NEAR ARROYO GRANDE -- Plans for a controversial oil exploration project east of Arroyo Grande have been revamped and the public is being asked for input.
A company called Excelaron wants to drill in an existing oil field in the Huasna Valley.
The draft environmental impact report for the project was just released.
People have 45 days to look it over.
"I just can't imagine looking out on what you see behind me, and its pristine beauty, and spoiling it with oil derricks and oil rigs," said Peter Keith, a Huasna Valley resident.
The first phase of the Huasna Oil Field Project calls for four oil wells in the hills above a ranch in the valley.
"Many times you're going in and actually exploring, in this case we're evaluating what we know is already in the ground and with newer technology, hopefully successful in bringing that out of the ground," said Carol Florence, a principal planner with Oasis Associates.
Signs are scattered throughout the Huasna Valley showing how many residents are opposed to the project, despite the many changes that Excelaron has made.
"It's not the small project that they initially envisioned and told us about," said Keith. "Now, it's a project that I think will consume this valley."
"We have no intention of destroying the quality of life of our neighbors," said Florence.
One major concern was how oil would be trucked out of the valley.
The original route was Huasna Townsite Road through the Village of Arroyo Grande.
Now, oil would be trucked out of the valley the other way, via an access road on a private ranch to Highway 166.
"We feel like the project has been vindicated," said Florence. "We still feel to this day that there's nothing that we can't mitigate."
Opponents aren't sold on the alternate route either.
They say it runs along a river that is a source for drinking water.
If Excelaron is given the green light to drill, it expects to find a heavy crude oil that can be used for road asphalts, plastics and fertilizers.
Excelaron says it would generate about 100 jobs and about $20 million in tax revenue for San Luis Obispo County over a 20 year period.
"Yes we need oil as an economy, but we don't need to drill in this pristine valley for road tar," said Keith.
The public has 45 days to review the draft EIR.
The project is expected to go before the San Luis Obispo County Planning Commission in November.
