SANTA BARBARA (CN) - The City of Carpinteria says Venoco oil is abusing the initiative process to try to expand its Paredon Project - offshore and onshore oil operations. The city claims Vemoco's initiative tries to use the initiative process to duck the California Environmental Quality Act and the city's General Plan, and would give Venoco, a private corporation, governmental powers.
City attorney Peter Brown says he should not have to prepare the initiative for the ballot until the illegal provisions are stricken from it. He sued in Superior Court, and also named as defendants three citizens who back the initiative.
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