Environmentalists Outline Opposition To Cement Plant, Marine Terminal In North Bay

NORTH BAY, CA – Environmental groups will outline their opposition to a proposed cement plant and marine terminal in southwest Vallejo at a news conference at City Hall this afternoon.

The Solano Group of the Sierra Club said in a statement that the Orcem California Inc. cement plant is an "environmental nightmare" and an assault on the poorest residents in Vallejo.

The cement plant and Vallejo Marine Terminal would be located on a 39-acre site at 790 and 800 Derr Ave. fronting the Mare Island Strait.

The cement plant would produce a high-performance, less-polluting alternative to traditional portland cement. Orcem would import most of the raw materials to manufacture the cement via shipping docks at the proposed Vallejo Marine Terminal wharf, according to information about the project on the city of Vallejo's website.

The Vallejo Marine Terminal would be prohibited from handling municipal waste, coal, petroleum coke or other petroleum-based products such as gasoline or crude oil, according to the city's website.

Opponents are concerned about traffic, noise and toxic particulate matter and cement dust polluting Vallejo's poorest neighborhoods to the east of the project.

"This is not just an environmental issue, it's an environmental justice issue," said Joe Feller, co-chairman of the Solano Group of the Sierra Club.

More than 500 people commented on the project's draft environmental impact report, according to Peter Brooks of the volunteer group Fresh Air Vallejo that also opposes the project.

"It's an extremely complicated issue. The Planning Commission has to evaluate the EIR of the cement factory and the Vallejo Marine Terminal that will be the port for raw materials," Brooks said.

Vallejo officials have said a hearing before the Planning Commission on the final environmental impact report is scheduled for October, Brooks said.

"The scuttlebutt is that the final EIR won't be finished by then," Brooks said.

If the Planning Commission approves the final EIR, the project will go before the Vallejo City Council. Any action taken by the City Council likely will be appealed, Brooks said.

The news conference was scheduled to get underway at 1 p.m. at Vallejo City Hall.

• Also see: Forget The Boat: New Webcam Offers Real-Time View Of Farallon Islands

--Bay City News/Image courtesy of Boudicca Hot-toddy Todi on Facebook event listing for No! VMT/Orcem - Fresh Air Vallejo