HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02111992 - S.1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORSS• ,,E.'6":- CQC1tC'
FROM; Tam Powers, First District Supervisor � s Costa
County
DAT£:
February,1.1 , 1992
SUBJECT: Regulations Regarding Unexpected Releases
by Petro Chemical Companies.
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
1 ) Direct the Health Department to set up mandatory notice procedures for
releases by petro chemical companies in Contra Costa County. Also, include
a notice 24 hours in advance of a proposed unit start-up.
2) Ask the BAAQMD to amend its regulations to require all regional petro chemical
companies to give notice to them and to local emergency agencies upon
discovering a release. A 24 hour notice of a unit start-up should be included
in such new regulations.
Background:
The attached report supplements our internal reports which followed the 12/5/91
Chevron, Point Richmond release.
Notice to agencies was late. This practice must be stopped because it does not
allow communities time to evacuate, if necessary.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURES
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED- OTHER
ACTION OF BOARD ON
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
!HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
UNANIMOUS{ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ATTESTED
CC;
PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD Of
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY DEPUTY
M382 (10/88)
To: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: Tom Powers, First District Supervisor �� Costa
n. S
County
DATE: February 11 , 1992
SUBJECT: Regulations Regarding Unexpected Releases
by Petro Chemical Companies.
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
Recommendation:
1 ) Direct the Health Department to set up mandatory notice procedures
for releases by petro chemical companies in Contra Costa County.
Also, include a notice 24 hours in advance of a proposed unit
start-up.
2) Ask the BAAQMD to amend its regulations to require all regional
petro chemical companies to give notice to them and to local emergency
agencies upon discovering a release. A 24 hour notice of unit
start-up should be included in such regulations.
3) Refer the above items to the Hazardous Materials Commission also.
Background:
The attached report supplements our internal reports which follow
the 12/5/91 Chevron, Point Richmond release.
Notice to agencies was late. This practice must be stopped because
it does not allow communities time to evacuate, if necessary.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATUREM:
ACTION OF BOARD ON February 20 1992 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED x OTHER x
REFERRED. this issue to the Hazardous Materials Committee.
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: County Administrator ATTESTED February 20, 1992
Health Services PHIL BATCHELOR.CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Hazardous Materials Committee SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
BY �t/' DEPUTY
M382 (10/88)
BAY AREA AIR OUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
939 ELLIS STREET
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94109
January 8, 1992
TO: CHAIRPERSON PAUL COOPER AND MEMBER OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
=ROM: AIR POLLUTION CONTROL OFFICER '
SUBJECT: PUBLIC NUISANCE CAUSED BY THE CHEVRON REFINERY
CATALYST DISCHARGE ON DECEMBER 5 AND 6, 1991
This report is to update the Board of Directors on the public nuisance caused by
the Chevron Refinery accidental catalyst discharge.
A major catalyst fallout episode occurred in Point Richmond on Thursday
December 5, 1991 at 9:10 PM. Approximately 50 tons of alumina-silica catalyst
were emitted, and Chevron estimated that 8 tons landed outside the plant
boundary. The catalyst contains up to 0.15% nickel and 0.13% vanadium. The
cause of the release was a large gate valve, which is located at the fluid catalytic
cracking unit (FCCU). The valve is located between two large vessels (reactor
and the regenerator). Suddenly and with out any apparent cause, the valve
closed. The catalyst continued to attempt to circulate from the reactor to the
regenerator vessel. The catalyst backed up and filled the regenerator vessel
and carried over through the FCCU control system, electrostatic precipitator
and the CO boiler. Catalyst dust then was discharged from two main stacks
which are approximately 150 feet high. The Contra Costa Health Department
determined that the residual dust does not pose a.health hazard.
The unexpected closure of the valve was believed to be caused by an errant
signal within the instruments which control the valve. This has not been verified
yet. The closure of the valve was discovered 15 minutes after the upset by the
operator and it was immediately returned to the open position.
The downwind nuisance episode developed when this catalyst was initially
discharged from the two stacks. In addition to this release a second release
occurred after Chevron corrected the valve problem and returned the unit to full
service. Fallout of catalyst generally occurred on the properties of the Point
Richmond residential community. The District has issued a Notice of Violation
for a creating a public nuisance. In addition, the District is evaluating two other
visible emission excesses.
The District staff participated in the response in the following manner:
1. Inspectors were dispatched to the scene on Thursday and Friday,
1
2. Air monitoring commenced on Friday afternoon,
3. Coordinated additional monitoring with other state agencies,
4. Conducted air modeling for the Cal EPA in order to estimate the impact of
the event,
5. Provided technical expertise to the Contra Costa County Health Department
and the Cal EPA.
In addition, the following is noted:
Chevron staff has disconnected the controller for the valve. Chevron will operate
the valve solely in local manual mode until the cause of the failure is understood.
District staff is conducting source tests at the stacks to evaluate the efficiency of the
precipitator and evaluate any damage to the unit. District staff engineers
investigated the episode and concluded that the initial incident was corrected as
soon as the malfunction was discovered.
The health implications are covered in a release by the Health Services
Department, (see attached).
The District staff participated with local officials to respond to this unfortunate incident.
The staff will continue to provide assistance to all Bay Area government entities in the
evaluation of air pollution related health hazards.
MF:gp
Chevron Refining Public Nuisance Report, January 8, 1992, Page 2