[Editor’s Note: City Councilman Andy Weissman directed this letter to County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, regarded as the key member of the 5-person body that will vote on Oct. 21 on the standards to govern oil drilling by Plains, Exploration & Production Co. in the Baldwin Hills oil field for the next 20 years.]
I feel compelled to join the chorus of disgruntled and disappointed members of the public regarding last Saturday's “public hearing” at West L.A. College. I know Supervisor Burke wants to be sure, not only that there is a final Community Standards District that provides critical public health and safety protection, but that the process that results in the adoption of the CSD is full, fair and provides the opportunity for the public to give its input.
On a matter as significant as this is, it is critical that the process for creating the CSD be done right, not that it be done fast.
It is hardly a model of public outreach process when the public is invited to share its concerns and then the County Regional Planning Commission announces it is limiting the opportunity of the concerned public to speak regarding the EIR and CSD drafted by the oil drilling company.
There is a lack of due process when the public is denied the opportunity to be heard.
Although the purpose of the EIR was to review the CSD, the County’s draft of the CSD will not be released until after the EIR comment period has ended.
Respectfully, what we need is for the EIR to be revised, based on the comments that are currently being made and based on the County’s draft of the CSD.
This revised document then needs to be recirculated for public comments, and during this second comment period the County should hold a real meeting in Culver City to accept public input.
On behalf of all affected parties, I would respectfully request the County extend the EIR process so that the County’s draft CSD can be completed and circulated, and then the EIR be modified to analyze the County’s CSD in order to ensure that the best interests of the public are protected.
