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City of San Leandro <br />Civic Center, 835 E. 14th Street <br />San Leandro, California 94577 <br />Office of the Mayor 510-577-3356 <br />FAX 510-577-3340 <br />February 12, 2015 <br />Mr. Murray Wilson <br />Department of Planning and Building <br />San Luis Obispo County <br />976 Osos Street, Room 300 <br />San Luis Obispo, CA 93408 <br />RE: Phillips 66 Rail Spur Project <br />Dear Planning Commissioners: <br />As Mayor of the City of San Leandro I would like to express my concerns regarding the Phillips 66 oil <br />train offloading facility expansion in San Luis Obispo County. In particular, the City is concerned with <br />the increase in oil -train traffic through many densely populated areas, including San Leandro, and the risk <br />it poses to our city, which is bisected by the Union Pacific Railroad tracks (UPRR). <br />The most significant impact identified in the Revised Draft Environmental Impact Report (RDEIR) is <br />accidents on the main rail line that could result in oil spills, fires, and explosions near populated areas. <br />Our current rail system is designed to connect residents to their destinations throughout the entire Bay <br />Area, not to move large quantities of hazardous materials like crude oil. An incident involving an oil unit <br />train from this project could result in the closure of multiple crossings at the same time, affecting both <br />emergency response and traffic. Homes, schools, parks, and businesses are located adjacent to the Union <br />Pacific tracks which traverse San Leandro within the one -mile US Department of Transportation Potential <br />hnpact Zone in the case of an oil train derailment or fire. <br />The RDEIR also did not evaluate the relative air quality or greenhouse gas emissions for the entire project <br />area, which includes oil transport through San Leandro from Canada to the San Luis Obispo County <br />facility. The diesel emissions from operational activities of trains along the route would generate toxic <br />pollutant emissions that exceed acceptable thresholds, increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease, and <br />respiratory disease. Therefore, this project would directly compromise the health and safety of our <br />communities along the rail route in San Leandro. <br />I respectfully request that the San Luis Obispo Planning Commission vote to deny the project. <br />Sincerely, <br />Pauline Russo Cutter <br />Mayor, City of San Leandro <br />