Westside Clean Air Coalition
The Westside of Ventura has made it very clear. SoCalGas should not expand its super-emmitter compressor station located across the street from residences, an elementary school, and a Boys & Girls Club. The 70% Hispanic/Latinx community is near the station and cannot continue to experience unannounced releases of toxic chemicals that lead to nosebleeds, headaches, and evacuations. The most recent “unplanned venting” of toxic methane was in July 2021.
Who Are We?
We are a group of concerned community members and organizations devoted to environmental justice in the area of Ventura, CA known as The Avenue. We are trying to stop the expansion of a natural gas compressor station in our neighborhood. The facility is owned by SoCal Gas, the same company responsible for the Aliso Canyon natural gas blowout, and is right across the street from EP Foster Elementary School, the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura, and residences, mostly occupied by minoritized and marginalized households. These structures are all close to the "incineration zone" - the area that would be immediately incinerated if there were to be an accidental explosion at the site. Fourteen of these compressor station explosions have occurred in the USA since 2011, but they are often built on large plots of land so as to provide a buffer for safety (this one is not). Compressor stations leak harmful and toxic gases (methane and VOCs) into the air and this site is currently undergoing toxic soil remediation so that its compression capacity can be doubled, even though demand for natural gas in the city has declined in the past few years and most likely will decline sharply in the future. Learn more about the danger of compressor stations here. Take action here. Organizations involved include CAUSE, CFROG, Food & Water Watch, Ventura Climate 350, and Bike Ventura.
Why Do We Care?
Compressor Stations have been known to explode. Such an explosion could engulf nearby homes and EP Foster Elementary School.
This compressor station has had several leaks in the past. Compressor stations are known to leak methane, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), NOx, and other chemicals that are harmful to health and child development.
Long-term health effects of exposure to VOCs include loss of coordination and damage to the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. Some VOCs, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and styrene, are known or suspected carcinogens.
In 2017, the site was found by NASA to be a “super emitter” of methane, one of a few sites in California that create most of the state’s emissions. Methane is a greenhouse gas known to contribute to the effects of climate change.
Socal Gas is planning on doubling the size of this compressor station. Advanced construction work began at the site in 2021.
The soil remediation plan for removal of toxic contaminants from the site is not up to the safety standards we want for our community. Toxic dust from the excavation may blow over to the nearby schoolyard and homes. Contaminates include arsenic, lead, petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and VOCs.
The cleanup is not for the safety of the community, but workers who will be expanding the natural gas compression operation. Contaminated soil, including contamination that is seeping into groundwater, will be left in place.
To pay for the expense of this expansion, SoCal Gas will increase rates for gas in people’s homes.
Producing more gas in Ventura County means more profits for gas companies and more pollution for our communities. It will not create more good, safe, union jobs in our area.
The community has not been properly engaged for feedback on this plan that will directly affect them. We, as the community, must be heard.
Our Demands
The Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) must hold a bilingual community hearing with residents that would be affected, including parents of children who attend EP Foster Elementary School;
There must be an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Health Impact Assessment of the entire scope of the cleanup and expansion project at 1555 N. Olive St;
Rather than expand this facility, SoCal Gas must create a plan to clean up the toxic soil and shut down the compressor station. We do not want this in our neighborhood.
The Public Utilities Commission must adequately review this expansion proposal through a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) proceeding, rather than in SoCalGas' General Rate Case -- (WCAC helped set precedent ensuring that all major gas development in CA follow this review).
There must be an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and Health Impact Assessment of the entire scope of the cleanup and expansion project at 1555 N. Olive St. -- Public Utilities Commission will soon determine the level of environmental review required and will be part of the upcoming proceeding.
A bilingual community hearing with residents that would be affected by SoCalGas’s compressor station, including parents of children who attend E.P. Foster Elementary School.
The compressor station capacity must reflect the decreased demand for natural gas on the Central Coast and the operation must be fully electric.
Rather than expand this facility, SoCalGas must create a plan to clean up the toxic soil and move the compressor station to an alternative site far from homes and children. We do not want this in our neighborhood.
Support the Westside Clean Air Coalition and the fight for environmental justice in West Ventura! - Donation Link.
Media Coverage & Photos
VC Star - Guest column: Stop the expansion of the natural gas compressor in Ventura - April 7, 2024
Ojai Valley News - Community keeps pressure on as SoCal Gas renews effort to expand West Ventura facility - September 27, 2023
VC Star - Southern California Gas Company to host meetings on controversial Ventura gas compressor - March 6, 2023
California PUC: SoCalGas Can’t Charge Ratepayers For Ventura Gas Compressor Expansion - October, 6, 2022
Golden State Grid - This Compressor Station Leaks Methane Gas Next to an Elementary School - October 3, 2022
San Francisco Chronicle - Newsom wants California off fossil fuels. So why is a mega gas project going in next to a school? - August 22, 2023
VC Star - Guest column: SoCalGas is asking for a ratepayer advance. Don’t give it to them - July 23, 2022
VC Star - Protesters disrupt Ventura gas compressor public forum - April 1, 2022
VC Star - Environmental justice: Should gas compressor stay in low-income Ventura neighborhood? - March 24, 2022
VC Star - County supervisors question Ventura gas compressor site - February 2, 2022
VC Reporter - “FUMES CONTINUE TO FLY” | “DIE IN” PROTEST AT SOCALGAS MEETING - October 27, 2021
VC Reporter - “SUSTAINED COMMUNITY PRESSURE” | STATE TELLS SOCALGAS TO HALT COMPRESSOR PROJECT - August 25, 2021
VC Star - State agency orders SoCalGas to hit pause on Ventura gas compressor - August 23, 2021
Ojai Valley News - OP-ED: 15 miles from Ojai, danger lurks - August 20, 2021
VC Star - Community meeting on controversial Ventura gas compressor set for Saturday - August 20, 2021
VC Star - Guest column: Youth leaders call on Newsom to protect our future, not polluters - July 25, 2021
Daily Kos - Over 250 Community Members Unite to Stop Expansion of SoCalGas Facility in Ventura - July 22, 2021
VC Reporter - “THIS SITE DOES NOT BELONG HERE” | RALLY AND MARCH TO SHUT DOWN GAS COMPRESSOR SITE - Jul 21, 2021
LA Times - Protesting a Gas Company Project - July 20, 2021
VC Star - Picture Gallery: See Protestors Fight Ventura’s SoCalGas Compressor Site - July 20, 2021
Guest editorial: Stop SoCalGas from polluting West Ventura - July 17, 2021
VC Reporter - Live Video: in W Ventura residents gathering to protest against the Southern California gas compressor site expansion project - July 17, 2021
VC Reporter - Letter to the Editor on SoCalGas operations - July 15, 2021
VC Star - Letter: ‘Unplanned venting’ troubling - July 11, 2021
VC Reporter - RESIDENTS SELF-EVACUATED DUE TO GAS VENTING IN W. VENTURA - July 7, 2021
VC Star - Southern California Gas cites unplanned venting following Ventura gas leak scare - July 6, 2021
VC Reporter - “CHILDREN AS COLLATERAL DAMAGE” | PUBLIC DEMANDS IMPACT STUDY OF SOCAL GAS FACILITY - June 9, 2021
VC Star - Ventura continues push for state review of gas compressor site - May 13, 2021
VC Star - Ventura City Council urges state to review gas compressor site - April 28, 2021
KEYT - Ventura residents rally against expansion of natural gas compressor station - April 24, 2021
VC Reporter - IN THE “INCINERATION ZONE” | WEST VENTURA RESIDENTS ORGANIZE TO STOP NATURAL GAS EXPANSION - April 21, 2021