On May 30, the City of Vallejo will hold a hearing and vote on the status of the VMT/Orcem cement factory and deep water port project. According to published reports, the company has failed to complete paperwork and deal with monetary issues to the city's satisfaction. City staff maintains that VMT has abandoned the project.
Interestingly, Vallejo Marine Terminal (VMT), the deep water port proposal, is the organization that has standing with the city. The Orcem cement factory is a tenant of VMT and only needs to provide adequate information about its project to ensure the project is in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). There is no legal relationship with the city.
The Vallejo Planning Commission rejected the Orcem/VMT project in 2017, and the company appealed to the City Council. Residents have been vocal in their opposition to the project, saying it will add terrible noise and air pollution to the area, which includes an elementary school and a residential neighborhood. Sierra Club has opposed the project, agreeing that it will increase pollution and also that the marine terminal would open the door for shipping and processing coal.
City staff intends to dismiss the project due to the applicant's erratic responses. Sierra Club endorses the city staff's efforts to hold the applicant responsible for its poor faith and lack of action on this project.