BNP Paribas Tennis Open taking steps to address Coronavirus COVID-19

One of California's biggest professional tennis tournaments,  the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, has just announced a major response to the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19.

The men's and women's professional tennis tournament, often referred to as the tennis world's 5th major, is scheduled for March 8 - 21, 2020.

Event organizers are offering refunds for tickets already purchased or an option to use them as a credit for the 2021 tournament.

Additional actions include:

• Installation of more than 250 hand sanitation stations throughout the facility.
• Players, and not ball kids, will be required to manage their own towels on court. Ball kids will not touch or move the towels.
• Ball kids, restaurant and food supply workers, and volunteers at ticket entrances will wear gloves.
• N95 masks are being secured for first aid and health personnel.
• Organized player and fan interaction will be limited.
• All common areas will be cleaned daily with antivirals.
• Coordinating with a local hospital and CDC approved testing for all individuals with symptoms.

For more information: Statement Regarding Coronavirus

Here's a USEPA approved list of disinfectants to use against the Coronavirus

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has just announced the release of a list of EPA-registered disinfectants that may be used against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

Photo Credit: CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention 

As you may know, California's Governor Gavin Newsome declared a state of emergency this past Wednesday as a result of the coronavirus outbreak in the state. 

“Using the correct disinfectant is an important part of preventing and reducing the spread of illnesses along with other critical aspects such as hand washing,” said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “There is no higher priority for the Trump Administration than protecting the health and safety of Americans. EPA is providing this important information in a public and transparent manner on disinfectant products to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.”

Some of the disinfectants appear to be products commonly found in grocery stores and other retail markets, including products made by Clorox, Lysol, and Purell, among others.

The EPA approved list may be found at this link: 

List N: Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2

Here we go again - nearly 50,000 gallons of oil fluids released from Chevron's Cymric Oilfield seep

The Bakersfield Californian has just reported that Chevron's Cymric oil seep, the one that was instrumental in causing California Governor Gavin Newsome to stop the state from issuing new steam injection permits, has once again begun leaking oil to the surface.

The early days of Chevron's Cymric Oilfield seep in 2019

Photo Credit: California Office of Spill Prevention and Response 

The latest "spill" contained almost 47,000 gallons (115 barrels) of produced fluid, approximately 588 gallons of which were crude oil, according to the paper.

Chevron was fined $2.7 million dollars last October for the seepage from its operations near McKittrick, CA, raising questions about whether the oil industry has been sufficiently regulated in the state.

Those questions have resulted in the aforementioned ban and other changes in how oil development permits are issued to the industry and in Kern County in particular.

CaHSRA issues draft EIR/EIS for Bakersfield to Palmdale segment of bullet train

The California High Speed Rail Authority (CaHSRA) has just released a draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS) for a segment of the project that will connect Bakersfield to Palmdale in Los Angeles County.

The approximately 80-mile section of the state-wide project will include stations in Bakersfield and Palmdale while passing through or near the communities of Edison, Tehachapi, Rosamond, and Lancaster. It will close the existing passenger rail gap between Northern and Southern California.

The CaHRSA will be accepting public comments on the draft EIR/EIS until April 13, 2020, as it undergoes a required CEQA and NEPA review. The final EIR/EIS will be issued in 2021.

In addition, public hearings will be held as follows:

Lancaster
March 4,2020
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Jane Reynolds Park Activity Center
716 Oldfield Street
Lancaster, PA 93534

Bakersfield
March 5, 2020
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Edison Middle School Gym
721 S. Edison Road
Bakersfield, CA 93307

Rosamond
March 26, 2020
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Rosamond Public Library
3611 Rosamond Blvd.
Rosamond, CA 93560


For more information on the document and other ways to submit comments: Bakersfield to Palmdale Draft EIR/EIS