Safe Landings Act garners support of “Sully” Sullenberger, Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations
Washington, D.C.– Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (D, CA-10) announced the introduction of the Safe Landings Act (H.R. 6850) to increase aviation safety and avoid near-miss aircraft incidents, like the one that occurred at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on July 7, 2017, in which over 1,000 passengers were in danger of losing their lives. By creating a new federal task force to research and identify safety risks, expanding training, and addressing new technology needs, this bill would help reduce human error in aviation and save lives. DeSaulnier first introduced this legislation in August 2019, but with runway incursions this year up 25% from a decade ago and expectations of the busiest ever holiday season for air travel, he has updated the bill based on new information and industry needs.
“As we approach an exceptionally busy air travel season following a year of unprecedented levels of aircraft near-misses, I am doing all I can in Congress to pass aviation safety reforms to help ensure the protection of and convenience for the flying public,” said DeSaulnier. “By taking a proactive approach to identifying flaws and risks in flying before they cause harm, this bill would help ensure the safety of millions of Americans, especially during periods of heavy air travel, and that the United States remains a global leader in aviation.”
“My mission is making all of us safer when we fly,” said Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger, U.S. Representative to the International Civil Aviation Organization. “There is still much work to be done. This bill closes many of the gaps in safety that still pose a threat.”
“We applaud Representative DeSaulnier’s proactive efforts to improve aviation safety with the Safe Landings Act,” stated Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) President Captain Larry Rooney. “Aviation safety is a direct result of the continued collaborative efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that the safety of the traveling public remains paramount. This legislation provides the latest opportunity to further refine and improve on known and newly discovered safety deficiencies. Additionally, it recognizes that any attempt to reduce pilot flight deck staffing diminishes the tremendous safety strides made through the robust and proven life-saving application of Crew resource management skills (CRM). CAPA looks forward to providing the subject matter expertise necessary to ensure that this important safety legislation becomes enacted into law.”
Following the near-miss incident at SFO when an arriving Air Canada flight came dangerously close to landing on a taxiway occupied by four aircraft loaded with more than 1,000 passengers, Rep. DeSaulnier, a senior member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and former chair of both the California Assembly and California Senate transportation committees, spent two years researching aviation and near-miss incidents. In consultation with experts in the field, including Captain Sullenberger, pilot unions, air traffic controllers, mechanics, ground safety crews, and federal agencies (NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) he developed this legislation to ensure that fatal or near-miss incidents—like what occurred at SFO—are prevented in the future.
In addition to this legislation, the FAA announced in September 2023 that it is promoting the use of cockpit-alerting technologies, which is a positive step in the direction toward Congressman DeSaulnier’s provision mandating this technology and the National Transportation Safety Board’s (NTSB) recommendations following the 2017 incident.
Specifically, the Safe Landings Act would:
- Require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to implement systems that would alert both pilots and air traffic controllers if a plane is not properly aligned to land on a runway;
- Require FAA to gather data and issue guidance on the most effective techniques for pilots to electronically verify they are landing on the correct runway;
- Require the “notices to air mission” (NOTAM) system to be evaluated for improvements;
- Direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on the concerns some pilots have with cockpit voice recorders (CVRs)—like inappropriate foreign government use—and provide recommendations to improve CVRs while also protecting pilots;
- Create a Task Force on Human Factors in Aviation Safetyto review and provide recommendations on crew responses to abnormal events, pilot performance during unexpected events, current flight crew rest and fatigue standards, and other safety related issues;
- Require that international rules, regulations, or standards regarding flight crew and maintenance personnel rest and fatigue be studied to ensure worker safety;
- Direct the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General to audit current FAA standards and programs for whistleblowers to strengthen protections for aviation workers;
- Require a report that studies the role of human factors in high-risk professions, including the aviation industry, and recommend best practices to reduce the risk;
- Require updating of guidelines for air carrier maintenance programs to improve transparency;
- Ensure that safety data that is voluntarily provided to the Aviation Safety Action Program is protected;
- Require a review of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) best available technologies and standards and a timeline for adoption in the U.S.;
- Require a minimum of 2 pilots in all part 121 air carriers providing transportation to passengers and cargo;
- Require knowledge safety experts on any FAA advisory committee that provides recommendations on topics that impact aviation safety; and
- Require the FAA Administrator to ensure that air carriers are prohibited from hiding information that is important for any investigations of aircraft incidents.
This legislation is endorsed by the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations (CAPA) and original cosponsors of the bill include Representative Dina Titus (NV-01) and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-AL).
Read MoreContra Costa County is updating the local Hazard Mitigation Plan and seeks your input.
Take a short survey to help tailor emergency plans to your community needs.
English survey https://ow.ly/Uvuf50QgYB6
Spanish survey https://ow.ly/1fiv50QgYBc
Read MoreBy Jon Coupal, President, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
The Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act (TPA) is a proposed constitutional amendment which has already qualified for the November 2024 ballot. It is sponsored by taxpayer and business organizations to restore key provisions of Proposition 13 and other pro-taxpayer laws that give voters more control over when and how new tax revenue is raised.
Although TPA, unlike previous tax reform measures, doesn’t reduce or eliminate any state or local tax, it does impose both enhanced voter approval requirements for fee and tax increases as well as robust accountability and transparency provisions.
For obvious reasons, tax-and-spend interests hate TPA and have launched a multi-front assault hoping to either defeat it or keep it off the ballot entirely.
The motivation for these schemes is that politicians and their enablers are fully aware that TPA is highly likely to pass if it stays on the ballot. Californians are sick and tired of having the nation’s highest tax rates jammed down their throats, especially when these heavy tax burdens are not accompanied by higher levels of public services; in fact, the opposite is true, as evidenced by California’s high cost of living, crime, homelessness, hostile business climate, and other ills.
But now, there may be another reason why anti-taxpayer interests are waging this war on TPA. A recent report by the California Legislative Analyst’s office threw a bucket of cold water on progressives’ plans to continue to increase taxes with virtually no restraint. The LAO now estimates “2022-23 revenues to be $26 billion below Budget Act projections. Historical experience suggests this weakness is likely to carry into this fiscal year and next. Overall, our updated revenue outlook anticipates collections to come in $58 billion below Budget Act projections across 2022-23 to 2024-25.” (Note that in less than a week after this news, the LAO upped the shortfall from $58 billion to $68 billion).
If there is any saving grace to the current financial situation it is that California still has substantial budget reserves. That, plus some creative accounting, can probably blunt the negative impacts of a severe drop in revenues – at least for a while.
Nonetheless, if California’s tax revenue spigot is curtailed any significant amount, will the enemies of the Taxpayer Protection Act argue that this provides another justification for removing all restraints on raising taxes?
Economic growth in Texas and Florida is outpacing that in California, due in part to a top marginal income tax rate of zero. What is happening in other smaller states is less well known. The smart move would be to follow the lead of other states which are aggressively pursuing pro-growth strategies which in turn lead to more tax revenue.
Take Iowa for example. Defying critics who claimed that tax reductions would crush the state budget, Iowa’s Governor Kim Reynolds slashed top marginal tax rates, previously some of the highest in the nation. Not only did revenues not crash, but they shot up by huge percentage points. According to a report in Center Square, “Iowa led the ‘tax-cutting wave’ in 2022, with the most comprehensive and aggressive tax reform in the United States. This will gradually replace the nine-bracket, progressive income tax with a flat tax, bringing the top rate, which was close to 9 percent, down to a flat 3.9 percent by 2026.”
Other states have provided California with a roadmap for economic growth and healthy budgets by cutting taxes and pursuing other pro-freedom policies. However, the political realities in this one-party state – governed by hardcore progressives – render the odds of politicians even looking at the roadmap extremely slight.
That being said, if the Governor and the Legislature won’t do what’s necessary to prevent a budget disaster, the least they can do is get out of the way of those who have offered the Taxpayer Protection Act to the voters so that ordinary citizens can do what politicians won’t: impose fiscal discipline on a fiscally reckless state.
This column originally appeared in the Orange County Register. Republished with permission.
Read MoreAnnounces support from Planned Parenthood of Northern California, California Labor Federation, State Controller Malia Cohen, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and California Federation of Teachers in a growing list of state and local endorsers
The Christian minister won’t say why he would want the pro-abortion organization’s endorsement
Assemblyman Tim Grayson has announced new key endorsements from a wide array of organizations and elected officials from across the state in support of his campaign for State Senate District 9 which includes most of Contra Costa and portions of Alameda counties. His latest endorsers include Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund, California Labor Federation, State Controller Malia Cohen, State Building and Construction Trades Council of California and California Federation of Teachers.
“In the Assembly, I’ve tried to work hard, be collaborative and never stop fighting for working people. I’m committed to continuing to create good paying jobs, standing behind our first responders and protecting women’s rights. I’m proud that so many organizations have acknowledged our work by signing on to support our campaign to keep up this fight in the State Senate,” said Assemblymember Grayson.
As previously reported, Grayson is a bi-vocational pastor of Lifepoint Church formerly, Calvary Apostolic Church, in Concord. In an email on Dec. 8, he was asked why, as a Christian minister, he would want the endorsement of the pro-abortion Planned Parenthood.
Then, in a December 18, 2023 post on X (formerly Twitter) he wrote, “Proud to have earned the endorsement of Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund in my campaign for State Senate.”
Grayson was asked again via email and X the same question. But neither the candidate nor anyone from his campaign responded.
A complete endorsement list is available at www.graysonforca.com/endorsements
Grayson currently represents more than half a million Contra Costa County residents in the California State Assembly. A small business owner and the former Mayor of Concord, Tim is focused on fighting for quality jobs and economic security for working families, addressing California’s housing crisis, and taking on predatory lenders and financial fraudsters across our state. Tim was the first in his family to earn a college degree. His father was a Teamster and his mother was a public transit worker. Tim has been a licensed general building contractor for nearly 30 years and operates his own small business. He is the Chair of the Assembly Banking and Finance Committee. Tim and his wife Tammy have been married for 35 years and have raised two adult children in Concord, CA.
Complete Endorsement List:
Planned Parenthood Northern California Action Fund
California Labor Federation
State Building and Construction Trades Council of California
State Controller Malia Cohen
State Treasurer Fiona Ma
California Federation of Teachers
CAL FIRE Local 2881
California Association of Highway Patrolmen
Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council
Building and Construction Trades Council of Alameda County
Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association
Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 104
Plasterers and Cement Masons Local 300
Housing Action Coalition
The Honorable Bob Hertzberg (former Speaker, Majority Leader and State Senator)
State Senator Bill Dodd
State Senator Melissa Hurtado
Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas
Assemblymember Evan Low
Assemblymember Cottie Petrie-Norris
Assemblymember Sharon Quirk Silva
Assemblymember Blanca Rubio
Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua
Assemblymember Jim Wood
Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes
Assemblymember Matt Haney
Assemblymember Chris Holden
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan
Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin
Assemblymember Laura Friedman
Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, Women’s Caucus Vice Chair
Assemblymember Mia Bonta
Assemblymember Buffy Wicks
Assemblymember Diane Papan
Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco
Contra Costa Supervisor Ken Carlson, District 4
Contra Costa Supervisor Diane Burgis, District 3
Contra Costa Supervisor Federal D. Glover, District 5
Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia, District 1
Contra Costa Supervisor Candace Andersen, District 2
Pleasant Hill Vice Mayor Matt Rin
Pleasant Hill Councilmember Sue Noack
El Cerrito Councilmember Gabe Quinto
Sheet Metal Workers Local 104
Grayson faces fellow Democrat San Ramon Councilwoman Marisol Rubio in the March 5 primary election. With only two candidates in the race, they will face off again in the November general election.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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SACRAMENTO, Calif.— California State Parks announced on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, a new approach to reserving the highly sought after Steep Ravine Cabins at Mount Tamalpais State Park. Using a lottery-style system to make a reservation, the department’s new pilot program aims to enhance access and equity by allowing outdoor enthusiasts to apply for free for a reservation drawing up to eight months in advance. The drawings are selected randomly and conducted seven months ahead of the reservation dates through California’s state park reservation system, ReserveCalifornia.
Just north of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, Mount Tamalpais State Park rises majestically from the heart of Marin County. The park offers hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching and camping opportunities. Perched on the cliffs of Mount Tamalpais, the Steep Ravine Cabins have long been a cherished destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking a unique camping experience. Each cabin has a small wood stove, picnic table, sleeping platforms, and an outdoors barbecue, but no running water.
Launched in October of this year, the reservation lottery system ensures a fair and equitable distribution of reservations. Guests interested in reserving one of these iconic cabins will have the opportunity to enter the free drawing for a chance to secure their stay. This approach eliminates the rush and competition that often accompanies traditional booking processes, allowing more individuals and families to access the cabins at the park. If a visitor is awarded their reservation choice, they must claim and pay for the reservation within 30 days to keep it. Any unclaimed inventory will be released for reservation six months in advance.
Some key features of the pilot program at the Steep Ravine Cabins include:
- Equal Opportunity: The lottery system provides an equal opportunity for anyone interested to secure a reservation, regardless of their location or previous booking history.
- Transparency: The drawing process will be conducted, ensuring transparency and fairness in cabin allocation.
- Accessible Information: Detailed instructions on how to participate in the drawings are available on ReserveCalifornia website, making it easy for anyone to enter.
Thus far, close to 3,400 applicants have signed up for the drawings. The pilot program is part of the department’s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility, preserve its natural resources, and promote outdoor experiences for all.
The public can learn more about the reservation drawing pilot program by visiting the Frequently Asked Questions or ReserveCalifornia.com.
The California Department of Parks and Recreation, popularly known as State Parks, and the programs supported by its Office of Historic Preservation and divisions of Boating and Waterways and Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Learn more at parks.ca.gov.
Read MoreThousands of people answered the call to help upended lives across the country
By Martin Gagliano, Public Affairs, American Red Cross, Northern California Coastal Region
Through it all this year, Red Cross volunteers provided shelter, food, emotional support and financial assistance for families in need. During the holiday season, many are on the ground delivering relief in hard-hit places like Hawaii and Florida, where families remain displaced from their homes, or they’re responding to other crises like home fires, which comprise most of the 60,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually in the U.S.
Volunteers — who comprise 90% of the Red Cross workforce — are critical to ensuring families receive care and hope in the face of more frequent and intense disasters. In fact, the annual number of extreme weather and climate disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each has increased by 80% over the past decade.
OUR YEAR IN NUMBERS: From coast to coast, the climate crisis took a devastating toll in 2023, sparking a record number of major disasters—many of which had a disproportionate impact on our neighbors already coping with vulnerable circumstances. From hurricanes to wildfires, atmospheric rivers to tornadoes, and other disasters of all kinds, the Northern California Coastal Region was there to:
- Serve more than 95,000 meals and 108,000 snacks with partners.
- Distribute $1.36 million in financial assistance to hundreds of people affected by local disasters.
- Provide more than 32,800 overnight shelter and emergency hotel stays with partners.
- Provide more than 44,600 relief supplies to over 16,800 households.
Visit our Year-In-Review page for more information about how the Red Cross helped people across the Northern California Coastal Region in 2023.
View our disaster response efforts on a national scale for calendar year 2023 through this infographic.
VOLUNTEERS. THE HEART AND SOUL OF OUR MISSION.
Here are some local stories sharing how volunteers have made a difference for communities reeling from this year’s disaster:
- From Training to Deploying: Farshad Fallah signed up to volunteer with the Red Cross in August 2023. In September, after attending at a one-day cram session that the Disaster Cycle Services team offered in San Jose, he deployed to Maui, to help those affected by the devastating wildfires. A couple weeks into his deployment, Farshad was sent to work alongside other organizations, including FEMA and the Salvation Army, at the Lahaina Civic Center. He described this as a very humbling experience. He did not expect to have a Red Cross adventure so soon after he completed that volunteer application in August but is grateful he took advantage of the opportunity. Farshad highly recommends taking the cram session and the tasks as they come to anyone who wants to make a difference with the Red Cross. He will continue his work as a volunteer and hopes to have more opportunities in the future that allow him to travel and help others in need of disaster assistance.
- Six Lives Saved: The smoke alarms installed by Red Cross volunteers in Marie Monthier’s home after a Sound the Alarm installation event in Marin County saved her and five other family members from a home fire. The Red Cross role in home fire response does not end with smoke alarms. When firefighters on scene at the Monthier home reached out to the Red Cross for help, volunteers Kay Tsenin and Jody Wilson were on site within the hour.
- Resides Displaced by Storms: The Galvan Alvarez family was sound asleep in their South San Francisco apartment in the early hours of January 10 when they were jolted awake as the entire roof blew off their apartment building. The family called the fire department, which quickly responded and referred them to the nearby Red Cross shelter that had been opened to provide refuge from the storm for all who needed it. The family arrived at about 4 a.m. and were provided supplies, such as diapers, food and toiletries, and cots. In the morning they had warm showers and breakfast. “The Red Cross has been excellent,” Jose said. “I’ve got nothing but nice things to say about the Red Cross.” Jose said he had also been helped by the Red Cross years ago, when he had a fire in his apartment. Jose then excused himself to grab a broom and dustpan and clean up around his family’s cots. “The Red Cross is helping, so I can help, too,” he said.
HOW TO HELP
Our lifesaving mission wouldn’t be possible without generous volunteers and donors. This holiday season, turn your compassion into action by donating at redcross.org/gift. A donation of any size makes a difference. You can also register to become a volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer.
HONOR ROLL: ANNUAL DISASTER GIVING PROGRAM AND DISASTER RESPONDER
Corporate, foundation and organizational members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and Disaster Responder Program pledge essential contributions in advance of disasters, powering our organization with strong infrastructure, trained volunteers, innovative technology and critical resources necessary to provide immediate relief and support to those in crisis. This support also means we can stand with survivors and their communities as they begin to recover, and help families and communities become better prepared and more resilient ahead of the next disaster.
Annual Disaster Giving Program Partners: Delta Dental, Google.org, Kaiser Permanente, PayPal, Salesforce, The Clorox Company, Visa and Visa Foundation, Wells Fargo.
Disaster Responder Program Partners: Adobe, Cisco Foundation, HP Foundation, Rodan+Fields Prescription for Change Project, Ross Stores Foundation, ServiceNow.
JOIN US TO MAKE AN IMPACT
Standing beside the Red Cross in this work demonstrates your company’s commitment to our humanitarian mission and leaves a lasting impression on employees, customers, and clients.
Visit our website and learn more about how a partnership with the Red Cross can help your company and our community at the same time.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
Read MoreSays state can borrow over $91 billion
By Allen D. Payton
The California Legislative Analyst’s Office issued a report on Dec. 7, 2023, that the state faces a $68 billion budget deficit for the 2024-25 Fiscal Year. Entitled, “The 2024-25 Budget: California’s Fiscal Outlook”, the report’s Executive Summary read as follows:
“California Faces a $68 Billion Deficit.
Largely as a result of a severe revenue decline in 2022-23, the state faces a serious budget deficit. Specifically, under the state’s current law and policy, we estimate the Legislature will need to solve a budget problem of $68 billion in the upcoming budget process.
Unprecedented Prior-Year Revenue Shortfall Creates Unique Challenges.
Typically, the budget process does not involve large changes in revenue in the prior year (in this case, 2022-23). This is because prior-year taxes usually have been filed and associated revenues collected. Due to the state conforming to federal tax filing extensions, however, the Legislature is gaining a complete picture of 2022-23 tax collections after the fiscal year has already ended. Specifically, we estimate that 2022-23 revenue will be $26 billion below budget act estimates. This creates unique and difficult challenges—including limiting the Legislature’s options for addressing the budget problem.
Legislature Has Multiple Tools Available to Address Budget Problem.
While addressing a deficit of this scope will be challenging, the Legislature has a number of options available to do so. In particular, the state has nearly $24 billion in reserves to address the budget problem. In addition, there are options to reduce spending on schools and community colleges that could address nearly $17 billion of the budget problem. Further adjustments to other areas of the budget, such as reductions to one-time spending, could address at least an additional $10 billion or so. These options and some others, like cost shifts, would allow the Legislature to solve most of the deficit largely without impacting the state’s core ongoing service level.
Legislature Will Have Fewer Options to Address Multiyear Deficits in the Coming Years.
Given the state faces a serious budget problem, using general purpose reserves this year is merited. That said, we suggest the Legislature exercise some caution when deploying tools like reserves and cost shifts. The state’s reserves are unlikely to be sufficient to cover the state’s multiyear deficits—which average $30 billion per year under our estimates. These deficits likely necessitate ongoing spending reductions, revenue increases, or both. As a result, preserving a substantial portion—potentially up to half—of reserves would provide a helpful cushion in light of the anticipated shortfalls that lie ahead.”
Controller Cohen Calls for Calm
In a press release issued today, Tuesday, Dec. 19, State Controller Malia M. Cohen calls for calm in the wake of recent budget deficit announcements and issued the following statement after releasing the recent Cash Report on December 8:
“Despite reports from various sources indicating a budgetary deficit of approximately $68 billion, the state’s cash position remains strong, and, absent any unforeseen circumstances, the state has sufficient cash to pay its bills and meet its financial obligations through the end of the fiscal year.”
“As chief fiscal officer, one of my duties is to track and report on the state’s actual cash balance,” she continued. “In that regard, the state currently has more than $91.4 billion in available borrowable resources, due in large part to the Governor’s and Legislature’s foresight in building prudent rainy-day reserves in the Budget Stabilization Account. While legislators will have difficult choices to make in the new year, I am confident they will be deliberate in addressing the budget challenges before them, and I urge them to protect, to the extent possible, the health and social service programs designed to benefit those who are displaced, without shelter, or otherwise economically disadvantaged.”
About Controller Cohen
As the chief fiscal officer of California, Controller Cohen is responsible for accountability and disbursement of the state’s financial resources. The Controller has independent auditing authority over government agencies that spend state funds. She is a member of numerous financing authorities, and fiscal and financial oversight entities including the Franchise Tax Board. She also serves on the boards for the nation’s two largest public pension funds. Follow the Controller on X at @CAController and on Facebook at California State Controller’s Office.
About the Legislative Analyst’s Office
The Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) has provided fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature for 75 years. It is known for its fiscal and programmatic expertise and nonpartisan analyses of the state budget. The office serves as the “eyes and ears” for the Legislature to ensure that the executive branch is implementing legislative policy in a cost efficient and effective manner.
The office is overseen by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), a 16-member bipartisan committee. Currently, the office has a staff of 43 analysts and approximately 13 support staff. The analytical staff cover several budget and policy areas: Criminal Justice, State Finance, Education (including K-12 and Higher Education), Health and Human Services, Natural Resources and Environment, General Government (including Local Government), Transportation, and Capital Outlay and Infrastructure.
Read More
One for public nuisance, two for visible emissions, another for illegal fire on a no burn day
By Bay Area Air Quality Management District
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) inspectors responded to five air quality complaints related to a grass fire reported by Martinez Refining Company refinery in Martinez on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023. On Monday, the Air District issued a Notice of Violation for public nuisance for this event. The Air District’s investigation is ongoing.
Three additional Notices of Violation have been issued for this event: two for visible emissions and one for illegal fire on a no burn day. This investigation is ongoing.
The updated incident report is as follows:
December 17
At 4:26 PM Sunday, the Air District received a Contra Costa County Community Warning System (CWS) Level 1 alert filed by Martinez Refining Company (MRC) regarding a grass fire. The alert specifically stated that the smoke was from a grassfire. The alert did not mention flaring directly, but when Air District staff contacted MRC to discuss the CWS Level 1 alert, they said the grass fire was caused by “the heat of the flare.”
Air District Incident Response staff contacted MRC at 5:21 PM and were told that the grass fire had started at about 4:20 PM and was extinguished at approximately 5:10 PM. Two Air District staff were called out to the Martinez area to investigate. Five complaints alleging smoke and/or odor were filed between 4:30 PM and 5:07 PM. The adjacent photo of the grass fire was provided to the Air District by a complainant. The wind during the event was Northeast at 8-15 miles per hour. Based on the smoke plume observed, the Air District staff questioned MRC staff on a grass fire being the sole cause. At that time, an MRC representative told Air District staff that it was a grass fire.
December 18
On Monday, Air District staff, with Contra Costa County HazMat and Contra Costa County Fire personnel returned to MRC Refinery in the morning to jointly investigate the previous day’s event. The Air District investigation is ongoing and we will update this report as new information becomes available.
At this time, the Air District has issued the following Notice of Violations (NOV) to MRC for this event:
- Regulation 1, Section 301 – Public Nuisance
- Regulation 6, Rule 1, Section 301 – Visible emission standard exceeded
- Regulation 40 CFR 63.670(c) – Federal visible emissions standard exceeded
- Regulation 5, Section 301 – Illegal fire on a no burn day
For more information on the NOVs, click the link to the NOV web tool.
Martinez Refining Company Issues Statement:
On their website, MRC posted the following statement regarding the flaring and fire:
Intermittent flaring has continued at the Martinez Refining Company this weekend while we re-start equipment that was shut down during the operational incident that occurred on Friday, December 15.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on December 17, a ground flare was in operation as part of the re-start process that caused visible black smoke and a brush fire. The brush fire was promptly contained, and subsequently extinguished at approximately 5:00 p.m.
All appropriate agencies were notified, and we thank our responders for their safe, effective response. We apologize for the concerns we caused the community and will be conducting a root cause analysis of the incident. Looking forward, we expect the potential for intermittent flaring to last through most of this week; however, we are working hard to minimize flaring and to maintain clean combustion for any flaring that may occur.
You are welcome to view real-time air monitoring measurements at our fence line air monitoring website: https://www.fenceline.org/martinez/. Additionally, you can learn more about flaring on our website: https://martinezrefiningcompany.com/about-flaring/.
As always, we have a community inquiry phone number you can call 925-313-3777 or 925-313-3601 during off work hours. Thank you.”
When asked, an MRC spokesperson said the company didn’t have a comment on the NOV’s at this time as they had just received them.
Please check back later for any updates to this report.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
Read MoreWould create $10 million U.S. Dep’t. of Justice pilot program
Washington, D.C. – On December 12, 2023, Representatives Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Zoe Lofgren (CA-18), and Don Beyer (VA-08) announced the introduction of the Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act (H.R. 6697), a bill that would help bring life-saving gun safety technology to the market. Specifically, the bill would create a $10 million pilot program at the Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice to support private-sector commercialization of gun safety technology. This legislation is supported by Brady’s United Against Gun Violence, Everytown for Gun Safety and Gifford’s Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Gun safety technology—like smart guns, user-authorized handguns, childproof guns, personalized guns, and safes and locking devices that include personalized technology—are designed to reduce the likelihood of an accidental or unauthorized use of a gun. According to the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence, each year nearly 500 people die from unintentional firearm injuries, and unintentional firearm injuries account for 37% of nonfatal firearm injuries.
“With gun violence taking such a devastating toll on our communities, and as the son of someone who took his life by gun suicide, I strongly believe that we need to use every tool in the toolbox to address the gun violence epidemic,” said DeSaulnier (CA-10). “Gun safety technology will help reduce accidental shootings and gun suicides while protecting responsible gun owners, and this bill will help make that technology available to more people. I am grateful to join with my colleagues in introducing this important legislation.”
“We have a gun violence crisis in this country, and Congress should act on all fronts to help keep our communities safe. That includes by passing our Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act to boost innovators’ ability to market technology that can save Americans’ lives,” said Lofgren (CA-18). “My district was devastated by the Gilroy Garlic Festival and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority yard mass shootings, and I always value collaborating with colleagues committed to doing more to end the scourge of gun violence in America. This legislation is focused on safety and progress, and non-gun owners and gun owners alike should support this sensible bill.”
“Gun safety technology has the potential to save some of the tens of thousands of American lives lost to gun violence each year,” said Beyer (VA-08). “Many of those deaths are suicides and accidental shootings, which smart gun tech is designed to help prevent. Our legislation would help spur innovation to develop these technologies and bring products incorporating them to market, preventing gun violence and saving lives. I appreciate my colleagues Rep. DeSaulnier and Rep. Lofgren for their leadership on this legislation and look forward to building a coalition to advance it.”
“Innovators continue to advance gun safety technology, striving to minimize unauthorized access to firearms. However, additional funding is essential to bring these life-saving innovations to the market. An analysis of unintentional gun deaths suggests that 37% of fatal shootings could have been prevented by smart gun technology. Gun owners and non-gun owners alike stand to benefit significantly when firearms are manufactured, stored, and utilized with the utmost safety in mind,” said Gifford’s Federal Affairs Director Adzi Vokhiwa. “We applaud Representatives DeSaulnier, Lofgren, and Beyer for leading the charge for innovation in gun safety technology, and we strongly urge Congress to swiftly pass this bill.”
“Guns are now the number one cause of death for America’s children. If the same could be said for a type of medicine, toy, or anything else, action would be taken to save lives. To date, the gun industry has refused to invest in technology to make guns less dangerous, especially in the hands of children. The Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act will fill this gap and provide grants to entities looking to develop gun safety technologies. Stated simply, this investment will protect more Americans – particularly our children – from being irrevocably injured or killed by firearms. Brady is grateful to Reps. DeSaulnier, Lofgren, and Beyer for re-introducing this legislation,” said Kris Brown, President of Brady.
The Advancing Gun Safety Technology Act was previously introduced by former Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA).
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