The Dirt - TheDirt's Blog - Bakersfield.com http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt Polluted air, scarce water, dumping, sprawl. In The Dirt, reporter Stacey Shepard examines the numerous environmental problems facing Bakersfield and Kern County. Polluted air, scarce water, dumping, sprawl. In The Dirt, reporter Stacey Shepard examines the numerous environmental problems facing Bakersfield and Kern County. en-us Public workshops on Big West expansion http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32902 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32902 <p>Just wanted to mention that the Kern County Planning Department has scheduled three public workshops on the environmental impact report&nbsp; for the Big West of California refinery. The first is tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at Discovery Elementary School, 7500 Vaquero Ave. The other two meetings are also 6 to 8 p.m. on:</p> <ul> <li>Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Caroline Harris Elementary School, 4110 Garnsey Lane </li> <li>Tuesday Sept. 16 at Columbia Elementary School, 703 Mondavi Way</li> </ul> <p>The workshops are intended to get feedback from the community on the expansion, though I imagine many people attending will simply want to ask questions, considering that the environmental report was thousands of pages long.</p> <p>If you've <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/refinery/">followed news about the expansion</a>, you know there's been great community interest in this project primarily because Big West's original plans called for the use of large quantities of a new toxic chemical. </p> <p>The revised environmental report released a couple months ago was significant in that it it contained <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/1356/story/482620.html">an alternative way to build the expansion</a> without using the chemical. This alternative was also described as the &quot;environmentally superior&quot; project, because it would create less air pollution, greenhouse gases and odor than the company's initial project. </p> <p>It will be interesting to see what happens at these meetings. It's been hard to gage public response to the alternative presented in the environmental report so far.</p> <p>Anyone planning to go? </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Who uses Amtrak? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32573 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32573 <p>Does anyone every take the <a href="http://tickets.amtrak.com/itd/amtrak">Amtrak</a> train from Bakersfield? If so, where to?</p> <p>Amtrak says ridership on its San Joaquin route (which runs from Bakersfield to Stockton, then onto either Oakland or Sacramento) is up 32 percent this July over the previous year.</p> <p>But from what I can tell, the options for Amtrak travel out of Bakersfield are pretty limited. You can basically go up the valley on the San Joaquin route. But if you want to get anywhere else, you're looking at spending some time on a bus. There's no train service from Bakersfield to Los Angeles or Las Vegas; it's bus only. </p> <p>Taking Amtrak to Monterey means four hours on the train then another four hours on two separate buses. San Luis Obispo and Yosemite aren't much better.</p> <p>To get to San Francisco, you take the train to Emeryville (6 hours), and then catch a bus into San Francisco (40 minutes). </p> <p>Total travel time: 6 hours 40 minutes</p> <p>Roundtrip ticket cost: about $120</p> <p>Clearly this is better than the $383 being charged for United Airline flights from Meadows Field to San Francisco. But driving seems to be the best option for many of these destinations. </p> <p>I just drove to San Francisco in my Ford Focus a couple weeks ago. It took about&nbsp; 4.5 hours each way and cost me about $85 in gas. </p> <p>Maybe commuters use Amtrak to go to Fresno? Anyone know who these elusive train riders are and where they're going?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


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Caption: An Amtrak train departs Bakersfield.
Credit: The Californian


Title: AMTRAK DEPARTS..JPG
Caption: An Amtrak train departs Bakersfield.
Credit: The Californian

 AMTRAK DEPARTS..JPG An Amtrak train departs Bakersfield. The Californian Olympic venues and sustainability http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32524 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32524 <p>What happens to Olympic venues like the stunning Bird's Nest and sleek Water Cube when the Olympics end?</p> <p>There's a couple interesting articles surfacing on this issue that highlight the disrepair, neglect and sad ending that's come to some of the buildings from previous Olympics, and how that's not expected to happen in China.</p> <p><a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2198671/">Slate</a> reports that some of the buildings from the 2004 Athens Games are now occupied by squatters while others a sucking up millions in public funds for costly maintenance. It lists the conversion of a building built for the 1980 Winter Games in Lake Placid to a prison as one of the worst examples of reuse.</p> <p>China, however, is being hailed for its plans to continue using most of the 33 newly constructed or renovated venues around Beijing, <a href="http://thestar.com.my/sports/story.asp?file=/2008/8/26/olympics/22167996&amp;sec=olympics">according to this AFP report.</a> The story goes on to note that usability and sustainability of buildings are now key requirements in the Olympic host city bidding process.</p> <p>Then there's this <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/news?slug=ro-beijinglegacy082408&amp;prov=yhoo&amp;type=lgns">Yahoo! Sports</a> article that elaborates more on the situation in Athens, where reporter Martin Rogers explains that &quot;The Olympics are now almost a dirty word in Athens, most regularly used by politicians who use the issue of decay as a powerful campaigning point.&quot;</p> <p>As for Beijing, he says, &quot;there is a legacy of pride, and a spectacular standard of responsible spending for future hosts to uphold.&quot;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


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Caption: The Chinese National Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, is seen reflected on a pond as it undergoes construction ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Credit: Associated Press


Title: GE-Olympics.JPG
Caption: The Chinese National Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, is seen reflected on a pond as it undergoes construction ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Credit: Associated Press

 GE-Olympics.JPG The Chinese National Olympic Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, is seen reflected on a pond as it undergoes construction ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Associated Press Could you buy nothing new for a month? A year? http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32505 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/32505 <p>Think you could go a month without out buying anything new -- no new clothes, shoes, books, etc.?</p> <p>How about a year? How about forever?</p> <p>I've been reading recently about several movements out there aimed at reducing personal consumption as a way to lessen one's environmental footprint, save money and simplify life.</p> <ul> <li>By now, you've likely heard of the <a href="http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/">The Compact</a>, an idea that took root in San Francisco about two years ago in which participants vow to buy nothing new for a year. <a href="http://sfcompact.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2006-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&amp;updated-max=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&amp;max-results=23">The rules</a> advocate buying used and borrowing needed items and using locally-owned businesses for services such as plumbing, car repairs and house cleaning.</li> <li>&quot;Nothing but necessities&quot; was a challenge posed to <a href="http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/FindDealsOnline/CouldYouStopSpendingForAMonth.aspx">MSN&nbsp;Money </a>readers in February to stop spending for a month. &quot;The point wasn't just to save money. It was also a way of examining our relationship with money,&quot; wrote MSN columnist and personal finance author Liz Pulliam Weston, who came up with the challenge. The experiment had no rules on what was considered essential and not, but most readers found their biggest non-essential spending areas were eating out and new clothes.</li> <li>Voluntary Simplicity, also called Simple Living, is a more longterm approach that advocates a &quot;less is more&quot; lifestyle. The basic idea is to determine<span class="text"> &quot;what is important, or 'enough,' for you, and discarding the rest,&quot; according to the <a href="http://www.simpleliving.net/main/">SimpleLivingNetwork</a>. A main tenant is </span>to break the cycle of needing money to buy more things that bring little personal satisfaction or enrichment.</li> </ul> <p>I have not given any of these a shot myself but I did have an experience recently that left me pondering my consumption habits. While browsing through a local consignment shop, I came across stunning dress that fit perfectly and cost just $30. Just months before&nbsp;I went through a frustrating process while shopping for a dress for an event I&nbsp;had to attend. Everything was either way over-priced or so cheaply made it didn't even seem worth buying. As I left the consignment shop that day, I felt great. I hadn't overspent, I&nbsp;was able to &quot;reuse&quot; something and I had a great new dress.&nbsp;</p> <p>I'm curious to know if there's any local Compactors out there or people who have also been wrestling with their own consumption habits? Any tips, ideas, thoughts?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>


Title: Rescue Mission Thrift Rack.JPG
Caption: A child walks by a large rack of children's clothing in the Bakersfield Rescue Mission's new thrift store on 21st Street near downtown Bakersfield in August 200.
Credit: The Bakersfield Californian


Title: Rescue Mission Thrift Rack.JPG
Caption: A child walks by a large rack of children's clothing in the Bakersfield Rescue Mission's new thrift store on 21st Street near downtown Bakersfield in August 200.
Credit: The Bakersfield Californian

 Rescue Mission Thrift Rack.JPG A child walks by a large rack of children's clothing in the Bakersfield Rescue Mission's new thrift store on 21st Street near downtown Bakersfield in August 200. The Bakersfield Californian Move over monster trucks, smart car has arrived http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/29498 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/29498 <p>I saw my first 'smart car' while on vacation with my family in Germany in 2000. My brother and I still laugh at the picture we took of my 6-foot-4 dad hovering over the little thing with a &quot;what the heck&quot; grimace on his face.</p> <p>(By the way, that's not dad in the picture. That's Rick Masters, a local smart car owner.)</p> <p>Now, smart cars are here. The European-made, micro-car debuted in the United States this year and already I've seen three in Bakersfield. After following one owner to her home to (she actually was quite nice about being followed but declined my interview request), we managed to track down another one <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/487709.html">for our story today</a>. (I have to say, too, as small as these cars are, I had trouble in my Ford Focus trying to keep up with that lady.)</p> <p>The car is certainly cute -- you can't deny that -- the price is decent and the gas mileage is pretty good. But some say the two-seater's practicality may not win out here. For the same price (about $12,000 to $13,000), you can get a Kia Rio or Toyota Yaris with more space and nearly the same gas mileage.</p> <p>If you're in the market for a new, fuel-efficient vehicle, would buy a smart car?</p>


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Caption: Bakersfield resident Rick Masters stands next to his smart car outside his Kern City home.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: Smart_car_2.JPG
Caption: Bakersfield resident Rick Masters stands next to his smart car outside his Kern City home.
Credit: TheDirt

 Smart_car_2.JPG Bakersfield resident Rick Masters stands next to his smart car outside his Kern City home. TheDirt New option in refinery expansion http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/29210 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/29210 <p>Controversy over the Big West refinery expansion has focused on one thing in recent weeks: which toxic chemical would be safest, modified HF or sulfuric acid.</p> <p>But <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/482620.html">a revised environmental report out Friday</a> contained a bit of a surprise.</p> <p>How about neither?</p> <p>The 3,000 page report examines a wide range of impacts on everything from wildlife to odors and traffic. But in a section called &quot;alternatives&quot; it also describes a process that would allow Big West to boost its diesel and gasoline output while allaying community concerns about hazardous chemicals.</p> <p>The alternative appears to be a sound compromise that would allow the expansion to move forward while assuring the surrounding community there will be no new dangers from toxic chemicals.</p> <p>Big West wasn't available to comment on the alternative Friday but said they will discuss it Monday.</p> <p>You can read the section on alternatives by downloading the Refinery Alternatives PDF on <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/482620.html">this page</a>. Scroll down a bit and it's on the left beneath the 'PDFs' heading.</p> <p>Anyone think this option will get some traction? Or do you expect the issue to remain polarized between sulfuric acid and modified hydrofluoric acid?</p> Photos: Bike path beaver's back http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/28602 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/28602 <p>These are days when I love my job. I spent the afternoon with my jeans rolled up to my knees wading through a small stream trying to find a beaver.</p> <p>This morning we received <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/474816.html">a report of another tree lost</a> to the animal along the bike path near the Park at Riverwalk. As you may recall, this is the same area where at least nine cottonwoods were mowed down by a beaver in January. (See <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/316190.html">this story </a>to read about that incident and the ensuing controversy that gained national attention.)</p> <p>There's a small stream of water that runs from the bike path out toward the Kern River bed, so I decided to follow it and see what I found.</p> <p>No beaver sighting -- not a big surprise since they're nocturnal -- but along the way I passed numerous trees that had been felled and chewed, and I even spotted a small dam.</p> <p>I put the pics in the accompanying slideshow (click on the photos to the left).</p>


Title: IMG_1970.JPG
Caption: The beaver's most recent doings. The tree was badly gnawed but still standing Monday. Due to safety, city parks crews cut it down and left the top for the beaver.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1970.JPG
Caption: The beaver's most recent doings. The tree was badly gnawed but still standing Monday. Due to safety, city parks crews cut it down and left the top for the beaver.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1974.JPG
Caption: Nearby trees have been wrapped with orange construction fencing to fend off the beaver.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1974.JPG
Caption: Nearby trees have been wrapped with orange construction fencing to fend off the beaver.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1984.JPG
Caption: Another tree chewed by a beaver.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1984.JPG
Caption: Another tree chewed by a beaver.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_2001.JPG
Caption: A dam!
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_2001.JPG
Caption: A dam!
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1989.JPG
Caption: The gully, as I call it, where the beaver has taken up residence. (This view is looking south toward the bike path.) The water appears to be coming from the culvert and then runs north until it fans out near the Kern River bed.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1989.JPG
Caption: The gully, as I call it, where the beaver has taken up residence. (This view is looking south toward the bike path.) The water appears to be coming from the culvert and then runs north until it fans out near the Kern River bed.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1995.JPG
Caption: More gnawing.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: IMG_1995.JPG
Caption: More gnawing.
Credit: TheDirt

 IMG_1970.JPG The beaver's most recent doings. The tree was badly gnawed but still standing Monday. Due to safety, city parks crews cut it down and left the top for the beaver. TheDirt IMG_1974.JPG Nearby trees have been wrapped with orange construction fencing to fend off the beaver. TheDirt IMG_1984.JPG Another tree chewed by a beaver. TheDirt IMG_2001.JPG A dam! TheDirt IMG_1989.JPG The gully, as I call it, where the beaver has taken up residence. (This view is looking south toward the bike path.) The water appears to be coming from the culvert and then runs north until it fans out near the Kern River bed. TheDirt IMG_1995.JPG More gnawing. TheDirt Big West under scrutiny: Take II http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/28230 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/28230 <p>It's time for Big West to answer a few questions ... again. </p> <p>As promised, state Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, will hold a senate committee hearing in Bakersfield Thursday night regarding the Bakersfield refinery's <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/1356/story/451329.html">response to a recent ammonia leak</a> as well as the company's handling of past spills and leaks. </p> <p>As you may recall, <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/1356/story/455865.html">county supervisors held a similar hearing a couple weeks ago </a>following the ammonia release that ended with a pledge from Big West that it would contact local emergency crews whenever a leak occurs, no matter how small or inconsequential. </p> <p>Thursday's hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at Bakersfield City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Ave.</p> <p>Here's today's press release from Florez's office:</p> <p><i>Senator seeks accountability from Big West for leaks<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Underreporting heightens concerns as company proposes using even more toxic chemicals<br /> &nbsp;<br /> BAKERSFIELD &ndash; Senator Dean Florez, D-Shafter, will hold a public hearing Thursday evening in Bakersfield, calling on Big West of California to detail its policies and procedures for responding to hazardous materials spills.&nbsp; Last month, a leak of anhydrous ammonia occurred at the refinery, and authorities were only notified when a nearby resident reported the alarm to police.&nbsp; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> Florez and many local residents are concerned the company&rsquo;s incident reporting record does not bode well for its plans to expand the facility and introduce the use of modified hydrofluoric acid, a highly toxic chemical with the potential to vaporize and spread for miles.&nbsp; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> &ldquo;I know there are many people in the community who want solid assurances that this company has a philosophy of, and commitment to, abiding by the letter of the law when it comes to reporting leak incidents,&rdquo; Florez said, adding, &ldquo;We want to know they will do everything within their power to err on the side of public safety, particularly if they expect to be trusted with the added responsibility of keeping residents safe from HF.&rdquo; <br /> &nbsp;<br /> Thursday&rsquo;s hearing, entitled &ldquo;Evaluating the sufficiency of the response protocols utilized by Big West after hazardous materials discharges,&rdquo; will be held jointly by the Senate Governmental Organization Committee -- which oversees emergency preparedness -- and the Senate Select Committee on Air Quality.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Bill Chadick, director of health, safety and environmental for Big West of California, will testify on behalf of the company regarding its safety record and emergency response procedures. <br /> &nbsp;<br /> Betsy Ramsey, organizer of Bakersfield Citizens against Hydrofluoric Acid, will give voice to those residents concerned by the company&rsquo;s plan to expand and use the highly toxic chemical.<br /> &nbsp;<br /> Also testifying will be Matt Constantine, director of the Kern County Environmental Health Services Department; Dennis Thompson, chief of the Kern County Fire Department; and the emergency services coordinator and legal counsel for the state&rsquo;s Office of Emergency Services.</i></p> Small ammonia leak at refinery Sunday http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/26908 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/26908 <p><span style="font-size: medium;">The Big West of California refinery leaked a small amount of ammonia early Sunday that sounded an alarm in which a recorded voice told people to evacuate the area.<br /> <br /> Emergency crews responded and no one was injured.<br /> <br /> The alarm was meant to alert refinery personnel but was heard by an off-duty Bakersfield Police lieutenant at his home near Truxtun Avenue Extension and Coffee Road, according to police. Refinery personnel also heard the alarm and notified emergency responders shortly after it went off around 12:15 a.m. Sunday.<br /> <br /> Refinery Health, Safety and Environment director Bill Chadick said the leak was very small and caused by a faulty valve on an ammonia storage tank.<br /> <br /> Chadick did not know the quantity of ammonia released from the tank but said no one was injured or impacted in the incident.<br /> <br /> &ldquo;We have alarms in the ammonia area that are set to go off whenever they get even the slightest whiff of ammonia,&rdquo; Chadick said. &ldquo;The alarm went off and that's exactly what it's supposed to do.&rdquo;<br /> <br /> While ammonia diluted with water is typical for household uses, anhydrous ammonia -- which contains no water -- can be hazardous in the event of a sizable leak. Because the chemical has an extremely low boiling point, it will instantly vaporize, creating a cloud that can travel downwind. Exposure results in severe chemical burns.<br /> <br /> The chemical is commonly used in industry and small leaks have occurred in Kern County on occasion, said county Environmental Health Services Director Matt Constantine, whose office continues to investigate the Big West leak.<br /> <br /> &quot;We&nbsp; want to clearly understand why they had the release and is there some preventative maintenance that should have been performed,&quot; Constantine said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> <br /> <br /> </span></p>


Title: Big West refinery 2.JPG
Caption: The Big West of California refinery on Rosedale Highway.
Credit: TheDirt


Title: Big West refinery 2.JPG
Caption: The Big West of California refinery on Rosedale Highway.
Credit: TheDirt

 Big West refinery 2.JPG The Big West of California refinery on Rosedale Highway. TheDirt Cars damaged by tainted gas sold at 25 local stations http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/26636 http://people.bakersfield.com/home/Blog/TheDirt/26636 <p>At least 50 cars have <a href="http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/444322.html">reportedly been damaged </a>by a bad batch of&nbsp; gas produced at a local refinery and delivered to 25 Kern County gas stations in late March.</p> <p>The county Department of Agriculture and Measurements says the gas contained a sediment that's plugging fuel filters and damaging fuel pumps. Anyone experiencing those problems should contact the department at 868-6300.</p> <p>John Jacobsen of John's Independent Honda &amp; Acura repair shop in Bakersfield said a woman&nbsp; brought in a 1991 Acura Integra Monday afternoon affected by the tainted fuel. </p> <p>&quot;Basically, the car doesn't want to run,&quot;&nbsp; said Jacobsen, who's&nbsp; draining the gas tank and&nbsp; pulling out the car's fuel system to survey the damage today.</p> <p>In newer model cars with fuel injection systems, the sediment may plug the injectors, he said. </p> <p>Kern Oil &amp; Refining Company, a small refinery southeast of Bakersfield, supplied the gasoline and is reimbursing affected car owners for the repairs. The gas was believed to have been tainted when the refinery's filtration system unknowingly malfunctioned, according to county officials.</p> <p>In addition to the affected Kern fueling stations, another 15 stations in six other counties also received the tainted gas. </p> <p>Has anyone been affected by this? </p>