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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09211993 - S.4 n TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra Jeff Smith, Supervisor District II FROM: Costa Count September 21, 1993 "''`'y`' DATE: c oi,.:t� PACIFIC REFINING COMPANY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT FOR SUBJECT: CLEAN FUELS PROJECT SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)8 BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION REQUEST: Request the Board of Supervisors and Community Development staff discuss the Pacific Refining Co. Clean Fuels Project .EIR. Project is located within the City of Hercules, but is adjacent to the unincorporated portion of the County. BACKGROUND: This Pacific Refining Company project is located in the City of Hercules . Under a federal mandate, Pacific Refining is required to meet Clean Fuels standards which will require extensive re- design of their current facility. Since the project borders on the unincorporated County, staff will be preparing comments to the EIR. This will offer the opportunity to Board member and others to make remarks prior to the completion of Community Development Department comments . CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOAR O EE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S)' ACTION OF BOARD ONSPptPmhar�1, 1��� APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _ OTHER See ADDENDUM NO. 1 to Item S4, September 21, 1993 VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE X UNANIMOUS(ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. CC: Community Development Dept . ATTESTED September 21, 1993 County Administrators Office PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BY Q2:!fJ4-_ .DEPUTY M382 (10/88) ADDENDUM NO. 1 to Item 8.4 = September 21, 1993 Supervisor Smith introduced the discussion of a clean fuels project at Pacific Refinery due to be in front of the City of Hercules Planning Commission in the next week. Catherine Kutsuris, Community Development Department, commented on responses by staff to the Environmental Impact Report that was issued in June, 1992 . The following persons appeared to testify: Mike Coody, 216 3rd Street, Rodeo, spoke in opposition to the proposed project . Lynn Cherry, 936 Elm Drive, Rodeo, requested continuation of the health studies by the Health Department . Doris Reese, 117 3rd Street, Rodeo, presented a copy of the Environmental Impact Report and requested the Health Department to review the health part of it for the community. Ralph Edwards, 4901 San Pablo, Hercules, representing Pacific Refining Company, commented on a willingness to work with the community to achieve resolution of community concerns and he commented on misstatements by previous speakers . Supervisor Bishop requested clarification on the number of violations by Pacific Refining. Supervisor Smith commented on deficiencies in the Environmental Impact Report and in particular a lack of focus on directed host community mitigation and he moved that the Board authorize and direct the staff of the Community Development Department to comment on all the deficiencies which they have noted , focusing their comments on host community mitigation related to Rodeo, and also to authorize Health Services Department to proceed with a health risk assessment in the community of Rodeo. Supervisor Smith also suggested a group consisting of representatives from the city, the County, the community and the industry be convened to work on the mitigation issues . Supervisor Powers seconded the motion and commented in support of Supervisor Smith' s remarks without committing any money out of the County' s General Fund for the health risk assessment . Supervisor McPeak spoke in support of the motion with the direction given by Supervisor Powers to look for a funding source on the health risk study other than the County General Fund. Supervisor Torlakson clarified that by the motion Supervisor Smith was being requested to convene meetings to discuss the idea of a group that would work through some of these issues . IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that Supervisor Smith' s motion with Supervisor Powers' comments is APPROVED. JB PACI FIC REFI N I NG COM PANY P.O.BOX 68 (510)799-8000 4901 SAN PABLO AVENUE FAX(510)799-8042 A Joint Venture of Sinochem and The Coastal Corporation Subsidiaries HERCULES,CALIFORNIA 94547 NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release Contact: September 20, 1993 Ralph Edwards 510/799-8150 PACIFIC REFINING COMPANY RESPONDS TO CHARGES OF LOCAL COMMUNITY Joe Sparano, Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Refining Company, today disputed allegations made last week about Pacific's proposed Improved Fuels Modification Project by the Rodeo Citizen's Association ("RCA") . The RCA has opposed the refinery's proposed modification project for the past three years. Sparano said, "Pacific Refining Company has been open with its neigbhors about our operations and our plans for the future. Over the past several years we have worked very hard to establish cooperative working relationships with the communities of Hercules and Rodeo, and with regulatory agencies. We have improved operational reliablity and reduced odors by implementing equipment investments and enhanced procedures. "Pacific's project includes the addition of refinery equipment required to meet federal and state clean fuels regulations. The refinery's current crude throughput will not increase and exisiting equipment will be upgraded. Potential risks and possible impacts have been identified. The Draft Environmental Impact Report covers all these issues thoroughly. " On April 27 the Company announced that its Hercules crude refining operations would be suspended at the end of June 1993 , in part because of economic conditions in the refining industry. The Company also indicated that cessation of any operations would be handled in an environmentally responsible manner. A permanent shutdown of the refinery was not mentioned. Sparano added that a search for alternative uses for the facility has been on-going since the April announcement. In June, Pacific signed an agreement to produce an ingredient for an asphalt manufacturer through October 31. "We are working hard to extend those arrangements and hope that suspension of crude oil refining operations can be avoided. More than 100 jobs and a significant amount of local tax revenues are at stake, " said Sparano. He also said that "Pacific's April announcement clearly indicated we would continue efforts to obtain the required permits for our modification project. Furthermore, the original design for the project has not been altered -- it is the same design that has been reviewed at public workshops over the last two years. Pacific does plan to build a sulfuric acid plant, but we will not produce or store oleum, which was the chemical involved in the recent incident at General Chemical. "Obtaining the permits to modify the existing facility will enable Pacific to make clean fuels as mandated by state and federal regulations. Having permits for the facility will also increase its value to Pacific's Partners and give them more flexibility for the future. We want to maintain operations and jobs at the Hercules site, " emphasized Sparano. Pacific is a Joint Venture owned by subsidiaries of The Coastal Corporation and Sinochem, a state-owned international diversified business corporation of The People's Republic of China. -end- SUMMARY PROJECT DESCRIPTION Pacific Refining Company proposes to construct the Improved Fuels Modification Project at its refinery in Hercules, California. The modification would consist of the addition of new petroleum process units to the existing equipment and installation of equipment to reduce odors emanating from the refinery. The new process units would include a fluidized catalytic cracking unit, gas oil hydrotreater, diesel hydrotreater, dehexanizer, isomerization unit, alkylation unit, hydrogen plant, cogeneration units, and new storage tanks. The odor abatement equipment would include a new, enclosed ground flare, new enclosure of wastewater treatment equipment, and a new sulfur recovery system. The crude oil throughput of the modified plant would not change, but the increased need for partially refined materials to supplement the crude oil and materials to blend with petroleum products (feedstocks), would increase total refinery inputs by about 25% (i.e.,from 60,000 barrels per day to 75,000 barrels per day). The feedstocks that would be used by the refinery are required, in part, to produce reformulated gasoline specified by new federal and state regulations. These feedstocks would also allow the refinery to produce more high-value products. The Federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and California law require that diesel fuel sold after October 1, 1993, must contain low concentrations of sulfur and aromatic hydrocarbons. By January 1, 1995,all gasoline sold in portions of the country that have poor ambient air quality must be reformulated so that it burns cleaner in engines. California law requires that all gasoline sold in the state after January 1, 1996 must be reformulated to meet federal and recently enacted California standards. The existing process equipment at Pacific's refinery cannot produce diesel fuel and gasoline that meet these federal and state requirements. Process equipment proposed for the modification project along with additional petroleum feedstocks would allow the refinery to produce fuels that are in compliance with the Clean Air Act Amendments. Crude oil consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons which are chemical compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon atoms combined into molecules of different sizes and shapes. The smallest hydrocarbon molecules, containing only a few atoms of hydrogen and carbon, are gases such as propane and butane. Somewhat larger hydrocarbon molecules are liquids such S-1 SUMMARY as gasoline and diesel fuel. Very large hydrocarbon molecules are solids such as paraffin and tar. The purpose of the process equipment at a refinery is to separate hydrocarbon molecules into groups of similar size, break up or crack the larger molecules into smaller ones of different sixes and shapes, recombine some molecules into useful sizes and shapes, rearrange the molecular structure of others, and remove impurities such as sulfur and nitrogen. All the process units work together to produce hydrocarbon products with optimum combustion characteristics and the maximum value out of each barrel of crude oil and other petroleum inputs to the process. The existing refinery is what is often termed in the petroleum industry as a "topping refinery." The capabilities of the existing process equipment are largely limited to separating out the relatively small fraction of high value fuel products, such as gasoline and diesel fuel, that naturally occur in the crude oil received by the refinery, leaving the heavier hydrocarbon molecules largely unaltered. Usually the value of this residual heavy oil is less than that of the crude oil purchased by the refinery. The process units that would be added to the refinery under the proposed project would alter the structure of the residual heavy hydrocarbon molecules to produce more gasoline, diesel fuel, and other light fuel products that would meet federal and state fuel specifications, and produce more high-value products from each barrel of crude oil. AREAS OF PUBLIC CONCERN The general public and government agencies have raised concerns over the proposed Improved Fuels Modification Project. Citizens of the community of Rodeo immediately north of the refinery are concerned about operating procedures that may affect their health and welfare. People in Rodeo have perceived an overall degradation of the quality of life in their community since the refinery was built in 1966, and believe that quality of life would be further reduced by the Improved Fuels Modification Project. Rodeo citizens have complained about odors from the facility since at least 1984. Many of these people are concerned that the modification project may increase odors from the refinery. Important concerns raised about the modification project by the public include: QA9IM68.1(91CO295BA2 .S-2 M0714931531 SUMMARY • Increased health risk associated with increased emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere • Increased public safety risk from fires,explosions,or the accidental release of toxic gases or vapors • Increased odors • Increased noise - • Impacts of increased wastewater discharges on the water quality and marine biota of San Pablo Bay • Visual impacts of additional industrial facilities to the surrounding communities SUMMARY OF IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES A summary of project impacts and mitigation measures is provided in Table S-1. Impacts and mitigation measures are briefly described below. Land Use The refinery is on land zoned "M" (Industrial District) by the City of Hercules. The proposed Improved Fuels Modification Project would be consistent with this zoning designation, and land use policies for the area. Therefore, the project would not impact land use policies. The project would impact an alternative to the Bay Trail. This impact could be mitigated by a minor adjustment in the location of proposed wastewater treatment equipment. However, existing facilities would still limit the ability to implement this trail alternative. The proposed project would add to the existing land use conflict between the refinery and the community of Rodeo. The primary source of this cumulative impact is the potential for minor accidents that could have offsite effects such as odors, deposition of material, and short-term health effects such as nose, eye, and throat irritation or headaches. There are no data available to statistically estimate the probability of occurrence of minor accidents QA9115768.1(91CO295B)13 S-3 M0714931531 TABLE S-1 SUMMARY OF IMPROVED FUELS MODIFICATION PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION (Page 1 of 5) Potential Impacts Significance Mitigation Measures Page LAND USE Refinery property designated No land use policy impacts. None required. 4-1 "Industrial" in Hercules General Plan and zoned "M" (Industrial District). Impact Bayshore Alternative to Significant impact that can Relocation of 4-3 Bay Trail. be mitigated wastewater treatment facilities 10 to 15 feet east. Cumulative land use impact on Significant impact that Installation of a berm 4-4 Rodeo. cannot be mitigated to between refinery and insignificant level. Rodeo; repair of damages from offsite effects of refinery accidents. PUBLIC HEALTH Cancer risk to Maximally No significant impact. None required. 4-26 Exposed Individual of project alone would be 7.6 in 1 million over 70 years. Cancer risk of post-project No significant impact. None required. 4-28 refinery to Maximally Exposed Individual 38 in 1 million over 70 years. PUBLIC SAFETY Probability of refinery accident No significant impact. None required. 4-54 resulting in off-site property damage reduced from 1 chance in 300 years to 1 chance in 700 years. Probability of refinery accident No significant impact. None required. 4-54 resulting in off-site injury reduced from 1 chance in 6000 years to 1 chance in 7000 years. Q:W1V5553.1(91CO295E)V S-4 M0716931046 TABLE S-1 SUMMARY OF IMPROVED FUELS MODIFICATION PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION (Page 2 of 5) Potential Impacts Significance Mitigation Measures Page PUBLIC SAFETY Probability of tanker truck Significant impact that Institute truck routing 4-57 accident resulting in a spill and cannot be mitigated to controls and develop fire on local roads increasing insignificant level. spill and fire from I chance in 28 years to I emergency response chance in 13 years. plans. Probability of railcar accident No significant impact. None required. 4-60 resulting in a spill and fire increases from 1 chance in 6000 years to 1 chance in 500 years. Probability of common carrier No significant impact. None required. 4-57 pipeline accident resulting in a spill and fire increases from 1 chance in 250,000 years to 1 chance in 100,000 years. Probability of PG&E gas supply No significant impact. None required. 4-60 pipeline spill and fire of I chance in 1000 years AIR QUALITY Modified refinery would result No significant impact. None. Project 4-7 in maximum ground level includes Best concentration of 51.3 pg/m' (3- Available Control hours) of SO2, 128.4 pg/M3 (I- Technology. hour) of NO2, and 4.7 pg/m' (24- hour) for PM10. These concentrations are not significant. High CO and NO., emissions Significant impact that Equipment 4-7 from construction vehicles. cannot be mitigated to Maintenance. insignificant level. Q191\15553.1(91c0295E)\2 S-5 Mo716931155 TABLE $-I SUMMARY OF IMPROVED FUELS MODIFICATION PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION (Page 3 of 5) Potential Impacts Significance Mitigation Measures Page ODOR Maximum ground level No significant impact. None required. 4-38 concentration of hydrogen sulfide and volatile organic compounds below the odor detection threshold under normal operations. Installation of new ground flare, new covered wastewater treatment system, new sulfur recovery plant, and refinery-wide computerized controls to reduce odorous emissions during routine and non-routine operations. Increase inspection and maintenance operations on flanges, valves and pumps, and sealing process drains to further reduce odorous emissions. NOISE Maximum operational noise No significant impact. Equipment design and 4-62 level at nearest Rodeo residences shielding to reduce of 63 dBA L... noise. VISUAL RESOURCES Modification project visible from No significant impact. None required. 4-69 Rodeo, a small portion of Foxboro area in Hercules, San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo Bay, I- 80, and North Short Business Park. Modification project would blend with existing refinery. Q:%91%15553.1(91CO295E)l3. S-6 M07169310" TABLE S-1 SUMMARY OF IMPROVED FUELS MODIFICATION PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION (Page 4 of 5) Potential Impacts Significance Mitigation Measures Page PUBLIC FACILITIES AND SERVICES Refinery water use would Significant impact that can Plumb refinery for 4-76 increase by 800 gallons/minute. be mitigated. use of treated wastewater. Rodeo-Hercules Fire District No significant impact. Pacific to work with 4-78 would require additional District to ensure equipment and personnel training equipment and to fight fires. The District training needs are would also receive an additional met. $470,000 in annual tax revenues and new firefighting equipment would be installed at refinery. TRANSPORTATION Construction-related traffic No significant impact. Construction shifts to 4-85 would cause increased begin and end off congestion on 1-80 and Route 4 peak hours, as during am. and p.m. peak hour. possible. WATER QUALITY Increased wastewater discharge No significant impact. None required. 4-91 from 220,000 to 450,000 gallons per day. Concentration and/or mass loading of pollutants to San Pablo Bay would not exceed the refinery's existing NPDES permit. QA91 U5553.1(9)CO29SE)W S-7 M0716931155 TABLE S-1 SUMMARY OF IMPROVED FUELS MODIFICATION PROJECT IMPACTS AND MITIGATION (Page 5 of 5) Potential Impacts Significance Mitigation Measures Page CULTURAL RESOURCES Removal of archaeological site Significant impact that can Mitigation plan 4-99 that may have had initial be mitigated. including salvaging occupations ranging from as the resource. early as 1500 B.C. to about 1500 A.D. Removal of vertebrate fossils in Significant impact that can Mitigation plan 4-101 Montezuma Formation. be mitigated. including salvaging the resource. BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES Removal of approximately 71 Significant impact that can Replacement of 4-106 acres of vegetation including be mitigated. wetlands in kind. 0.75 acre of isolated wetland. Q:U1U5553.1(91CO295E)O S-8 M0716931046 SUMMARY associated with the project. On the one hand, the project would increase the number of hazards at the refinery. On the other hand, the installation of refinery-wide computer controls, coupled with the increased operating and maintenance staff for the refinery would tend to decrease the probability of occurrence of minor accidents. Since the occurrence of these minor accidents could be a significant nuisance to some residents of Rodeo, and the probability of their occurrence cannot be estimated, these impacts were judged to be a significant cumulative impact. Air Quality - Emissions of criteria air pollutants (i.e., nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, and particulates) and air toxics from the refinery would be reduced by "Best Available Control Technology" as determined by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District(BAAQMD). Concentrations of criteria pollutants resulting from project emissions are not expected to exceed standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the State of California to protect public health and welfare. In fact, the net emissions of volatile organic compounds from the refinery would be reduced with the project by onsite emission offsets. The project would not impact progress toward attainment of the federal and state air quality standards in the San Francisco Bay Area; therefore, project emissions would not result in significant air quality impacts. Operation of heavy construction equipment would result in relatively high emissions of carbon monoixide and nitrogen oxides. This was judged to be a significant short-term impact. Health Risk Cancer and non-cancer health effects attributed to the existing refinery and the proposed project were based on health risk assessments conducted in accordance with guidelines established by the BAAQMD for implementation of AB2588. Those risk assessments indicated that emissions of non-carcinogenic (non-cancer causing) compounds from the current and modified refinery would not impact public health. The maximum cancer risk (i.e., risk to the maximally exposed individual) for the project is estimated to be 7.6 in 1 million. This was not considered significant based on the standard of 14 in 1 million established by the BAAQMD for permitting new emission sources. QA91\5768.1(91CO295H)\9 S-9 M0714931531 SUMMARY The maximum cancer risk for the existing refinery is estimated to be 37 in 1 million over 70 years. This risk would be increased to 38 in 1 million with the modified refinery. This is well below the significance criteria used for the post-project refinery of 100 in 1 million. This criteria is based on BAAQMD requirements for risk reduction under AB2588. Public Safety Refining crude oil involves working with flammable materials under heat and pressure. This type of operation creates inherent hazards for fire and explosion. Based on published statistics and adjustments for facility design and operation,it is estimated that major accidents at the modified refinery would have 1 chance in about 700 years of causing offsite property damage compared to 1 chance in 300 years for the existing refinery. There would be 1 chance in about 7000 years that an accident at the modified refinery could result in injuries to the general public compared to 1 chance in 6000 years for the existing refinery. This impact is not considered significant. The project area could be subject to substantial ground shaking during a major earthquake on the San Andreas, Hayward, or Concord faults. Foundation designs that can withstand this level of ground shaking are in common use today. Tall, narrow structures like the refinery process equipment that have used modern foundation designs have withstood similar ground accelerations. To address possible earthquake effects, a geotechnical investigation of the project site would be made prior to final design of the grading plan and of the foundations of the proposed structures. Recommendations from this investigation would be used to design the facility. The modification project would increase the number of tanker trucks shipping petroleum products from the refinery to local markets by 124%. This would increase the probability of accidents on local roads from the refinery to I-80 involving these trucks from 1 chance in 11 years to 1 chance in 5 years. The probability that an accident involving a tanker truck would result in a spill and fire would increase from 1 chance in 28 years to 1 chance in 13 years. This would be a significant impact, which would be minimized by instituting truck routing controls and development of spill and fire emergency response plans. The increased need for petroleum feedstocks with the modification project and the increased production of fuel would increase the number of railcars coming in and out of the refinery. Q:%91%5768.1(91CO295H)\10 S-10 M0714931531 SUMMARY The probability of a rail accident resulting in a spill would increase with the project from I chance in 2000 years to 1 chance in 200 years. The probability that there would be a railcar spill and fire would increase from I chance in 6000 years to about I chance in 500 years. This is not considered a significant increase in risk to public safety. Odor The proposed project includes odor abatement equipment which is part of the 1990 Consent Order with the BAAQMD. In addition, installation of refinery-wide computerized controls would reduce the opportunities for odor-causing upset conditions by improving steady-state operating conditions. For these reasons, the project would not cause a significant odor impact. Event with the measures proposed by Pacific Refining, there would occasionally be an incident where odors would be detected by some residents of Rodeo. These incidents would result from human error or equipment failure. Noise The major contributors of noise in the vicinity of the refinery are vehicular traffic, railroad traffic, and refinery operations. Based on noise measurements conducted at residences in Rodeo adjacent to the refinery property, current noise levels are within accepted standards recommended by the City of Hercules and Contra Costa County. Much of the noise created by existing refinery process equipment is blocked from Rodeo neighborhoods by the storage tank farm situated between the process equipment and those neighborhoods. These tanks would also block noise from process equipment installed for the modification project. The design of the new ground flare would also reduce noise levels. It is expected that noise from the modified refinery would continue to be within accepted standards for residential neighborhoods. Therefore, the project would not cause significant noise impacts. Visual Impact The modification project would be visible from Rodeo, a small portion of the Foxboro area in Hercules in the hills to the east of the refinery, San Pablo Avenue, San Pablo Bay, parts of 1-80, and the North Shore Business Park. The project would not result in a significant visual impact. While visibility of project facilities would be relatively low because they would blend with the existing refinery structures, the sensitivity of viewers would make this QA9115768.1(91CO295B)\1 I S-11 M0714931531 SUMMARY a moderate visual impact. This impact would be mitigated by planting trees around the boundary of the property. The new ground flare is designed to screen the flame from view and help minimize light and glare. Utilities and Public Services The proposed project would require an additional 800 gallonstminute of water. The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) can meet this increased demand; however, the pipeline network serving the refinery would require upgrading. EBMUD has indicated that the increased water demand for the project would be a significant impact on the District's supply. This impact would be mitigated to an insignificant level by plumbing the refinery to accept treated wastewater from the City of Hercules wastewater treatment plant. Up to 600 gallons/minute of treated wastewater could be used by the refinery if it meets appropriate specifications for industrial uses. The Rodeo-Hercules Fire District would require additional equipment and personnel training to fight fires at the modified refinery. Requirements for additional equipment may be met by the expansion of firefighting systems at the refinery and tax revenues generated by the project for the District. Pacific Refining Company would work with the Rodeo-Hercules Fire District to ensure that they are adequately equipped and trained to assist refinery personnel in responding to a major emergency at the facility. Transportation Traffic associated with operations of the modified refinery would not substantially increase congestion on local roads, I-80, or Route 4. Construction-related traffic would cause short- term congestion on 1-80 and Route 4 during the a.m. and p.m. peak hours. Pacific Refining would evaluate staggered shifts to minimize this impact, but a complete work day would overlap either the morning or evening rush hours. Increased tank truck traffic associated with the modification project would increase maintenance requirements on local roads. Pacific Refining Company would pay for any necessary road maintenance associated with traffic generated by the project. Q.X91\5768.1(91CO293B)l12 S-1 M0723931424 SUMMARY Water Quality The modification project would increase the refinery's treated wastewater discharge to San Pablo Bay by about 100% from 220,000 to 450,000 gallons per day. The proposed modifications of the wastewater treatment plant would decrease the concentrations of most water quality constituents, but the increased discharge would increase the mass loading of pollutants to San Pablo Bay. These mass loadings would remain below the discharge limits for the refinery established by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). Consequently, the project would not have a significant impact on the water quality of San Pablo Bay. Cultural Resources The project would be sited on an archaeological site that may have had initial occupancy from as early as 1500 B.C. to about 1500 A.D. The project site is also expected to contain vertebrate fossils that would be important to local paleontological research. Resources that could be lost from construction of the project would be salvaged prior to site clearing and grading to mitigate impacts. Biological Resources Project construction would result in the removal of approximately 71 acres of vegetation, including 0.75 acre of isolated wetland. There are no native habitats remaining on the refinery property. As a result of industrial development and grazing,most vegetation consists of weedy invader species and ornamentals that provide poor wildlife habitat. These biological impacts are not considered significant. Impacts to vegetation and wildlife would be mitigated by replanting and landscaping. The discharge from the modified refinery would not significantly impact marine organisms. ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED PROJECT A variety of alternatives were identified during the course of environmental studies that had some potential for reducing or eliminating the significant impacts of the proposed project. All but three of those alternatives were eliminated from consideration in the Environmental Impact Report because they were specifically excluded from consideration by recent QA91%576K1(91CO295B)123 S-13 M0715931424 i SUMMARY legislation, they were infeasible, or they did not achieve the basic objectives of the project. The alternatives considered in the EIR are summarized below. Process Low Sulfur Crude Only Processing all low sulfur or sweet crude oil at the modified refinery has been considered as an alternative to the crudes being proposed for the facility. This alternative would result in a slight reduction in the cumulative land use conflict and PMl0 impact of the project, but would not reduce these impacts to a level of insignificance. In addition, world market conditions make it economically infeasible to obtain a long-term supply of sweet crude. Install Odor Abatement Equipment First Under this alternative, Pacific Refining Company would first install the. odor abatement equipment proposed for the project and prove that odors can be controlled before they are permitted to construct the remaining modifications. This alternative would have the same features as the proposed project but they would be constructed in two phases with a monitoring period between phases. Although this alternative would assure that some of the odor reduction benefits of the project are realized, and the objectives of the project would ultimately be achieved, it would not eliminate or reduce any of the significant impacts identified for the proposed project. This alternative would also delay project implementation by three or more years. By remaining out of production for this length of time, Pacific expects to loose its share of the fuels market. Install Clean Fuels and Odor Abatement Equipment Only This alternative would result in the elimination of the proposed cogeneration units. This would result in a minor reduction in the PM10 emissions from the project and would not reduce any of the other significant impacts of the proposed project. Elimination of the cogeneration units would increase the risk of power loss to the refinery since PG&E would be the only source of electricity to the facility. This would increase the risk of upset conditions at the facility. QA91%5768.1{91CO295B}\14 S-14 M0716931109 transcript of item S .4 from September 21, 1993 Supervisor Torlakson: S .4 is Supervisor Smith' s item regarding Pacific Refinery. Supervisor Smith: Yes, I asked this item to come before us because as you' re probably all aware, the clean fuels project at Pacific Refinery is due to be in front of the City of Hercules Planning Commission next week and because of the particular .location and community problems that have occurred I thought it was reasonable for this issue to come before the Board of Supervisors . As you' re all very well aware I'm sure, the community of Rodeo is immediately adjacent to the refinery. On the border of Hercules . Hercules has the lead agency position and responsibility for dealing with this application, however, the people of Rodeo are truly the community that will be impacted by whatever happens at the Pacific Refinery site . And because of that and because of the competing issues that are involved with this application, specifically the need for clean fuels and certainly the need for jobs and stimulation of the economy, but also the overriding need for safety in the community and freedom from health risks, I thought that the issue of host community mitigation should be brought to our board and I was hoping that we would hear from both Community Development and from the public and get some comments from the Board and I ' d like to make a recommendation after we hear those comments . Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you Supervisor Smith, comments from staff on the process and where we' re at with the EIR. Catherine Kutsuris : Certainly, I just have a couple quick comments . This items was before the Board probably a year and a half ago. Their original EIR was issued in June of last year. You asked us to respond to that document . We did. We felt the document had a wide range of deficiencies and asked that a new draft EIR be prepared and that' s what' s been done . We will be doing our review of the documents this week I believe. The close of comments is either Thursday or Friday of this week. Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you. That' s the status on it . We do have some speaker cards on this item. Supervisor Smith, could we ' hear from those individuals at this time. Mike Coody to be followed by Lynn Cherry and Doris Reese. Mike Coody: I'm just here to ask the Board of Supervisors to protect me . I live in Rodeo and Pacific Refinery has dumped stuff on me numerous times . It' s not just something that just started recently. It' s not something that will come up in the future . Excuse me . Oh no, I just have some information yeah. I have here nine cards from the air quality Board. Everytime I make a complaint, they have to come out . I get my voicing through the air quality. Each one of these complaints is a major problem. The impact report says they have no major problems . It' s wrong. I have the air here. This is the air from Rodeo. It' s stinky air. It comes from my front porch. I shouldn' t have to live with this and if the expansion problem goes on, I will have more of this air for you. I' d like to leave this for you because it' s something that will kill people . Thank you. Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you for your comments . Lynn Cherry. Lynn Cherry: My name is Lynn Cherry. I live in Rodeo and as you know, Rodeo is an unincorporated area of Contra Costa County. The residents of Rodeo look to you people the Board of Supervisors to protect our community from this refinery that' s in the City limits of Hercules . I believe it' s your responsibility to make sure that County staff has adequate time to adequately review the EIR, make sure that the Health Department has time to review all the health studies, to make sure that absolutely everything is safe to protect us . It doesn' t matter that you' re going to receive all these additional tax revenues that probably never come to the community of Rodeo. They' ll be spent elsewhere in the County. We feel that you should do everything possible to make sure we' re protected and don' t allow there' s other alternatives that aren' t identified really well in the EIR as far as design criteria and alternatives for the plant . Right now Pacific Refining is supposed to be closed and then they backed out on the closure . A lot of the people in the community feel that they are going to close but it' s pretty apparent that they are planning either to sell or continue with operations to spend this much money on an EIR. And we feel it' s important that the word gets out, that everybody knows what' s going on and you try to fund the Health Department to continue with the health studies and stuff that they've like to have done for quite a while . Thank you. Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you for your testimony Mr. Cherry. Dorris Reese . Good morning. Dorris Reese : Thank you very much for asking us to I mean allowing us to come before you. I have here a copy of the EIR that I would like to leave for Dr. Brunner or Dr. Walker to review the health part of it for us . This has to be in the 24th is the final date and we please like to have that done because it' s very, very important to our community. Supervisor Smith had said that he was going to try to help us get a health study done within our community because we have lots, and lots and lots of health problems . In fact, the community is traumatized that' s the truth. We feel very helpless, very hopeless and we feel that only the Board of Supervisor can help us . Air quality with Sunne and Tom sitting on it has been hearing the things about Pacific Refinery for four years, five years, six years, ten years . Okay. And we appreciate their help. They have tried to bring it before air quality due to the fact that we have had thirty according to air quality 38 percent more confirmed violations than any other industry in the whole entire nine. county bay area air quality district which is very substantial because we, the receptors, dehumanized, are called the receptors . We the human beings in Rodeo are the recipients of all of this contaminated air quality that we've been breathing. There' s something that' s very disturbing to us that is not being addressed in the EIR and that is the Pinole/Rodgers Creek Earthquake fault which last year in May I believe was discovered to be probably the Pinole fault adjoining the Rodgers Creek fault . Rodgers Creek fault is by U.S . Geological survey supposed to erupt with a 7 . 5 within the next twenty five years . We have had pinpointed in Rodeo Sunday was another example of a 3 . 5 earthquake . 5 . earthquake in the last three years . I have the form at home . And it' s all very possibly due to this Pinole fault which is maybe a couple thousand feet from Pacific Refinery. This give us great alarm because the Hayward fault is 4 . 5 miles away and it also has the major quake that is supposed to happen in U. S . Geological survey it says that the pipes will separate from the units . There will be explosions . There will be fire . We feel that since we are right on the boundary for the refinery, which they built in 63 twenty to thirty years after our homes were built, we will be the recipients of all of the explosions, all of the fires and we need them to not be there though we need a buffer zone at the very minimum thing. They are addressing a buffer zone in the EIr and they' re saying that it can be a concrete wall along with a very small earthen thing. This isn' t sufficient . The concrete will all be sitting on the pipes which are sitting on our fencelines . Great big huge 36, 24 inch pipes with 2400 pounds of pressure on them that have hot petroleum going through them. We feel if these do explode that the concrete will be thrown into our backyards through our patio doors into our homes . That' s serious . That cannot be . We have to address it more in a 50 foot or something like that earthen bound excuse me berm that will actually with the pipes being set behind that and it will actually buffer part of the explosion from our homes and you know to think that we refit our bridges, we refit everything that we have buildings to go with the idea that this earthquake will happen and yet we are retrofitting something that' s in our backyard or removing it is it' s unconsciousnable and I can' t say enough about the fear in the community. I feel responsible that something greater hasn' t been done than it has because I went to meeting after meeting with the community and said Oh Please let' s just let the system work for us . Let' s no sue . That isn' t the answer. That' s just money in a lawyer' s pocket . Let' s let the system work. Well, the system isn' t working because we' re still dealing with the fact that things like the buffer zone are not sufficient to protect us . The pipes are not being addressed to be removed behind earthen berms . I mean stink is one thing but that is nothing to us . We' re actually concerned with our livelihoods, with our lives being threatened from this facility being so close . The CEQA says that everything else that is being done can have extra property that you can demand that they move but with refineries this is not applicable. We cannot demand that they move back to a safe distance . With property like from the old powder plant . That would get it away from us . All we would get would be the stink. We wouldn' t get the fall out . We wouldn' t get the oil that comes down on our heads . Our school has been closed. Oil droplets all over our children' s arms when they' re out in recess . Children with asthma. Myself with asthma. These things are something that we just feel that it' s much greater than uncomfortable stink that comes from two miles away. It is on our heads and we feel that you must, must do a health study for us . You must please, please put in comments of the health risk to us . Thank you very much. Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you for your comments . The last speaker I have on this is Ralph Edwards from Pacific Refining Company. Ralph Edwards : Good morning Chairman Torlakson, members of the Board, my name is Ralph Edwards with Pacific Refining Company. Just a couple of brief statements . Maybe some of you have seen a recent flyer that was put out by CBE relative to our proposed project . You may have noted in that flyer CBE even stated that the situation has improved. Air quality has improved in Rodeo over the past three years which reflects in the fact that we have gone above and beyond and will continue to go above and beyond to improve the operations of our facility. I think the City of Hercules is the lead agency on the EIR. That' s their shot . They call it . They run it but we've gone and asked to meet with the community of Rodeo and Hercules to discuss what their concerns are . What can we do. I mean I' ll stand right here today and look at Dorris Reese and say if I relocate those pipes across the street will you support my project . If this is your concern, we' ll relocate it but I want your support . I mean we can' t go on. I say we' ll. do this and you come back with something else . I listen to Dorris today. I listen to everyone else today. I listen to these mis statements about oil droplets on the school, the school closing because of the refinery so it' s inferred. That' s not true . That' s an exaggeration of the fact . We are prepared to sit down with the folks of Rodeo and of Hercules and work this out if they' re willing to sit down with us but we haven' t found anyone over there yet willing to sit down and honestly discuss with us . I mean what we hear is shutdown. Well we' re not going to shut down. You know, we' re trying our darndest to stay alive and survive . We' re not going to give it up but if that' s their point that we have to close then no we' re not going to reach any settlement . We' re not going to reach any agreement because we' re not going to agree to that . I mean we' re willing to work with you come up with some resolution but let' s be honest let' s be fair about it and let' s be above board about it . Thank you. Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you, Ralph. There is a question from Supervisor Bishop. Supervisor Bishop: I believe Miss Reese used that number and I probably should have asked her about it but she talked about Pacific Refining and 38 percent more violations . Could you respond to that . Mr. Edwards : I don' t know where the number came from. I could probably get hold of the air board and find out what their numbers are and either confirm or deny it but just off the top of my head, I really don' t have an answer to that Gayle . I mean I will admit that well no in fact even the recent numbers in the EIR reflect I don' t recall what they were but somewhere in the EIR they talk about a percentage of complaints in Contra Costa County but I can' t maybe there' s a copy in there . Supervisor Bishop : She used the nine Bay Area Counties . She used that as . . . Mr. Edwards : I think what' s in the EIR is just Contra Costa County if I'm not mistaken. It' s somewhere in there but I don' t recall what it is . Supervisor Torlakson: Thank you. Appreciate everybody' s comments on this item. Supervisor Smith. Supervisor Smith: Well, actually, I think the root of the problem goes back to things that we don' t directly have control over, the fact that this refinery is placed right on the border of Hercules right next to a community and that the refinery really was designed initially as a sort of skimming operation for high quality crude to make a quick buck, that was before the current owners owned it and obviously there is now a mandate to move ahead with the clean fuels project but I have reviewed the EIR myself and I freely admit I am not an expert in the subject but from my understanding of the EIR and the concerns of the people in the community, there are a number of deficiencies and particularly what strikes me as being a real problem is there is not a focus on directed host community mitigation. A number of the issues that are brought up a number of the impacts that are brought up, the mitigations are addressed but they' re not focused on the community of Rodeo and the particular impacts will be there . So, what I would like to see the Board do is authorize and direct the staff of Community Development to comment on all the deficiencies which they have noted and to focus their comments on host community mitigation related to Rodeo and any impacts or further problems that they can identify that could be mitigated should be commented on. I would also like to see us authorized Health Services Department to proceed with a health risk assessment in the community of Rodeo because in many ways we are operating blind in the sense that- we don' t have our own investigation, our own studies of what the risks are there if any and I know personally I am greatly concerned by what I heard from community members but I don' t have the fact and figures there at my fingertips and i think that we should ask Health services Department to come up with those facts and figures so that we can more adequately address the concerns of the people of Rodeo. So, I would make that motion of those two parts and ask the Community Development to keep us further appraised of any future events and as this application proceeds through the process and the third issue that I would like address is that it' s been brought up in a 4. number of different forums that we might proceed better if there was a group convened of representatives from the City, the County and the Community and the industry to try to work through some of these mitigation issues and I would be happy to do that if it was the Board' s desire . I have a few concerns about that issue and specifically the concerns are that I think we need to start from the same basic understanding that we need to investigate all of the potential problems involved and if we were to convene such a group we need to understand that we don' t have a designated goal . Specifically, we' re not there to come up with mitigations for a project that we' re presuming is going to occur but rather that we want to investigate the potential problems and impacts that are there and also I think we would need to have the commitment from the City of Hercules for the County to be involved because I know I 've mentioned this in the past to the City and City representatives and they have been thoroughly negative about the idea of getting the County involved in such a group. so, two actions suggested and one other issue for us to discuss . Supervisor Powers : Mr. Chairman, I would be glad to second the motion. I think that the one thing that stands out is that somehow the health risk assessment has to be paid for and I would assume that that would be a part of perhaps a sit down with the County and the community and perhaps Pacific Refinery to try to work that out and the City yes . The . . . Supervisor Smith: There also might be money from their inspection fees that project inspection program that we just implemented. Supervisor Powers : Okay, without committing to a particular budget amount, I think the idea of having that health risk done is excellent . Sunne and I of course have been working on this a long time and I think Sunne even more than I and I think she may have some light on it as well but what I found is it' s really, this refinery has the most difficult task of all and that is because it is close to the backyards of people and the operating procedures that have historically occurred in the refinery have resulted in a lot of fines and have resulted in a lot of mistakes . I do think the company that now operates it is committed to being a good neighbor and I really think that you have to give them the credit for doing that . We have been monitoring them at the Air Board and have made major commitments to improving the problems that the community desired to be improved. Flares systems and a whole series of about 22 million dollars worth of improvements and there was a negotiation that came together between representatives of the community, the attorneys, the pipe trades, the refinery and the Air Board blessed that and somewhere after that I don' t know what happened internally with the company that it decided maybe not to go forward or at least it stalled that going forward but we may not have the power to stop this . I think that needs to be underscored. We could if we could recreate the situation, we would not recreate the refinery in the location it' s in. I think that' s a conclusion that almost everybody would reach but the fact is that they are legitimately going forward with an application process that is going to be reviewed by the City of Hercules and it is very possible that it will be passed and it will be legally established. I think given that risk that people have to understand that there is if there are problems, we need to sit down and work em out and do the best we can in that process and I wholeheartedly support the community and the refinery representatives, the City and the County to get together to try to do that . I do not think it' s right to throw the glove down at this point and say we' re going to stop you at all costs because we may not be able to do that and so some process is worthy of consideration and likewise to have our staff point out the issues that they've found we' re deficient including the health staff which Dorris has given us reports for so I would support what Jeff has said without committing any money out of the County' s General Fund. Supervisor Torlakson: Yes, as I understand the motion is to explore the feasibility and get a report back on the cost and timing and issues and some of those issues may be resolved in part of the response in the EIR too. I mean some of those health risk issues are an analyses that the Air Board other agencies go through in terms of issuing their permits . Other comments from the Board, Supervisor McPeak. Supervisor McPeak: Mr. Chair, there is a longer history than anybody wants to recall . We do have a current agreement among all the parties that Tom has outlined and we had to separate that out from any modernization. In 1990, there had been an agreement a consent order that the Board Air Quality Management District entered into with Pacific Refining giving an opportunity for Pacific Refining to if they could go through the approval process with Hercules to combine the improvements that were needed for safety and odor modification or minimization to be coupled with their modernization project . Well we got down to the wire and Pacific Refining wasn' t able to meet that deadline so they were uncoupled. Now, what we have is an agreement about the tanks along the fence line which we discovered in all of this turn out to be a major source of odor and had not been identified by the Fleur Corporation in 1985 and we started this in 1986 and that' s a major problem. We also added what we call the big ticket items, the flare gas, the sulphur recovery unit and the wastewater treatment plant, those things are what we call big ticket items and were to be done by Pacific Refining. Then they shut down the refinery. Now, we' re back into quite honestly trying to figure out if there' s modernization but the refinery' s still in operation as far as I'm concerned, the agreement with the Air District goes forward no matter what . In terms of the modernization, the motion on the floor, I do support it with the direction that I think' s been given by Mr. Powers and that is that we look for a funding source on the health risk study or the health assessment study other than the County General Fund. And that ' s the kind of comment that should be in our comments on the EIR, requiring that Hercules require that to be done and etc . and etc . and then we could sit down with them. On the last item, the County is first in the business of protecting public health and we've got that responsibility throughout the County including Rodeo. We are also interested in retaining jobs and an industrial base . So, we' re in the vise and I've not seen the same kind of interest on behalf of any other agency except air quality management district to do something about the community of Rodeo. Hercules has not chosen at this point as lead agency to convene everybody in the room. That is what should be done by a lead agency but since they won' t, I think the Countyhas to because of the public health issues and we' re also interested in the industry and the job issues . I personally don' t think that should be done by the two of us who represent you on the air district . We've got our battles at the air district and responsibilities and we've got the agreement with Pacific Refining and Rodeo community and the pipe trades and the district that we' re trying to implement and so I do come down on the side of trying to take advantage of Jeff' s leadership and ask that he convene that kind of a dialogue . If the City of Hercules chooses not to participate, there' s not anything we can do. But I do believe that there are council members who will see the benefit of thiskind of a dialogue . We hope this isn' t as difficult as some of the other consensus processes we've been through in Rodeo but it probably will be . It should be it' ll be as challenging as helicopter issues I promise . And what we find is it does take time though. I think Lynn would agree that RCA will sit down and it takes several months to work through all the issues but it' s better to start now than to wait till later and if we don' t do it somebody' s going to walk in this room and say either support or oppose the project and we' re going to say we don' t we can' t support it the way it is, we might be able to support it if things were changed and then we are still going to be faced with the long arduous task of what things should be changed. Supervisor Powers : Right . Supervisor Torlakson: Well, all good comments . And I think by themotion, we' re asking Jeff as the District Supervisor to further explore and pull together meetings to discuss the idea of a group that would work through some of these issues . I think comments have been beneficial in looking at the issues that need to be further addressed but also underscoring that we have a company here that is providing employment, is looking to invest a lot of money in the County to sustain future employment and be part of the economic base of Contra Costa County. We have lands that area zoned industrial and set up as the place where these kind of activities take place . It' s unfortunate historically where some of these industrial areas are located that we have residential communities right adjacent . We have to work sensitively as I think this motion asks us to work sensitively with those residential communities . So, I think the improvements that Pacific Refining has accomplished in the last few years just need to be continued and there is good will and good faith there to be drawn on by the community in a dialogue as Supervisor Smith has outlined, so with all that understood, are we ready to vote . Anything further Jeff you' d like to say on the motion? all in favor say aye . any opposed. any abstaining. That passes 5-0 . WE thank everyone that' s been here on this item. PACI FIC REFI N I NG COM PANY A Joint Venture of Sinochem and The Coastal Corporation Subsidiaries OPEN LETTER TO PACIFIC'S NEIGHBORS Dear Neighbor: Recently you may have received an open letter and a notice from the Rodeo Citizens Association ("RCA"), concerning Pacific Refining Company. Pacific understands the questions and concerns that some of our neighbors may have about the refinery's current operations and our plans for the future. We want you to have accurate information so that you can form a knowledgeable opinion about us. There are many inaccuracies in the open letter and notice. However, it is a fact that Pacific Refining Company does not plan to close down permanently. On April 27th, Pacific announced a plan to suspend refining operations at the end of June. This plan was based primarily on poor economic conditions in our industry and financial losses over a two year period. I am pleased that we subsequently signed a product sale agreement which enabled Pacific to continue refining operations with better financial results. The April 27th announcement also emphasized our intention to complete the permitting process for our proposed modification project. Federal and state regulations require that Pacific and other California refiners produce cleaner, reformulated fuels. We must modify our plant in order to make these fuels. During the past several years, Pacific has worked very hard to improve our operating record and establish cooperative working relationships with the communities of Hercules and Rodeo. We believe that it is essential for us to continue focusing on these priorities, both now and in future years. As stated in the RCA notice, "the quality of the air in Rodeo has improved over the last three years." I want you to know that Pacific and its employees have been dedicated to this goal, and we are pleased that improvements have been noted. Pacific's objective is to continue operating our facility in a safe, clean and reliable manner. We want to keep all our people employed and continue our contributions to the economic well-being of the local communities. We currently employ more than 200 people in California and our business activities generate another 400 to 600 jobs. You should be aware of the following facts. The Improved Fuels Modification Project was announced 3 years ago and the original design has not been altered. The project is important because the reformulated fuels produced by Pacific will provide significant environmental benefits locally and throughout California. Local employment opportunities and financial benefits will also result from the project. • Use of Pacific's cleaner fuels will result in cleaner air for the Bay Area. • The project incorporates equipment, technologies and programs which are more stringent than current Air District requirements. The potential for odors will be reduced. • Between 600 and 800 new, temporary construction jobs will be created by the project. The modified refinery will need about 80 new, full-time, permanent employees. These new jobs will provide employment opportunities for area crafts people, including local residents. 180 EAST OCEAN BOULEVARD,SUITE 800 4901 SAN PABLO AVENUE LONG BEACH CA 90802 HERCULES,CA 94547 (310)499-4400 (510)799-8000 FAX(310)499-4433 FAX(510).799-8042 TLX 3736300 TLX 910-482-5481 .I r- • Construction of the project will result in $70 to $100 million in local wages and benefits. • Once operational, the modified refinery's purchases of local services and materials are expected to increase by about $13 million, to a total of $25 million annually. Local property and utility tax revenues will also increase by $6.5 million annually. • The project will improve overall plant reliability and add safety features. Obtaining permits for the modification project and continuation of refining operations will also help ensure Pacific's ability to continue its community support programs. We take pride in the success of our community programs, particularly the annual Senior Health Fair. Pacific Refining Company wants you to get involved in the project permitting process. A public hearing on the project's Environmental Impact Report is scheduled for Monday, September 27, 1993 at 7:30 p.m. at the Hercules City Council Chambers, located at 111 Civic Drive, Hercules, CA. Bring your questions and concerns. We want you to know the facts about our company and the Project, including its potential impacts and benefits. I look forward to seeing you there. Sincerely, ENIC111H 1Chairman& Chief Executive Officer COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER Volume 7,Number 2 PACIFIC August 1993 P N REFINI NGC. O:m A. Y A JOINT VENTURE OF SINOCHEM AND THE COASTAL CORPORATION SUBSIDIARIES PRC Announces Susension • p of • EIR-Update Crude OSI• Then Wins The second draft of the Environmental Contract to Produce impact Report(EIR)issued for Pacific Refining Company's Improved Fuels Asphalt Flux Modification Project was issued on July 23 for public comment by the City of Hercules.Hercules is the lead agency for the project under the California Pcif'ic Environmental Quality Act(CEQA). Refining Company,which Written comments on the draft EIR announced plans to suspend crude oil will be accepted by the City of Her- operations at the Hercules refinery in cules until 5:00 p.m.on September 15, June,will temporarily produce an 1993.A hearing to enable the public to ingredient for an asphalt manufacturer. comment on the draft EIR is scheduled Pacific believes it can capture a for September 14,1993. A final EIR unique corner of the petroleum will then be developed and voted on market by converting about for certification.The City of Hercules, one-third of its fuel oil pro- the Bay Area Air Quality Management duction to asphalt flux, District and other relevant public .used in making asphalt roofing and agencies will subsequently use the paving materials. It will also realize a ation, product distribution terminals, certified EIR as the basis for considering savings by shipping the additional as- blending, rack marketing and interna- Pacific's permit applications. phalt flux by truck versus the cost of tional operations will continue. The Major permits being sought by transporting fuel oil by vessel. company plans to serve its customers Pacific area"Conditional Use Permit" Sluggish economic conditions in the through its existing supply and disfribu- from the City of Hercules and the refining industry and the large additional tion infrastructure, including wharfs,rack "Authority to Construct'from the Bay investment that would be required to terminals and blending facilities. Area Air Quality Management District. produce new fuels mandated by federal Ralph Edwards, director of Environmen- Related to this,an Improved Fuels and state laws forced Pacific Refining to fal and External Affairs; said the asphalt Modification Project labor agreement announce the decision in late April that it flux contract is to run through Oct. 31, has been ratified by both Pacific and would suspend crude oil processing when construction projects typically wrap the Contra Costa Building Trades. operations. up for the winter. At that time, Pacific has "A number of business factors, includ- the option to shut down the refinery and ing narrow margins which have plagued turn it into a terminal for products refinedS1 ln� *de the refining industry in recent years and by others. Efforts to identify other oppor- the deteriorating business climate in tunities will continue, he said. e California, combined to make suspen- Pacific will continue with its plans Margaret � � Sion of operations the only prudent for a plant modification project which Home ' lay course of action for our company,"said would allow it to produce cleaner- Rodeo,-Crockett Joseph E.Sparano, chief executive officer burning gasoline and dieselfuelin of Pacific Refining. compliance with state and federal Bob Pacific's announcement indicated that regulations that are to take effect in theCommunityoPanel with any suspension of its refining oper- the next three years. 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I xa x Y. .... .oat�..:n. ...:..::'.;.:,... t/ �s�::£&F!..si »:5,3ta• ,�`. a'��'.L�'^` �o;+N2�i3%A'�r ...E Z r .......... ............ yL ' Ya £ x••;I•:;4st;x• .Eax* ,t$4 or , YL . .: ..R.::..>.... ,L:::,,..c,.:. ...x.:.:..w'a'. ..,.,..�,:�.,5¢'"':.:?•::r:'.t:,:::.;.. .,.. 3;.. I j!, r Wr, I wR' ........ ......... y+. R E! i a r , .::.....:: r �p gib, z L.a„ n$Ou�io r .R ; ..r ter.. ygc I aur:r �o•i.:o:" cR kn}.1 A. x.: :,.r�:5::!:.,":n._':':''ti".. OIL ' a: Margaret Cheveres, loss control supervisor at Pacific,also coaches refinery's so the softball and volleyball teams . 5k .w5. family. Everyone works together for the same thing." Albert Cheveres played shortstop and pitcher on a division-winning While her work is important,her son, Pinole Hercules Little League team _ Albert, 11,takes precedence in Cheveres' ife. As a single mother,she has al I the ? responsibility.for her son,as well as all the half inch influenced Margaret the state. I thought why not. III try it. pleasure. Her face lights up when she Cheveres life and career.That fraction Operations technicians are the people speaks of him. was a loss to law enforcement, but it was who really run the plant, she said. "I "We have a very close relationship.We a definite gain for Pacific Refining Com- had to learn the process flow. Without talk and play sports. I think that has created pany. knowing that,you dont know where the a special bond,too. Sometimes,we re- Cheveres is a loss control supervisor at product goes." verse roles,"said Cheveres. "We're able to Pacific,where she coaches the refinery's Cheveres has held several positions at talk and relate to each other." softball and volleyball teams. She is also Pacific, including terminal supervisor She admits to being very protective. .active in the community as a coach of her responsible for loss control and hazard- "I'm trying to let him grow more,to give son's Little League baseball and soccer ous waste, and safety supervisor. The him more room. He's been in the Hon- teams. loss control department,which she now or Society for the past three years,"she Cheveres had considered law enforce- _ announces proudly,then follows that merit before-starting-at'Pacific 16 1/2 years-- news with the fact that his soccer team, ago. She was working as a secu rity guard o Terminators 2,took first place in the to pay her way through Cal iforn is State • , o o o ' o West Contra Costa Youth Soccer University at Hayward,where she was o o League. Coincidentally, she is one of taking Physical Education and Criminal the coaches. Justice classes. "I really considered be- Albert play's shortstopand itches in coming a police officer, but when I took o � o � ' o p y p the Pinole-Hercules Little League, on the the physical exam, I was one-half inch too West Coast FAB-sponsored team. The short for the minimum of 5-feet-7." team won first lace in its division with p She so impressed her supervisors at the supervises,oversees the loading and a 13-3-2 record, and participated in the security firm she was offered a job as unloading of vessels to ensure there is Tournament of Champions in Alameda, -regional manager. But it meant going to no loss to the company. We make sure but was eliminated in the second round. another state, a move Cheveres was-not we get what we're paying for, such as A coach for the past two years, i ncl i'ned to make. not paying for the water in the crude," Cheveres was proud of the team. There Cheveres was also noticed at Pacific. she explained. are some excellent players on the team. There was an opening for an operations She prefers working at a smaller, The all worked ver hard and real �technicia.n. I was offered the job. The independent refinery like Pacific. "I like y y Y deserved winning the division. pay was good and I didn't want.to leave working at a small plant. Everyone knows each other. We're one big I PACIFIC REFINING COMPANY,COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 7, NUMBER 2 ommunity Ado eo- roc e Paneleac on ut Bo s its u . tOur ighborsoe Haven in an erIN g:g:0: SM 1:0 ............ of Closing .s=y y Industries throughout Contra Costa are reaching out to their communities through , �,E,, Community Advisory Panels ...... �............. .\..:..,fes.. .......r ....::....:..:..::... Member companies o the Chemical Man ..... ufacturers Association(CMA)are involved , ,. �u� , . ::... .. in n initiativeII Responsible an,yAa a called Care Steve Ratto director of the Bos&Girls Th hal a:, ,,�:,• ::_.:_: � e h behind Responsible r i 1 ,a ;��s; : Y philosophy be d Ca e s p Y p I minbranch l in Martinez. s ub a oat Cc ed iml •whnin ...:....:::. simple: e industry an communities 1.2ANY p rY ...:..:.... work together to address mutual concerns ..:::.:.:.. t. they realize mutual benefits. .::.::1:;;.;::.i.:::•F:.::::::.F:'::..,..... `b.,: x. ::x, $..::ha.,.w,+„!:..r:F::::::.::'�:'i,\3.,;::•..: ::.:.::..::::ar>.:zf::::::;,....;..:,.,x:.:::;:: ..: . .........:...........:.::.:.. its fundingfrom its annual fall campaign. 40 :... ........... . ............ e] z, , Monies from the campaign are then alto "The benefits of working ..:::...... Q cat to member aencies. together11efully, result , a;s a;;nf _ "All l h agencies k n the a e c es too between a 35% ry� g 3.. q O in a better re ationship /O cut-int eir undin and w i e we (with Pacific) and a better have a secured amount of dollars from the place to live," remarked Rodeo, ,., HousingAuthority, it s not enough,"said ,aft. ::•`... r.::.. Ratto. „�: pp Pacific Refining Company is a strong and Rosemary Lindberg, Rodeo-Crockett Boys& committed supporter of the Boys&Girls Girls Club branch director and fifteen-year- Club. Bill Kloeblen,director of Employee The overall purpose of all CAPS is to old Mark Gatdula 1993 Youth of the Year. Relations, is on the Club's Board of Dir- serve as a Iiaison.between the facility and ectors which meets monthly to discuss fund the community,but a recent study revealed raising activities and review potential pro- they accomplish much more. The study jests and programs for the Club. conducted by the Wirthin Group included The two children stood by the doorway. The Rodeo-Crockett branch offers vari- 252 CAP members from 43 panels and 17 The oldest read aloud the sign taped to the ous recreational activities. It also runs states. The findings of the study indicated window: Starting July 6,we will only be /Smart Moves"which counsels and uses that 95 percent of the members say they are open two-and-a-half days a week." role playing to help "Why v hin w lik taken. p y g p young people deal with satisfied with participation on these forums. y does e eryt g e e get tae peer pressure and avoiding involvement in Three mayor reasons cited for their satisfac- away from us?"asked the little one. The drugs and sex. tion are: oldest shrugged his shoulders,took the "These are confidential small group ses- • CAPs provide an opportunity to be small child by the hand,and they trudged sions managed by specially trained coun- active in the community. across the parking lot toward an empty play selors. The target age for the program was • CAP members are encouraged to yard. 13;but,we have identified children as make recommendations in areas of For the past four years the Rodeo- young as nine-years-old who are at high community involvement. Crockett Boys and Girls Club,located at#2 risk and need intervention now, remarked •CAP members are satisfied with the ..California Street in Rodeo,has provided a Rosemary Lindberg,branch director for the programs responsiveness to needs, safe,supervised haven for young boys and past six years. questions,and concerns of the girls to gather, learn,and play. 'It's un- Mark Gatdula, 15,voted 1993 Youth of community. fortunate,but lack of funding has�resulted the Year of the Rodeo-Crockett branch, Pacific RefiningCompany established its i n.cutting back on the days it's open," p y says the Boys&Girls offers much Community Advisory Panel in February explained Steve Ratto,executive director of more than diversion. To some of these kids 1991-among the first industries in Contra the Boys&Girls Club main branch in it's the only place they can find structure, Costa County to do so. Membership is Martinez. discipline and a feeling of family.The best broad-based and is composed of people The West County facility is a branch of thing about being a part of the Boys&Girls from the community, including critics of the Boys&Girls Club of Martinez,Inc., Club is that I can help others." industry,who either work or live in Rodeo and shares its resources. We are facing a: Donations can be made out to: The and Hercules..Panel members were said. 0 shortfall for 1993,and 1994, he Girls and Boys Club of Rodeo and mailed selected from a pool of names generated b said. Y g Y to 1301 Alhambra Ave.Martinez,CA a core group of civic and community Accord i ng to Ratto,the U n ited Way gets 94553. leaders. (Continued on back page)