Paddle Out Against Paredon
Paddle Out Against Paredon has been organized to help inform and educate voters about the peril that the Carpinteria community faces if Measure J passes on June 8, 2010. Venoco is proposing a massive oil drilling rig on our coastline very close to residential neighborhoods, the Seal Sanctuary and the Carpinteria Bluffs Nature Preserve. Measure J would prohibit local safety inspections and oversight that are in force at other Santa Barbara County oil facilities and essential safeguards to protect our environment and our community’s precious coastal resources.
Measure J also transfers power to a corporate Board of Directors, responsible only to their shareholders, allows Venoco to change its project after the vote and overrides all our city’s rules, regulations and official policies. This onshore drilling project would cause excessive noise pollution to the local community, could cause noxious odors, and has the risk of well blowouts, oil spills and releases of toxic vapors.
In an effort to educate young voters and those that depend on our oceans for recreation about the project I am organizing an event to help sponsor the Citizens Committee Against Paredon Initiative and get the word out before June 8, 2010, when our citizens will vote on the fate of our community. Please help us in our cause because together we can SAVE OUR TOWN!!!
Please visit www.CitizensAgainstParedon.org for more information!
» wrote on 03.07.10 @ 09:29 AM
For now most of us use cars to get to the surf. Reconsider your NO vote. VOTE YES.
*Drilling locally will FREE us from HOSTILE countries that we pour BILLIONS $$$$$ into to purchase the very product we have in our own country/state.
*GOOD PAYING JOBS will be created and maintained by an operation such as this.
*All Federal/State/Coastal/Regional Regulations will need to be followed.
*This isn’t the 60’s and 70’s. *Drilling today is High Tech and has less potential for “noxious fumes/noise”, More crude (97%)seeps out of the earths crust than is caused by man made spills (3%).
*Drilling today can be done at angles to explore areas that have potentially more product.
DRILLING LOCALLY will help reduce the TERRIBLE Financial state that California is in by creating usable energy now(allowing time to develope REAL and USEFUL alternative fuel sources), Creating Jobs and Providing to the LOCAL ECONOMY.
DON’T BE F%@#ING HYPOCRITES. HELP CALIFORNIA and AMERICA PICK ITSELF UP WITH AMERICAN INGENUITY, LABOR AND PRODUCT. That is, unless you are just plain Un or WORSE YET Anti-American. See you in the water. Michael
» wrote on 03.08.10 @ 10:22 AM
The Paddle Out sounds like great opportunity to join together in solidarity against the Venoco’s corporate takeover of our local government. I don’t think it is hypocritical to drive a car yet not want to allow for onshore drilling to take place 1,000 feet from a residential neighborhood and the Pacific Ocean. It should also be noted that the gasoline we use in the USA primarily comes from Canada and Mexico. Are these the hostile countries Michael is speaking of? I would also like to note, there are no guarantees that oil produced domestically will stay domestic to fuel our country. When is the appropriate time to develop true domestic, renewable energy sources? Do we wait until all the world’s oil is used up? I think NOW is the time to develop American fuel sources which are renewable and support local communities.
» wrote on 03.08.10 @ 12:48 PM
Un American??????? I would think that protecting the environment is considered virtuous. Your right wing fear factored response to this measure is noxious.
» wrote on 03.08.10 @ 06:43 PM
I think we would be naive to think that Measure J will allow us oil independence from “terrorist” regimes. The “oil” that may (or may not) be harvested from this project may not even be a high enough grade to produce oil and/or gas and may be sold overseas for asphalt. The “oil” will NOT stay within our community and our need for international oil will continue as long as projects like this are allowed to continue.
It is also naive to think that Paredon will provide us with revenue to better our community. We may never see the money (if there is any) that is generated from this project. Any revenue generated from this project will be but a drop in a bucket compared to our state and local budget deficits.
We need to start thinking about creating jobs in renewable energy and sustainable projects like solar and wind power. Oil is NOT the long term answer!
Do your research!
Call me a tree hugging terrorist if you will, but this is not a project I want endangering my community.
See you in da wata, Michael!
» wrote on 03.08.10 @ 08:00 PM
To “Don’t Be Naive”: The drilling would be on land within the City close to neighborhoods, parks and the ocean bluffs. Any oil goes into the same world market that all other locally drilled oil is sold in—most goes to Asia. Local oil does not go into local markets—most is heavy crude not suited for local refining. See the City of Carpinteria website’s 9212 report on jobs—few and mostly not local. Calling someone who does not agree with you Un-American is a despicable tactic, and please stop swearing and shouting with Capslock. Please everyone: Read the City of Carpinteria’s report on the initiative.
» wrote on 03.09.10 @ 10:06 AM
If passed this measure would also set an extremely dangerous precedent for the entire Ca coastline. If this passes, Venoco will have a strong hold over the city of Carpinteria and would be able to bypass all of the rules and regulations set forth by the city, for the city. Not to mention all of the harmful and dangerous things it can and most likely will do to the water, the seal rookery, the bluffs, the surrounding neighborhoods, etc., etc., etc.
Read up on this initiative, educate yourself.
» wrote on 03.10.10 @ 06:26 PM
I’ve noticed that the majority of people I’ve seen sporting the “No on J” bumber stickers are transplants. If you don’t like it, GO HOME!!
I surf, fish, dive Carp all year long and I support the drill rig. Quit bringing up the ‘69 spill. There are so many precautionary measures in place on the rigs now, that a spill is virtually impossible. On top of that, natural oil seepage creates much more “pollution” than the spill of ‘69 did.
So to all of you “surfers against Prop J”, you obviously don’t realize that your wetsuits are petroleum based, surf wax is petro based, the gas in your car to drive to the beach is petro based. Since you don’t believe in drilling for oil, don’t wear a wetsuit, don’t use wax or traction pads (petro based), and don’t drive to the beach. If you do wear a wetsuit, use wax, and drive to the beach, I don’t want to hear anything about your anti-J stance.
» wrote on 03.14.10 @ 07:37 PM
To Tarpitz:
I just don’t want that in my backyard… and I don’t trust Venoco. Petroleum products are a fact of life, but the fact remains, oil as an energy source will eventually run out. We need to change our thinking and start using renewable energy such as solar or wind. Drilling an onshore rig in our sanctuary of the bluffs, seems to be very backward thinking. I grew up in this town and have seen Carpinterians come together to keep our community the way it is for good reason. I intend to continue to fight for that and drive my car to surf.
» wrote on 04.08.10 @ 11:44 AM
Honestly people you need to look at this from both sides. This article is completely one sided.
Cons:
1. With oil drilling there is always a risk of spilling, but much less than most people think with the technologies and regulations of today.
2. Venoco is spending less money by creating a rig onshore and not having to build a platform offshore, so a spill would be harder to clean up near the shore.
Pro’s:
1. It will give the county around $200 million of badly needed $$$, not to mention more jobs.
2. All regulations will be followed; Santa Barbara is one of the MOST strict reglation city’s in Cali….which is saying a lot believe me, I’m in that business area. This facility would be rightfully watched very closely, and all safety precautions would be followed.
3. If this is going to be in Venoco’s facility, you won’t be able to see it, and you’ll not be able to hear it or smell it, it’s tucked away pretty well.
4. Clean Seas, the oil spill clean up organization used by all oil companies in the area, is LITERALLY right next door to venoco’s facility. Response time in an emergency = less than a minute.
» wrote on 04.29.10 @ 08:06 AM
This wouldn’t free us from getting oil from “terrorist regimes.” We get almost 80% of our oil from Canada. Yes, Canada. Despite tchnological advances, we’re still creating huge environmental risks by drilling. Look what’s happening off the coast of Lousiana; biggest oil spill OF ALL TIME! The flip side is, jobs and a boost to the local economy. What’s more important? In my opinion, if we take care of the environment, it will take care of us. Looks like we have lots of weork to do…
» wrote on 05.03.10 @ 04:32 PM
Please—to Dude: The whole point of the initiative from Venoco’s perspective is to avoid City oversight (the County never would have any since it’s in the City). With an initiative Venoco avoids the investigation of risks, impacts, safeguards and local protections provided by the CEQA process. All environmental review would be done by distant agencies with narrow responsibilities, usually underfunded, and reliant on self-reporting by Venoco.
I live nearby and believe me, I hear, see and smell it way too often.
