Paula | Kmart Building, 895 Faulkner Road
Moderna vaccine available at:
• Oxnard | Babies R Us Building, 2340 N. Rose Ave.
Thursday and Friday 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. • Simi Valley | Sierra Vista Family Medical Clinic, 1227 E. Los Angeles Ave. 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. on Monday, May 10; Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12. • South Oxnard | Tent in Parking lot at 2500 South C St.
Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine available at:
Clinics open through May 16: • Camarillo | Ventura County Office of Education, 5100 Adolfo Road
Monday-Wednesday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. • South Oxnard | Tent in Parking lot at 2500 South C St.
Thurs. and Fri. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Piru | Warring Park, 802 Orchard Road
ONLY on Saturday, May 8, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Pfizer second dose walk-up clinic
Continued from previous page.
Even in light of modernization, Foley reported that the new facility would still “vent to the air” in the event of an emergency related to high pressure in the system. When asked how often the safety systems are tested, she said she’d have to get back to the council.
In responding to questions from Councilmember Lorrie Brown (Dist. 6), Ventura clarified that two to three compressor engines are expected to be operated Members of the Traffic Safety Group support the protesters in West at the same time, and there will be no Ventura on April 24, 2021. Photo by Barry Harrington. new pipes installed outside the facility boundaries. Foley ern California and asked whether any of them existed in said, however, that operational needs determine how many a similar community — near homes and a school — and compressors are operated at any given time, and in some whether such a facility would be built in that type of cases that could mean all engines would run at once. location today. Foley told the council she would have to
Councilmember Doug Halter (Dist. 2) sought clarifica- “circle back” with specifics but said, “the circumstances tion about whether there was groundwater contamination of the Ventura station have evolved over 100 years . . . so in the area. Foley confirmed that the DTSC report found the situation is somewhat unique . . . This station has been “infiltration,” but noted that it was outside of SoCalGas in operation since 1923 . . . over time, land use in the area property boundaries. With an “area that has had industrial has definitely changed.” use for 100 years, there has been historic groundwater According to Foley, this site is rated as a “three out of infiltration . . . there have been constituents noted in the four” for surrounding residential density. By way of comgroundwater table . . . at 35 feet below ground surface.” parison, she said downtown Los Angeles would be a four. She said the contamination has “largely been associated with properties west” of the SoCalGas property. Watch the April 26 Ventura City Council meeting online
Rubalcava noted the 10 similar facilities across South- at www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnpNm336dLo&t=13047s.
Eye on the Environment
Compost contest winners motivated by education
by David Goldstein
When curbside service makes it so easy to send yard clippings away for processing, and when you can easily buy compost or mulch as needed, why are many people so dedicated to do-it-yourself composting, keeping their materials on-site?
Many answers come from the 56 entrants in last week’s Ventura County Compost Cup competition, a project of the Ventura County Compost Network. The network includes over a dozen private companies and nonprofit organizations involved in local composting.
For Laura Erlig and the staff at One Spark Academy in Thousand Oaks, composting provides an educational opportunity. One Spark Academy, which serves middle school-age homeschooled and independent study students, has maintained a garden for many years. When learning shifted online and outdoors, the program built an outdoor garden classroom at the Las Flores Community Garden. For students in “Seeds & Sprouts,” as the gardening class is called, composting remained a major focus of their studies.
Following social distance protocols and wearing masks, students have met weekly at the garden to maintain vermicompost boxes and compost bins, while tending raised vegetable beds, a weeping mulberry tree, and other plants. The food they grew was then used in their cooking class, “Food Fascination.”
One Spark Academy won first place in the category for schools and community gardens. Prizes, which Erlig will use for the school garden, include mulch from Agromin or Peach Hill Soils, biochar from Blue Sky Biochar, castings from Organic Solution Soil Amendments and a $50 gift certificate to Green Thumb Nursery, which will be applied to trowels, hoop covers for seedlings and starter plants.
Education was also part of the reason why another Compost Cup winner, Maria Jones of Oxnard, started backyard composting three decades ago. Jones had just moved from a condominium to a house and was eager to start gardening. Encouraged by results she saw in Organic Gardening magazine, she thought composting would be a great way to help her children learn about “nature, planting and growing.”
As Jones began composting, using one compost bin she got from the city of Oxnard and another bin given to her by a neighbor, her son, Colin, came home from Our Redeemer Preschool excited to tell her about the worm composting his teacher had started in his classroom. With a worm box from the city of Oxnard, students were composting their apple cores, banana peels, carrot tops and other food scraps. Colin was eager to also compost at home, and composting became a mother/son activity that has bonded the two ever since.
Even after moving out, Colin, now 31 years old and a welder, still helps his mom. For winning the Compost Cup in the residential category, the Jones family will receive, among other prizes, a backpack with a built-in folding solar panel, capable of charging a cell phone and other electronic devices simultaneously, donated by RecycledGoods. com of Ventura, a company marketing reusable business electronics.
State Senate Bill 1383, of 2016, might give many more businesses or institutions a reason to try onsite composting. Over the next few years, California mandates will require any entity generating yard waste or food waste in sufficient amounts to use and pay for separate bins for compost collection. Businesses and institutions composting their material on site may qualify for a “de minimis exemption.” You can join the county’s stakeholder notification list to find out about upcoming organics ordinance changes and related information at www. vcpublicworks.org/SB1383.
More information at: www.facebook.com/VCCompostCup www.vccompostcup.com www.vcpublicworks.org/SB1383
David Goldstein, Environmental Resource Analyst with Ventura County Public Works Agency, may be reached at 805-658-4312 or david.goldstein@ventura.org.
In Brief
United Way launches initiative to end homelessness
The United Way of Ventura County has launched a new initiative to end homelessness in the county that includes a new landlord engagement program to support those prioritized for housing vouchers and housing subsidies in order to prevent and end homelessness.
Details are online at www.unitedtoendhomelessnessvc.org. SpeakOut rally for Health Care for All bill
As part of a statewide day of action on April 17 at Oxnard College, local activists, nurses and officials gathered for a car rally in support of Assembly Bill 1400, the Guaranteed Health Care for All Act. AB-1400 would create a program called California Guaranteed Health Care for All, or CalCare, that would provide comprehensive universal single-payer healthcare coverage and a healthcare cost control system for all residents of the state.
“Isn’t it time that we recognized what the lack of healthcare is doing to our community and our nation?” asked Carmen Ramirez, Ventura County Supervisor (Dist. 5), who attended the rally. “No nation can be strong when so many people have to worry if they can get life-saving healthcare for themselves and their children. Medical bills are the leading cause of bankruptcies for families. We can do better and we must. Now is the time!”
National Nurses United, the California Nurses Association and the Democratic Socialists of America were the organizers of the car rally, with local residents sharing their experiences of dealing with the profit-driven and fragmented healthcare system. Other groups who supported the event included Black Lives Matter, the Diversity Collective of Ventura County, Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ) and the Ventura County Coalition for Student Success.
The bill is currently active, awaiting committee referral.
Read the text of the bill online at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/ faces/billSearchClient.xhtml. Grant for digital bilingual literacy program awarded to LULAC
A $25,000 Spectrum Digital Education Grant has been awarded to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) National Educational Service Centers to fund a bilingual digital literacy program for low income students and Spanish speaking parents, as part of Spectrum’s $6 million multi-year national commitment to communities across the county.
Clinicas celebrates 50 years
Founded in 1971, Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. was meant to serve the medically underserved population in Ventura County. Over the past 50 years, it has grown into one of the largest healthcare systems on the Central Coast, serving over 100,000 patients. With 16 full-service health centers, mobile medical units and 25 school-based sites, the organization serves patients of all ages. With over 800 employees Clinicas is one of the largest employers in the county. The current CEO of Clinicas is Robert S. Juarez. clinicas.org Ventura offers lawn removal water rebates
With low rainfall this past season, local water levels remain low and the drought continues. The city of Ventura continues to offer an incentive program for customers of Ventura Water to replace their grass lawns with native and/or other low-water, drought-tolerant plants. Called the turf removal rebate, the city is offering $2 per square foot (minimum of 200 square feet) up to $3,200 for residential customers and $6,400 for commercial or multi-family properties.
The rebate funds are meant to pay for part of the project and can be used to cover design fees, low-water-use plants, permeable mulch, disposal fees, rainwater capture systems and upgrades of current irrigation systems.
One application is allowed per address or water customer account.
Details on this and other water conservation incentive programs with the city of Ventura are online at www.removeyourturf.com/ventura. Food bank pop-up sites
Food Share of Ventura County is operating pop-up food sites for anyone in need to receive free food. Food is handed out on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Proof of county residency required. Drive up or walk up. Locations and schedule this week are:
EL RIO: Friday, May 7, 5 p.m. at Rio Mesa High School, 545 Central Ave., Oxnard
MOORPARK: Saturday, May 8, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Ruben Castro Charities, 5700 Condor Drive, Moorpark
For more information and future pop-up site schedules, visit: foodshare.com/covid19/ or call 805-983-7100.
— Kimberly Rivers
■ JACKPOT: Imagine finding the 1970-D Silver JFK shown below worth the highest collector value on record in one of these unsearched Bank Rolls. At left, workers scramble to keep up with orders. There are never any guarantees, but California residents who get their hands on these State Restricted Bank Rolls will be the really lucky ones because many Silver JFK’s have nearly doubled in collector value in the last several years. Coin values always fluctuate but there can never be any more of these Silver JFKs minted between 1965 and 1970 and there’s no telling what they will someday be worth.
California residents get first dibs on last remaining Bank Rolls loaded with U.S. Gov’t issued Silver JFK’s dating back to the mid 1900’s some worth up to 60 times their face value for just the $19 minimum set for state residents - all other state residents must pay $57 per coin if any remain after 2-day deadline STATE DISTRIBUTION: A strict limit of 6 State Restricted Bank Rolls per CA resident has been imposed
CALIFORNIA - “It’s a miracle these State Restricted Bank Rolls even exist. That’s why Hotline Operators are bracing for the flood of calls,” said Laura Lynne, U.S. Coin and Currency Treasurer for the National Mint and Treasury.
For the next 2 days the last remaining State of California Restricted Bank Rolls loaded with rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver JFK’s are actually being handed over to California residents who call the National Toll-Free Hotlines listed in today’s newspaper publication.
“I recently spoke with a retired Treasurer of the United States of America who said, ‘In all my years as Treasurer I’ve only ever seen a handful of these rarely seen Silver JFK’s issued by the U.S. Gov’t over 50 years ago. But to actually find them sealed away in State Restricted Bank Rolls still in pristine condition is like finding buried treasure. So anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Bank Rolls had better hold on to them,’” Lynne said.
“Now that the State of California Restricted Bank Rolls are being offered up we won’t be surprised if thousands of California residents claim the maximum limit allowed of 6 Bank Rolls per resident before they’re all gone,” said Lynne.
“That’s because the dates and mint marks of the U.S. Gov’t issued Silver clad JFK Half Dollars sealed away inside the State of California Restricted Bank Rolls have never been searched. But, we do know that these coins date back to the mid 1900’s and some are worth up to 60 times their face value, so there is no telling what California residents will find until they sort through all the coins,” Lynne went on to say.
And here’s the best part. If you are a resident of the state of California you cover only the $19 per coin state minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury, that’s twenty rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued Silver clad JFK half dollars worth up to 60 times their face value for just $380 which is a real steal because non state residents must pay $57 per coin which totals $1,140 if any coins re-
main after the 2-day deadline.
The only thing California residents need to do is call the National Toll-Free Hotlines printed in today’s newspaper publication before the 2-day order deadline ends.
“Rarely seen U.S. Gov’t issued silver coins like these are highly sought after, but we’ve never seen anything like this before. According to The Official Red Book, a Guide Book of United States Coins many Silver JFK Half Dollars have nearly doubled in collector value in just the last several years,” Lynne said.
“So just imagine how much these last remaining, unsearched State of California Restricted Bank Rolls could be worth someday. Remember, these are not ordinary coins – these rarely seen coins are at least 50 years old. In fact, these coins have been forever retired by the U.S. Gov’t, and you can’t get them rolled this way anywhere because these way anywhere because these are the only State Restricted are the only State Restricted Bank Rolls known to exist,” Bank Rolls known to exist,” said Lynne.
“We’re guess“We’re guessing thousands ing thousands of California of California residents will residents will be taking the be taking the maximum limit maximum limit of 6 Bank Rolls of 6 Bank Rolls because they because they make such make such amazing gifts amazing gifts for any occasion for any occasion for children, for children, parents, grandparents, grandparents, friends parents, friends and loved ones,” and loved ones,” Lynne continLynne continued.
“We know the “We know the phones will be phones will be ringing off the ringing off the hook. That’s why hook. That’s why hundreds of Hotline hundreds of Hotline Operators are standing by to answer the phones beginning answer the phones beginning at 8:30 am this morning. We’re at 8:30 am this morning. We’re going to do our best, but with going to do our best, but with just 2 days to answer all the just 2 days to answer all the calls it won’t be easy. So make calls it won’t be easy. So make sure to tell everyone to keep sure to tell everyone to keep calling if all lines are busy. calling if all lines are busy. We’ll do our best to anWe’ll do our best to answer them all,” Lynne swer them all,” Lynne said.
“That’s why the National Mint and Treasury set up the National Toll-Free Hotlines in order to make sure California residents get the State Restricted Bank Rolls before they’re all gone,” she said.
The only thing readers The only thing readers of today’s newspa per pubof today’s newspa per publication need to do is make lication need to do is make sure they are a resident of the sure they are a resident of the state of California and call the state of California and call the National Toll-Free Hotlines National Toll-Free Hotlines before the 2-day deadline ends before the 2-day deadline ends midnight tomorrow. ■
What you need to know about the last State Restricted JFK Silver Bank Rolls
If you are a California State Resident call the State Toll-Free Hotline at 8:30 am : California 1-800-958-0006 EXT: RJN1045
Are these silver JFKs better than other JFKs: Yes. These Silver JFKs were minted over 50 years ago and they are among the first JFKs to be produced by the U.S. Gov’t. The vast majority of years ago and they are among the first JFKs to be produced by the U.S. Gov’t. The vast majority of current JFKs have no silver content at all and these Silver clad JFKs have 5 of the top 8 collector current JFKs have no silver content at all and these Silver clad JFKs have 5 of the top 8 collector values of any JFKs ever minted, so there is no telling how much their collector value could be values of any JFKs ever minted, so there is no telling how much their collector value could be someday. someday. How much are State Restricted JFK Silver Bank Rolls worth: It’s impossible to say, but the collector value of many of these Silver clad JFKs has nearly doubled in the past few but the collector value of many of these Silver clad JFKs has nearly doubled in the past few years and there are 20 in each Bank Roll. It’s important to remember that collector values always years and there are 20 in each Bank Roll. It’s important to remember that collector values always fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only California State fluctuate and there are never any guarantees. But we do know they are the only Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and JFK was a President beloved by people of all walks of life Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and JFK was a President beloved by people of all walks of life so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them so anyone lucky enough to get their hands on these Silver Bank Rolls should hold onto them because there’s no telling what the actual collector value could one day be worth. because there’s no telling what the actual collector value could one day be worth. Why are so many California residents claiming them: Because they are the only State Restricted JFK Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. Each Bank Roll Restricted JFK Silver Bank Rolls known to exist and everyone wants their share. Each Bank Roll contains a whopping 20 Silver JFKs dating back to the mid 1900’s. Best of all California residents contains a whopping 20 Silver JFKs dating back to the mid 1900’s. Best of all are guaranteed to get them for the State Minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just are guaranteed to get them for the State Minimum set by the National Mint and Treasury of just $19 per Silver JFK for the next two days. $19 per Silver JFK for the next two days. How do I get the State Restricted JFK Silver Bank Rolls: California residents are claiming the limit of 6 State Restricted JFKSilver Bank Rolls by calling the State Toll Free Hotline at 1-800-the limit of 6 State Restricted JFK 958-0006 Ext. 958-0006 RJN1045 starting at precisely 8:30 this morning. When they do they are getting the only State Restricted JFKSilver Bank Rolls known to exist. That’s a full Bank Roll containing the only State Restricted JFK 20 Silver JFKs from over 50 years ago with some of the highest collector values on record, but 20 Silver JFKs from over 50 years ago with some of the highest collector values on record, but it’s essential that they call immediately. Non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 it’s essential that they call immediately. Non state residents are not permitted to call before 5 pm tomorrow and must pay $1,140 for each California State Restricted JFK Silver Bank Roll if any remain.tomorrow and must pay $1,140 for each
NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, LLC IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE U.S. MINT, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, A BANK OR ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCY. IF FOR ANY REASON WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM SHIPMENT YOU ARE DISSATISFIED, RETURN THE PRODUCT FOR A REFUND LESS SHIPPING AND RETURN POSTAGE. THIS SAME OFFER MAY BE MADE AVAILABLE AT A LATER DATE OR IN A DIFFERENT GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION. OH RESIDENTS ADD 6.5% SALES TAX. NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY, PO BOX 35609, CANTON, OH 44735 ©2021 NATIONAL MINT AND TREASURY. R1031R-1
