Dispute Could Delay Chevron Richmond Refinery Repairs
RICHMOND (CBS/AP) - Chevron's plan to get its Richmond refinery back to full operating capacity following a massive fire could be slowed by a dispute over the type of piping it wants to use to make repairs.
Chevron plans to replace an old pipe that failed with one made of an alloy called Chrome 9.
Chevron said Chrome 9 is resistant to corrosion from sulfur-heavy oil. But the U.S. Chemical Safety Board said that a fire at a Washington state BP refinery occurred after a rupture in the same kind if pipe.
Thousands sought medical treatment after the Aug. 6 fire, which sent a large plume of smoke into the sky.
Richmond city officials and Chevron have agreed to pause repairs until the dispute is resolved.
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