September 6, 2002
Contact: John T. Buse, EDC (805) 677-2570

Environmental Groups Appeal Approval of Industrial Project Near Ormond Beach

OXNARD, CA - On Tuesday, the Environmental Defense Center filed an appeal on behalf of several environmental groups of the Oxnard Planning Commission's August 15 approval of the proposed Pacific Vehicles Processing (PVP) plant at Saviers and Hueneme Roads near Ormond Beach.

The appeal specifically targets the Planning Commission's certification of the revised mitigated negative declaration (MND) for the PVP project. A negative declaration is issued in lieu of an environmental impact report (EIR) when it is determined that a new development will have no significant impact on the environment. Its issuance in this case means that Oxnard has determined that the proposed development would not impact either the nearby wetlands or the South Oxnard/Port Hueneme area as a whole. The environmental groups filing the appeal, including Earth Alert!, the Beacon Foundation, the Sierra Club, and Ventura CoastKeeper, do not agree.

The project is immediately adjacent to the Ormond Beach wetlands - an extremely sensitive and valuable natural resource. Though it might not cause impacts in another location, any impact here could be devastating. In addition, the project will significantly increase air pollution, as well as noise and light levels throughout the area. Traffic will become much worse and the general quality of life throughout the area will deteriorate. None of these issues are adequately addressed in the document.

"The environmental document fails to address a number of possible environmental impacts," said Earth Alert! Founder and director Janet Bridgers. "Expediency drove this decision, not current, objective scientific data. The Oxnard Planning Department is allowing the developer's agenda to take higher priority than the long term interests of the City, residents and environment. It has nothing to do with proper planning."

Alan Sanders, Conservation Chair of the Los Padres Chapter of Sierra Club, noted that the Oxnard Planning Commission's approval of the PVP project is inconsistent with the City's stated interest in protecting Ormond Beach. "An EIR would have exposed some of the problems of the PVP project, which is basically a big parking lot next to the Ormond Beach wetlands. But the City ignored our concerns," said Sanders.

The appeal was filed with the support of the Saviers Road Design Team, a group of community activists working to revitalize South Oxnard. The Design Team has campaigned for months to stop the proposed PVP development in hopes that the site can eventually be made into a gateway park leading to Ormond Beach. Silvia Preston, chair of the Design Team, said, "The City of Oxnard has given us no choice but to file this appeal. Without it, PVP will build another industrial facility on the coast. In doing so, they will make our access to Ormond Beach more difficult and replace our view with a walled parking lot and 24-hour lighting."

The appeal will require the Oxnard City Council to take responsibility for the adequacy of the environmental review of the PVP project. "So far, Oxnard and PVP have made jobs the primary issue," said John Buse, the Environmental Defense Center attorney handling the appeal. "Unfortunately, Oxnard has sidestepped its obligation to take a hard look at the environmental effects of this project. It's not even close to the thorough review required by law. The City can, and must, do better."

"It is time to stand up for the wetlands and demand reasonable alternative sites for industrial development," said Vicki Finan, President of The Beacon Foundation.

"A complete environmental review is needed to address the surface water runoff from this proposed project," said Damon Wing, Programs Director for Ventura Coastkeeper. "The Mitigated Negative Declaration does not take into consideration the runoff impacts on the adjacent wetlands. Both the quality and quantity of the runoff could adversely affect the wildlife and habitat. This critical information is missing in the MND."

The Environmental Defense Center is a nonprofit public interest law firm that represents citizen groups in court and before governmental agencies, provides legal counsel, and educates the community on issues involving water quality and watersheds, biodiversity and endangered species, environmental health and justice, land use and open space, offshore oil and gas, and access to public lands. For more information, contact EDC at (805) 677-2570.

Sierra Club is a conservation organization dedicated to using any lawful means to protect the environment. For more information, contact Alan Sanders at (805) 488-7988. The Los Padres Chapter serves Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in Southern California.

Earth Alert is a tax-exempt incorporated environmental organization. Founded in 1984, the organization has been involved in a wide range of environmental issues. Its offices relocated to Oxnard in 2000.

Ventura Coastkeeper, a member of the California Coastkeeper Alliance, is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the quality of aquatic ecosystems. For more information, contact Damon Wing at (805) 382-4540.

The Beacon Foundation is an environmental organization focused on coastal Ventura County. Vickie Finan may be contacted at (805) 985-4655.

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