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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 10011985 - 2.3 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, -CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on October 1 , 1985 , by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers , Schroder , McPeak , Torlakson , Fanden NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- SUBJECT: Toxic Emissions from Shell Refinery The Board received a letter dated September 30, 1985 from Phil Batchelor , County Administrator , transmitting a report prepared by the Personnel Department (attached hereto) on the actions that have been taken by Shell Oil Company to reduce the exposure of County employees to air emissions from the adjacent Shell refinery. Mr . Batchelor advised that Shell Oil Company would be asked to reimburse the County for all costs involved in the previous inci- dents , including monitoring equipment installed on County property as well as lost time incurred by employees. He also noted that the Manager of the Refinery would be asked to describe in writing what actions the refinery is taking to protect members of the general public who reside in the immediate area of the refinery. He stated that a further report would be made to the Board when replies have been received from Shell Oil Company. Supervisor Nancy Fanden suggested that the Shell monitors be used as a model for all refineries in Contra Costa County. Henry Clarke , General Manager , Public Employees Association, Local 1 , asked for asurance that such leave charged to County employees resulting from the incidents would be reimbursed , and suggested establishment of a safety committee in which his union members could be involved . IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that receipt of the reports from the County Administrator and Personnel Department are ACKNOWLEDGED. CC: Personnel Director Health Services Director Environmental Health Services Public Works Director Office of Emergency Services County Administrator I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors own the date shown. , ATTESTED: L "' /!9'rs-- PHIL BATCHELOR, Clerk of the Board of Supervisors and County Administrator By Deputy Ah 3 Contra Personnel Department Ad.minist at on Bldg. COS}�l 651 P;nF Sheet County Marwie: Crl,fornia 94553 1292 ��// DATE: September 30, 1985 TO: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator FROM: Harry D. Cisterman, Director of Personnel BY: William G. Ray, Supervising Personnel Analyst SUBJECT: Actions Taken to Reduce the Exposure of Employees to Air Emissions From the Shell Refinery In accordance with your request, my staff has reviewed the steps that have been taken to date to minimize the potential exposure of County employees to accidental releases of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur Dioxide (S02) gases from the Shell Refinery. The information provided below was obtained from personnel in the Public Works Department, Health Services Department and Shell Refinery who have been involved in addressing the air emission problem. On July 19, 1985, the Public Works Director implemented a procedure to be followed in evacuating the Shell Avenue Corporation Yard in the event of an accidental chemical release. This procedure has been subsequently modified and the depart- ment will be distributing the revised procedure to employees in approximately a week. Under the new procedure any employee who detects odorous and/or noxious gases may alert the rest of the personnel in the Corporation Yard by means of an alarm system that has been recently installed. The system has fourteen (14) "pull switches" that have been placed at strategic locations throughout the Corporation Yard so that they are readily accessable to employees. There are six (6) sirens which have also been placed at various locations so that they can be heard by all personnel working at the Yard. The system has been tested and employees have been advised that it is fully operational and that it is to be used if an air emission, occurs. If the alarm is sounded, all staff are instructed to evacuate the premises immediately. The Public Works Department will be providing training to its employees and drills will be conducted to insure that everyone understands the new evacuation procedure. The drills will also serve to test the procedure and determine if any modifications are necessary. In addition to the installation of an alarm system, the 911 emergency telephone number will be used to help insure a timely response if there is an accidental release of hazardous gases. When a 911 call is made the fire district will be notified. In addition a Deputy Sheriff may also be dispatched to the scene and an ambulance if needed. Other agencies to be notified include Environmental Health and the Office of Emergency Services. In order to make sure that no staff are left at the Corporation Yard in the event of an evacuation, a Target Information Program (TIP) has been prepared by the Consolidated Fire District. Under this Program the Fire District has been a/� -2- 3 given a drawing showing the location of all buildings at the Corporation Yard. Fire Station No. 12 in Martinez could respond to the Corporation Yard within one and one-half minutes after receiving a call . The Fire District's primary mission will be to make a complete search of all buildings on the premises for persons who may be injured or overcome by gas. In a joint effort, the Public Works Department and Shell have installed a direct telephone "hotline" between the Shell Refinery and the Corporation Yard. If an accidental air emission occurs, Shell personnel are to use the hotline to notify staff at the Corporation Yard. The telephone is activated without the need to enter a number when it is picked up at either Shell or the Corporation Yard. The installation of wind socks is another step being taken by Public Works to help minimize the exposure of employees to accidental releases of hazardous gases. Wind socks have been purchased by the department and they will be located so that employees will be able to tell visually which way the wind is blowing. This is intended to assist employees in moving away from an air emission. The Health Services Department has completed a study of equipment that is currently available for detecting the release of H2S and S02 gases. In conducting the study, Jim Obermiller, Occupational Health Specialist, reviewed literature on several types of equipment available and met with representatives of manufacturers, as well as government agencies who have experience in air monitoring. Based on the above review, Mr. Obermiller has compiled a list of monitoring equipment that will provide as early a detection as is technically possible given the situation at the Shell Avenue Corporation Yard. Nevertheless, he notes in his report that the equipment may or may not provide ample evacuation time for all occurrences or all situations . His report has been provided to the Public Works Department. Robert B. Farrar, Superintendent of the Martinez Manufacturing Complex has indicated that the Shell Oil Company has initiated several plant and procedural modifications in order to reduce the possibility of solvent escaping from its Edeleanu Lube Processing Plant. In addition, he states that Shell has made personnel changes and installed monitoring devices to help insure that County employees are alerted early in the event of a spill . According to Mr. Farrar, the following steps are being taken by Shell : 1 . An additional temporary operator has been assigned to monitor on a continuing basis for Sulfur Dioxide (S02) around the Edeleanu Lube Processing Plant. 2. Shell worked jointly with the County in installing the hotline between Shell and the Corporation Yard. 3. Shell has purchased and installed five (5) S02 sensors. These sensors were installed approximately one week ago at high risk locations on Shell property. If an S02 emission is detected the monitors initiate an alarm in the Edeleanu Plant operations room. 4. Two S02 vapor condensers have been recently replaced and all eight condensers will be replaced during October. New condensers will be more reliable and they should resolve the leakage problems with the condensers which have occurred in the past. 5. Scheduled maintenance of equipment at the Edeleanu Plant has been moved up from February 1986 to October 1985. Shell is also modifying the design of its circulating compressors which will greatly reduce the likelihood of a leak of S02- 6. An audit team has been commissioned to review operating practices, procedures and equipment at the Edeleanu Plant. The audit should be completed by the end of October and additional recommendations may be fothcoming as a result of the audit. The County will be reviewing other measures to reduce the potential exposure of employees to hazardous gases. In this regard, Dan Bergman, Assistant Health Services Director, has indicated that Shell will be requested to provide Ambient Air Monitoring sensors (in addition to what Shell has proposed) at high risk locations on both County and Shell property. The County will also be exploring the feasibility of connecting the sensors to its Corporation Yard alarm system. The above actions being taken by the County and Shell should help to significantly reduce the potential exposure of employees to hazardous gases. HDC/WGR:af 0