2016.7.13 BP Cherry Point Opposition to Whatcom
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Jennifer Schneider From: Silva, Jesse S (MOODY INTERNATIONAL) <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 20L67:07 AM To: Barbara Brenner; Rud Browne;Todd Donovan; CarlWeimer; Satpal Sidhu; Ken Mann; Barry Buchanan Cc: Council Subject: BP Cherry Point Employee Opposition to Whatcom County Comp Plan Dear Whatcom County Councilmember, My wife is an employee at the BP Cherry Point Refinery. My family, friends and neighbors are some of the 9,000 people whose direct, indirect, and induced jobs are supported by the Cherry Point lndustrial Zone. The newly proposed amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan would greatly impact the economic viability of the refinery, and as a result, the people who work here. The new language creates a new policy with the goal to prevent new or existing facilities from exporting fossil fuels and to prohibit the County from permitting any such new capacity. The proposed amendments have not been studied by county planning staff (no staff report was provided with these amendments), have not undergone State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review, and have not been appropriately reviewed by the public. We both need and deserve more time to thoroughly review and comment on an entirely new vision for the future of Whatcom County. Unfortunately, with the some of the new language proposed in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan - our jobs are at risk, along with a steadfast and proven partner in environmental stewardship and community giving. The total loss of jobs in Whatcom County would be 270 for every 50 jobs lost at the refineries. BP, Phillips 66, and lntalco pay $f+.Zw in property taxes each year and the Cherry Point lndustrial Zone businesses pay more than S200M in taxes, annually - supporting local schools, fire districts, infrastructure, and Bellingham Bay clean-up efforts. BP Cherry Point Refinery has been a member of the Wildlife Habitat Council since 2009, a standing that exemplifies its commitment to improving wildlife habitat through stewardship, restoration, and establishment of habitat on its property. BP Cherry Point Refinery has restored approximately 2,200linealfeet of TerrellCreek, dedicated protected land for a Great Blue Heron rookery, and has nearly L,500 acres under a Farm Conservation Plan. BP Cherry Point Refinery has been the top supporter of the United Way of Whatcom County since 2004, contributing more than S4.5M from corporate, employee, and special event giving. Whatcom County is my community, too. As employees and as a company we respect the world in which we operate. lt begins with compliance with laws and regulations. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and we behave in ways that earn the trust of others. We depend on the relationships we have and respect each other and those we work with. We value diversity of people and thought. We care about the consequences of our decisions, large and small, on those around us. We recognize we are in a hazardous business, and are committed to excellence through the systematic and disciplined management of our operations. We care about the safe management of the environment. We are committed to safely delivering energy. Please oppose any amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan that would significantly harm the future utilization of the Cherry Point Urban Growth Area. 1 Jesse Sílvo Project Cooridnotor 7355 Dykstro Rd. Lynden, Wo.98264 2 Jennifer Schneider From: Short, Orie < [email protected] > Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2016 4:20 PM To: Barbara Brenner;Todd Donovan; CarlWeimer; Satpal Sidhu; Ken Mann; Rud Browne Cc: Council Subject: Opposition to Whatcom County Comp Plan Dear Whatcom County Councilmember, I am one of 9,000 people whose direct, indirect, and induced jobs are supported by the Cherry Point lndustrialZone. The newly proposed amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan would greatly impact the economic viability of the refinery, and as a result, the people who work here. The new language creates a new policy with the goal to prevent new or existing facilities from exporting fossil fuels and to prohibit the County from permitting any such new capacity. The proposed amendments have not been studied by county planning staff (no staff report was provided with these amendments), have not undergone State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review, and have not been appropriately reviewed by the public. We both need and deserve more time to thoroughly review and comment on an entirely new vision for the future of Whatcom County. Unfortunately, with the some of the new language proposed in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan - our jobs are at risk, along with a steadfast and proven partner in environmental stewardship and community giving. a The total loss of jobs in Whatcom County would be 270 for every 50 jobs lost at the refineries. a BP, Phillips 66, and lntalco pay Sf¿.Zlv in property taxes each year and the Cherry Point lndustrial Zone businesses pay more than S200M in taxes, annually - supporting local schools, fire districts, infrastructure, and Bellingham Bay clean-up efforts. a BP Cherry Point Refinery has been a member of the Wildlife Habitat Council since 2009, a standing that exemplifies íts commitment to improving wildlife habitat through stewardship, restoration, and establishment of habitat on its property. a BP Cherry Point Refinery has restored approximately 2,200lineal feet of Terrell Creek, dedicated protected land for a Great Blue Heron rookery, and has nearly 1,500 acres under a Farm Conservation Plan. a BP Cherry Point Refinery has been the top supporter of the United Way of Whatcom County since 2004, contributing more than S4.5M from corporate, employee, and special event giving. As employees, friends and neighbors, and as a company we respect the world in which we operate - we breathe the same air, drink the same water, shop at the same stores, attend the same schools, and treasure the same quality of life as all other county residents. Respecting and preserving that quality of life begins with compliance with laws and regulations. We hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards and we behave in ways that earn the trust of others. We depend on the relationships we have and respect each other and those with whom we work. We value diversity of people and thought. We care about the consequences of our decisions, large and small, on those around us. We are committed to excellence through the systematic and disciplined management of our operations. We care about the safe management of the environment. We are committed to safely delivering energy. Please oppose any amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan that would significantly harm the future utilization of the Cherry Point Urban Growth Area. 1 Orie Short, Operations Technician BP 2 Jennifer Schneider From: Bovat, Timmothy <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July 1-0, 2016 3:48 AM To: Barbara Brenner;Todd Donovan; Carl Weimer; Satpal Sidhu; Ken Mann; Rud Browne Cc: Council Subject: Opposition to Carl Weimer Comprehensive Plan Ammendments Dear Whatcom County Councilmember, I am an employee at the BP Cherry Point Refinery and a lifelong Whatcom County resident. That makes me one of the 9,000 people whose direct and/or indirect job would be put into jeopardy because of the proposed amendments to the comprehensive plan and the drastic effect it would have on the Cherry Point lndustrial Zone. I am appalled by the newly proposed amendments from Carl Weimer and the impact they would have on the economic viability of the refinery. lf the facilities at Cherry Point are no longer economically viable, Whatcom County will once again be faced with the closure of a major industrial facility and thousands of people will be put out of work. Unfortunately, with Weimer's new proposals in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan, our jobs ore at risk. Please oppose any amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan that would significantly harm the future utilization of the Cherry Point Urban Growth Area. Thank you, Tim Bovat 1 Jennifer Schneider From: David Avis <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, July L0, 2016 11:08 PM To: Barbara Brenner; Rud Browne;Todd Donovan; Carl Weimer; Satpal Sidhu; Ken Mann; Barry Buchanan Cc: Council Subject: BP Cherry Point Employee Opposition to Whatcom County Comp Plan Whatcom County Council, I am one of 800 employees who work at the BP Cherry Point Refinery. My family, friends and neighbors are some of the 9,000 people whose direct, indirect, and induced jobs are supported bythe Cherry Point lndustrial Zone. The newly proposed amendments to the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan would greatly imþact the economic viability of the refinery, and as a result, the people who work here. The new language creates a new policy with the goal to prevent new or existing facilities from exporting fossil fuels and to prohibit the County . from permitting any such new capacity. The proposed amendments have not been studied by county planning staff (no staff report was provided with these amendments), have not undergone State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) review, and have not been appropriately reviewed by the public. We both need and deserve more time to thoroughly review and comment on an entirely new vision for the future of Whatcom County. Unfortunately, with the some of the new language proposed in the Whatcom County Comprehensive Plan - our jobs are at risk, along with a steadfast and proven partner in environmentalstewardship and community giving. The total loss of jobs in Whatcom County would be 270 for every 50 jobs lost at the refineries o $P, Phillips 66, and lntalco pay Sf+.ZlV in property taxes each year and the Cherry Point lndustrial Zone businesses pay more than S200M in taxes, annually - supporting local schools, fire districts, infrastructure, and Bellingham Bay clean-up efforts.