Richmond Official Blasts Chevron For Calling Huge Flare At Plant 'Routine'
RICHMOND (CBS SF) -- According to a Richmond official, the enormous ball of fire at the Chevron plant in Richmond was not normal, despite assurances from plant officials it was routine.
Supervisor John Goia said the series of flares were an emergency reaction to something that went wrong at the plant.
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has launched an investigation into the incident.
Goia said when emergencies happen, Chevron generally deals with the situation before issuing a statement, but communication was particularly slow on Thursday night. The flaring incident was reported at approximately 6:35 p.m. It took well over an hour for Chevron to respond.
Chevron issued a statement, saying, "We had a process unit that needed to be depressurized, creating a visible flare."
There was some visible flaring tonight to allow for equipment de-pressuring. Flaring is a part of refinery operations.
— Chevron Richmond (@ChevronRichmond) December 19, 2014
According to spokesperson Braden Reddal, the chemicals released did not reach "state and federal thresholds."
According to Contra Costa Health Services Randy Sawyer, Chevron's air monitors registered up to 26 microns per cubic meter of pm 2.5 (particulate matter). The federal EPA limit is 35 microns, so it was below the limit.
However, the flaring went high up in the air and the sensors may not have accurately detected the amount of pollution. Sawyer said there were definitely hazardous chemicals in the flare, but there is no way to know how much.
Pictures of the giant flare were all over social media as nervous users across the Bay Area began asking if there was a fire.
Whoa! Looks like Chevron has a refinery fire in Richmond, CA pic.twitter.com/bCnZewgrfD
— Kin (@mrkin) December 19, 2014
A massive fire broke out at the plant in 2012. The smoke was so bad, 15,000 residents had to go to hospitals for medical attention.
Thursday night, people living near the refinery were not asked to 'shelter-in-place,' as they did in 2012.
Supervisor Goia said flares can be normal. On those cases, Chevron generally communicates to the public and local government ahead of time.
Air District inspectors were sent to the Chevron refinery immediately upon notice of Thursday's flaring event and have launched an investigation.
"We have the most stringent refinery regulations in the country as well as additional regulations under development that will help us to both better characterize those emissions and reduce them further in the future," said Air District executive officer Jack Broadbent.
Chevron is expected filed a report late Friday with Contra Costa County about Thursday night's emergency.