NGOs sue Contra Costa County for approving two biorefinery conversions

In California, Communities for a Better Environment and the Center for Biological Diversity sued Contra Costa County on Tuesday over its rushed approval of two proposed biofuel refineries in the Bay Area using incomplete and misleading environmental reviews.

The lawsuits challenge what they say are flawed environmental review processes for two giant oil refineries looking to convert from processing crude to producing biofuels from vegetable oil and animal fat feedstocks. The groups say the county’s fast-tracked review obscured, underestimated or ignored significant harms to community safety, air quality, public health, wildlife and the climate.

Neighboring communities are categorized as “disadvantaged” by the state of California because of their high exposure to pollution from existing industries. The proposed refinery projects would lock in continued pollution for these residents for decades to come.