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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07191994 - H.A t� H.A THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA DATE: July 19, 1994 MATTER OF RECORD SUBJECT:Antioch, Dupont Chemical Co. Safety Award On the above date the Board PRESENTED a Safety Award to DuPont Chemical Co. , for the use of the Toxic materials Standards Manuals. THIS IS A MATTER FOR RECORD PURPOSES ONLY NO BOARD ACTION TAKEN \I CONTRA COSTA COUNTY July 19, 1994 RECEIVED Contacts: JUL I INA Marice Ashe; Hazardous Materials Commission regarding the award process (510) 370-5022 OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR m(Brian Coleman; DuPont Environmental Manager -- . ��-�--- regarding details of the Toxic Safety Manuals (510) 799-6260 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DuPont Wins Award for Toxic Safety Manuals The Hazardous Materials Interagency Task Force (HIT) presented a safety award to DuPont's Antioch facility for the Toxic Materials Standards Manuals used at the facility to increase public health and safety. The award is the first of such awards HIT will grant for exemplary programs that promote community safety and reduce pollution. The award will be presented to Evelyn Williams, DuPont's plant manager, at the Board of Supervisors meeting on July 19th by Dr. William Walker, County Health Officer. "The Toxic Materials Standards Manuals are the most comprehensive health and safety information ever compiled by an industry to improve facility operations", Dr. Walker stated. "The manuals not only address the proper management of acutely hazardous materials, but also require the facility to go beyond regulatory requirements and install extensive engineering systems to ensure that accidents are prevented. It is this commitment to prevention that we want to acknowledge and encourage in all industries in the county." The Toxic Materials Standards Manuals are in-depth compendiums of analytical and practical information regarding the Acutely Hazardous Materials (AHMs) used at the DuPont facility: chlorine, hydrogen fluoride and titanium tetrachloride. The manuals address topics such as: employee training, protection from accidental release, loading/unloading from railcars, leak detection, fume containment, and much more. (See the attached Table of Contents from the Chlorine manual for a complete listing of subject areas covered). The manuals were first developed in 1989 and are updated at least every 3 years. The manuals are particularly impressive because they are utilized in every aspect of the facility's management. They are located in every control room throughout the r plant. Each operator knows how to use them and consult with them on a routine basis. In addition, DuPont has gone far beyond what is required under regulations to provide for community safety. Within the last few years they have spent well in excess of $6 million dollars in additional safety devices - and this is a relatively small chemical plant by Contra Costa standards. Safety improvements have included: sensors throughout the facility that automatically shut down plant operations in case of a leak; a scrubber system that captures even the smallest releases for neutralization and ultimate legal discharge into the municipal water system; the upgrading of every pipe, gasket and valve to meet greater pressure standards and x-ray tests. Nominations for the award were solicited from local industries, community organizations, Community Advisory Panels, and the Hazardous Materials Commission. An awards committee was formed consisting of representatives from the Health Services Department, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the Regional Water Quality Control Board, the State Fire Marshall, the Sierra Club - Delta Chapter and Citizens for a Safe Environment. The awards committee reviewed all the nominations and unanimously chose the DuPont Toxic Safety Standards Manuals for the award. The criteria used by the awards committee were: o the project should focus on risk reduction o the project should have had its genesis in Contra Costa o the project should go beyond the norm of industrial safety practices Dr. Walker acknowledged that DuPont had an accidental release of chlorine from their Antioch facility in March which sent 10 people to the hospital. He stated that while that incident was an unfortunate event that should never have happened, the Toxic Materials Standards Manuals nonetheless deserved the award. "This industry has an excellent safety track record despite the March release. We believe the manuals have contributed to DuPont's track record in a positive fashion." Planning costs get second look 0 celed. Also, commissioners gave up Supporters contest their meeting stipends a couple of years ago. estimates are red herring His cost figures include the hourly salary breakdown for staff Lewis members who attend meetings.Two 13y Chris senior planners, a recording secre- ST'4C WR(rER tary (who is paid overtime) and, on The San Ramon Valley.Regional occasion, a staff member from the Planning Commission' ;,cost the Public Works Department are sent. county$7,000 last year_a far cry Mileage from Martinez to Dan- from the $37,000 that has been ville, where the meetings are tradi- tossed out recently as county off,- tionally held,is also included. rials prepare to disband it. In the early days of the commis- But even the $7,000 cost—tal- sion, development fees were used to lied by Harvey Bragdon, director of pay its costs, but Bragdon said the Contra Costa County Commu- building industry officials objected nity Development Department and the board adopted a policy to — raises skepticism among com- use general fund revenues. missioners,.who see the budgetary Bragdon said he still plans to concerns as a false motive. send a planner—in the capacity of "The only real savings in terms the zoning administrator — to the of time and money is staff no longer valley on weekday nights. to hear has to put up with outside, indepen. and record testimony on projects. dent thinking," said Victoria Nai- Naidorf and others commis- dorf, who has been on the seven- sioners — including Cynthia Jones member panel for five years. of San Ramon — agree with Super- Naidorf's frustration and anger is visor Gayle Bishop that cost is not a typical of many civic leaders in the factor. They argue the commission San Ramon, Danville, Alamo and does not need a recording secretary. Blackhawk area who have depended They also say very often there's only on the commission as the commu- one planner at their meetings, not nity's voice on planning matters in two as Bragdon claims. the unincorporated areas. Bragdon says a full staff is nec- Supervisors last week voted 4-1 essary for the commission because to sunset the commission in Oc- more people' are making demands tober, keeping open the likelihood on the staff for information and that things could change if the guidance. The commissioners con- budget situation improves. tend the public will demand the The panel was set up in 1977 to same information if a planner was spare valley residents a trip to Mar- sent alone to conduct hearings. tinez to express their views on de- Naidorf disputes Bragdon's fig- velopment. Its input has been ures, but says even if they are right; sought on everything from five-lot the commission is well worth the subdivisions to the development of money— including the $15,000 to: the massive Bishop Ranch Business meet once a month. Park. She and other valley officials Planners and some supervisors point out that the county has eroded have argued that the growth and de- the commission's responsibilities, velopment boom that made the starting with taking away decisions commission so valuable in the on subdivisions of less than 100 1970s and 1980s has slowed so units. much that the work is not enough to When the general plan amend- justify its continued existence. ment for the 11,000-home Doug, As the county faces another crit herty Valley project came up for ical budget year, every committee review, the county Planning Com- that is not mandatory has been mission was given primary advisory scrutinized. Bragdon said the com- authority because of its regional x mission, while valuable, is not re- perspective. quired by law. - The valley commission held hear- a "I have no bone to pick with ings and made a recommendation, r them. They just have no work to anyway. They voted against the de-. do," said Supervisor Tom Powers, velopment, which was approved by who favored abolishing the .panel. the county commission and board. During last Tuesday's meeting, he The next large development is. mentioned the county could save the 6,200-unit Tassajara Valley pro- $37,000 a year. ject. But the general plan matters: Bragdon explained later the will likely bypass the commission;. i $37,000 was logged a couple of Powers said. He said the county will years ago when the commission had continue to work with Danville and• i just started on its reduction in work- San Ramon council representatives load, in those days usually not who have been dealing with the meeting less than twice a month. board on the Dougherty Valley pro'- When ro- When it started meeting once a jest. month, the cost was about $15,000 "They don't want us to exist; a year. But in the past year, he said, that's the real issue here and the the cost dipped to $7,000 because rest is a smokescreen," Naidorf about half the meetings were can- said.