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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 11081994 - 2.7 AGENDA ITEM 2.7, TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: Mark Finucane, Health Services Director _-1 ;. Contra Costa DATE: November 3, 1994 County r SUBJECT: INTERIM REPORT TO SUPERVISOR JEFF SMITH ON THE UNOCAL CATACARB RELEASE. SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: Review the attached Interim Report to Supervisor Jeff Smith from the Health Services Department concerning the August 22 - September 6 leak at the Unocal Refinery. BACKGROUND: Supervisor Smith requested this interim report as a formal update on the Health Service Department's investigation into the causes of the Unocal leak that affected Tormey and Crockett residents. The leak deposited Catacarb throughout the area and caused hundreds of residents to seek care. A subsequent leak from Unocal of hydrogen sulfide affected children at Hillcrest School in Rodeo; the concerns of Rodeo residents are also reflected in the report. FISCAL IMPACT: None. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE — RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON November 8, 1994 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER X Karen Rodgers of Unocal addressed the Board with respect to this matter and offered Unocal's cooperation. The Board reviewed and accepted the attached report and requested the Health VOTE OF SUPERVISORS Services Director to keep the Board informed of the status of the investigation 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. Contact Person:William Walker, MD,Health Officer 370-5010 CC: Health Services Director ATTESTED November 8, 1994 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR l BY DEPUTY r Unocal Refinery Catacarb Spill August 22-September 6, 1994 Interim Report to Contra Costa County Supervisor Jeff Smith Health Services Department November 3, 1994 Table of Contents Background and Summary 1 Timeline of the Leak 2 Health Services Department Investigation 4 Health Services Department Questions of Unocal Appendix A Health Fact Sheet Appendix B Comments and Questions from Rodeo and Crockett Residents Appendix C Unocal Refinery Catacarb Spill August 22-September 6, 1994 Interim Report Health Services Department Background and Summary On August 22, 1994, employees of the Unocal Refinery in Rodeo noticed a small leak in its Catacarb regeneration tower. Catacarb is a mixture of several chemicals, and the Catacarb in the leak was mixed with water. (For information about Catacarb, please see the Health Services Department's letter to residents and the health fact sheet, in Appendix B.) The leak grew in subsequent days, and from September 4 through September 6 it blew to the north-northeast over the Wickland Oil Terminal and the communities of Tormey and Crockett. Some evidence suggests that the leak could have reached those communities as early as September 2. Unocal estimates that about 100 tons of the Catacarb and water mixture was released during the leak. Eight people at the Wickland facility and some 300 Crockett residents sought medical care as a result of the spill. A sticky brown material was deposited throughout the area on cars, buildings, and plants. Unocal did not notify the county Department of Health Services that the leak was threatening the public, as required by law. We learned that the leaking material had blown off the site when we received phone calls from the public and a reporter on September 6. We are continuing our investigation of the causes of the incident and the health effects of Catacarb. We are reviewing Unocal's data from environmental samples, health and toxicological information they have collected, and computer models of the weather and shape of the land that might provide more information about the extent of the leak. We are also reviewing the company's method for developing an assessment of the health risks of the release. We have brought in the State Department of Health Services and the state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment for their technical assistance in some of these tasks. We continue to review our own procedures for responding to leaks and spills. We have urged the District Attorney to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Our final report will detail the results of these activities. 1 Timeline of the Leak The timeline below lists key events that HSD is aware of at this writing. The final report will include other events uncovered by our investigation. See, for example, questions sent to Unocal on October 25, 1994 (Appendix A). August 22. 1994 1) A Unocal employee calls the HSD Hazardous Materials Division to report a leak in the Catacarb regeneration tower. He reports that the leak is small; the emission is steam with a small amount of corrosive; and the material is not going, or likely to go, off the plant property. 2) HSD staff hold two;follow-up conversations with Unocal after the first call. Unocal staff say they will monitor the leak, and that the unit has a planned maintenance shut- down for early October. 3) HSD decides not to do further follow-up based on: 1. Low pressure in the tower (making a catastrophic release unlikely), and a good previous in-house inspection; 2. No offsite consequences at time of notification; 3. Unocal employees' plan to set up an observation process and log, and to shut down the tower if any change occurred that could have a potential impact on the public. August 23 According to Unocal logs, the emergency at the regeneration tower was reported "all clear" at 12:25 p.m. August 24 - September 4 Subsequent HSD investigation shows that Unocal did set up routine observation of the leak during these days; Unocal log notations show it getting steadily "worse." September 2 HSD receives a call from someone who identifies herself as a resident. She seems familiar with the specifics of the leak, and provides generally the same information we received on August 22. September 4 Unocal receives a call from a Crockett resident about a deposit on his car. Though unable to confirm that deposits were from their plant, Unocal begins spraying the leak with water from a fire monitor to bring the material out of the air. September 5 1) Due to a change in wind direction, Unocal stops the water spray. 2 2) Unocal receives a second complaint from Crockett. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) receives two complaints between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. 3) Unocal's log notes that, in the evening, Catacarb was being deposited on neighboring Wickland Oil Terminal: tanks. September 6 1) At 8:00 a.m., Unocal receives a call from Wickland that Wickland is being sprayed by a Unocal release and their employees are getting sick. Unocal staff visit Wickland and verify to Wickland that the material is from Unocal's Catacarb regeneration tower. 2) Also at 8:00 a.m., HSD receives a call from a Crockett resident about deposits on a car. 3) At 10:00 a.m., Unocal begins to shut down the tower. 4) At 11:18, Unocal notifies HSD of the shut-down and that the release is impacting Wickland. 5) At 3:00 p.m., HSD learns from a reporter that eight people from Wickland had gone to a health center for medical treatment. 6) At about 11:00 p.m., Unocal completes shut-down of the tower. 3 Health Services Department Follow-up and Investigation to Date Below are follow-up activities that are completed or in process. 1) Criminal prosecution: We have urged the District Attorney to prosecute Unocal for failure to notify HSD, to the maximum extent of the.law, including prosecution of individuals. Bay Area Air Quality Management District staff have told us they have made the same recommendation. 2) Community meetings: Our staff held meetings in Crockett and Rodeo. See Appendix C for the comments and questions from residents at those meetings. 3) Health fact sheet: With the State Department of Health Services, we wrote and sent to all area residents a health fact sheet about the chemicals in the spill, addressing residents' questions. (Unocal paid for the mailing.) 4) Research into health effects: Unocal's medical, toxicology, and dispersion modelling data are being analyzed by our staff to determine the potential for long-term health effects and the geographic extent of the release. To date, we do not have reason to expect any long-term problems, though the health of people with existing conditions such as asthma may take longer than others who were affected to return to normal. 5) Investigation of the cause of the leak. 6) We are working with Unocal to: -prevent such an accident from occuring again; -develop a method for notifying nearby schools of a release; -improve notification to HSD; -review their risk assessment on the incident. 7) Technical assistance: At our request, the State Department of Health Services and Cal/EPA's Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment are lending their technical expertise on several of the above items. We thank them for their continued assistance. 8) In-house review: We continue to review our procedures for responding to leak reports to see whether improvements can be made. In response to community requests, in the future we will consider using the CAN telephone warning system to tell people what has happened when we learn of a release after the fact, rather than just to warn. 9) Related items: -Unocal will install a hydrogen sulfide monitor at the Hillcrest Elementary School. -The Community Warning System Public Education Program's county-wide "kick- off' event was held at the Hillcrest Elementary School in Rodeo on November 2, 4 1994. The event was a joint effort between your office and Unocal, at which Chevron Refinery Fire Department staff trained students on what action to take in the event of a chemical release. -Since the leak, Unocal has met with residents and sent out update letters on several occasions. They met with school officials and staff. The company set up a hot line for property and health complaints, and washed residents' cars that had Catacarb deposits. They announced that they would be responsible for residents' related medical expenses. -As referred to above, Unocal (through a contractor) has taken environmental samples at Wickland Oil Terminal, Tormey, and Crockett, including soil, vegetation, and residue on cars, equipment, and structures. Blood and urine samples were taken from affected Wickland employees, and analyzed for chemicals in Catacarb. 5 APPENDIX A Questions sent to Warren Smith, Unocal, on October 25, 1994, for written response. Follow Up Questions For Unocal I. Accident investigation: 1 . What was the initiating cause of the Catacarb release? 2 . What was the root cause of the Catacarb release? 3 . How was the decision made to continue running the Catacarb regeneration tower after the release was first noticed? a. What was the decision process used in making the decision to continue running? b. Does Unocal have a procedure to assist in making such a decision? C. Since the leak was a temporary change in a process, was the procedure for a Management of Change invoked? d. If' Unocal does not have a procedure to assist in making this type of decision and does not plan to use its Management of Change procedure for this type of situation, does Unocal plan to develop a procedure that may assist in the decision making process for this type of situation? e. If Unocal does have a procedure in place or did invoke the Management of Change procedure, what changes if any does Unocal plan to make that would help to ensure in the future that an offsite impact does not occur? 4 . After the decision was made to continue to run the Catacarb regeneration tower, what system or procedures were in place to determine when it would be necessary to shut it down? a. Unocal observed the leak from August 22 through September 6, was there a procedure in place to determine when, if at all, to shut down the regeneration tower? b. Was there a decision making process in place (if a procedure does not exist) to evaluate the conditions and effects of the leak and to determine whether to continue running the regeneration tower, after the initial decision was made to continue to run this tower? II. Notification 1. What procedures does Unocal have in place to notify the Health Services Department of an incident or a potential incident? a. Has Unocal made any changes to their CCCHSD notification policy since the Catacarb and mercaptan releases? b. If Unocal has made changes, what are these changes? i . How will these changes improve the notification to the Health Services UNOCAL QUESTIONS PAGE # 1 Department? ii . What are the kind of situations for which Unocal would notify the Health Services Department? C . If Unocal has not made any changes to the notification procedures, how does Unocal plan to notify the Health Services Department under the existing procedures? i . How would Unocal invoke their procedures such that proper notification to the Health Services Department would be done? ii . What are the kind of situations for which Unocal would notify the Health Services ' Department? 2 . What procedures does Unocal have to notify the schools and other sensitive receptors, such as day care centers when there is a release or potential release that could impact them? a. Has Unocal made any changes to the notification policy for these sensitive receptors, since the Catacarb and mercaptan releases? b. If Unocal has made changes, what are these changes? i . How will these changes improve the notification to sensitive receptors? ii . What are the kind of situations where Unocal would notify sensitive receptors? C. If Unocal has not made any changes to the notification procedures, how does Unocal plan to notify sensitive receptors under the existing procedures? i . How would Unocal invoke its procedures such that proper notification to sensitive receptors would be done? ii . What are the kinds of situations for which Unocal would notify sensitive receptors? 3 . The Health Services Department knows that Unocal has been involved in the Community Warning System from the beginning. Until this system is operational, how does Unocal, working with the Health Services Department, plan to notify the communities when there is an incident in the future? III . Medical Monitoring and Toxicological Data 1 . What medical monitoring has Unocal done since the Catacarb release? a. What are the results and conclusions? b. Does Unocal plan to make these results public so that individuals living in the communities may have access to the findings? 2 . What toxicological sampling and studies has Unocal done following the Catacarb release? UNOCAL QUESTIONS PAGE # 2 a. What are the results and conclusions? b. Does Unocal plan to make these results public so that individuals living in the communities may have access to the findings? 3 . What are the results of Unocal' s dispersion modelling efforts? a. How do the results from the dispersion modelling compare with the data Unocal has collected throughout Crockett? b. Does Unocal plan to make the results public so that individuals living in Crockett may have access to the findings? UNOCAL QUESTIONS PAGE # 3 APPENDIX.B Contra Costa County Health Services Department •, ',• PUBLIC HEALTH DIVISION Adminisrat"Ounces tN7 Canbr Avenue $u+te 200 MMartinne&Cafit tis 91853 October 12, 1994 Dear Contra Costa Resident: Enclosed is a detailed feet sheet on the chemical leak from the Unocal refinery which occurred August 22 September 6. The key points of that fact sheet are summarised heite and we hope this responds to the many questions raised to the Health Services Department at the community meetings in Crockett and Rodes on October 5th and 6th. What chemicals leaked? About half the mixture was water. The other half was potass um carbonate and potassium dicarbonste (together about 25%), diethanolamine (12'/0-15%), potassium borate (S%-70/9), potassium metavanadate(.25%u+-.33%),and an unspecified polyhydwxylated alcohol(a very®all amount). What health problems can these_¢hsmicali#cease? This chemical mixture is an irritant and can cause watery eyes, son throat, cough, difficulty in breathing. Some residents have also reported flu-like symptoms including nausea, diarrhea, headache,and fatigue. In most cases these symptoms improved rapidly,but some residents report prolonged effects. Could thh chemical mleas use new health problems in the tbtu ry? We believe this spill is very unlikely to cause new health problems. Two of the chemicals from this release,potassium carbonate and potassium dicarbonate have been shown to cause no delayed health effects in eaimal cxpeiiinents. Potassium borate contains boron, a common ingredient in laundry detergent (Borax). Boron compounds fed tD nits in large quantities causes birth defects and reproductive problems,but the amounts in the community from this release ane nowhere near the level of concern. Diethanolamine was also released That chemical is a oomumon ingredient in cosmetics and shampoo, but under some conditions can change into nitrosodiethanolamine(NDEA),which can cause cancer in animals and probably humans. This chemical was found in low levels in one sample in Tormey,near the Unocal plant. The low level of NDEA indicates that there would be no significant risk of cancer from this chemical. The County and State Health Services Departments are continuing to evaluate any possible exposure to these chemicals. Based on our current information, there is no significant risk of cancer or birth defects, and no significant risk to pregnant women from this exposure. Is it safe for chitdan iQf• outside? We believe there is no problem with children playing outside. Children exposed immediately after the release through contact with soil or play equipment should not have any significant or lasting health effects. These chemicals remain in the environment only a few days to weeks,and are washed away with water. ILbod-frRm the ggrden safe to eat? It is prudent to thoroughly wash and peel garden produce in the Tormey and Crockett area before eating it. If I'm still having h_e_alth_problems I think are caused by thg jaL 3xhaj should I do? Consult you physician for any ongoing health problems,whether or not they were caused by the release. If you don't have a doctor, you can make an appointment at the Richmond Health Center by calling 3743021. Asthma and other symptoms should respond to the regular treatments for these conditions. If your physician wants more information, or referral to specialists, she/he can call the State Health Services Department at 540-2194. Sincerely, Wendel Brunner, M.D. Director, Public Health Department { ♦Val 04 to A THIS FACT SHEET WAS PRODUCED BY THE CALIFORNLA STATE HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HEALTH SERVICES DEPARTMENT S' CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF IMALTH SER'V3CCEwfi FACT Unocal Rodeo Refinery Chemial Leak Introduction From August 22 through September 6, 1994, up to 100 tons of chemicals mixed with water escaped through a hole near the top of a processing tower at tht Unocal Refinery in Rodeo, California and drifted northeast from the plant. During the time of the leak, some residents of Tormey and Crockett reported health problems, including burning eyes and skin, sore throat, wheezing, cough, headaches, fatigue, nausea,vomiting and diarrhea. Toe leak was stopped on September 6 when Unocal shut down the processing tower. Unocal has hired a scientific consulting firm to investigate the environmental and health effects of this chemical release. That work will be monitored and reviewed by the Suft Health Department and Cal EPA. This information sheet was put together to answer questions Haat residents have asked the mate and county health departments. Exposure of residents to the chemicals from this leak is expected to be much less than for workers at Unocal. What was the leak? According to Unocal,the leak was a steam jet that was about half water, but contained several chemicals in a mixture called "Cataaca V. The chemicals in Catacarb include: potassium carbonate and potassium dicarbonate (together about 25%) diethanolamine(12-15°!0) potassium borate (5-7010) potassium metavanadate (0.25-.33°l0), and an unspecified polyhydroxylated alcohol (very small amount). How did these chemicals get out into our community? At the time of the leak,the steam release drifted with the wind northeast of the refinery into the arta of Crockett. A weather station at the plant indicates that from September 2-September 6, the wind blew in a north, northeast or east direction more than 80% of the time. Generally in this type of situation, larger droplets tend to fill to the ground close to where they originated. Smaller droplets will be carried further away,and be diluted by the wind. We expect that higher chemical levels would be found closer to the Unocal plant, and that exposures would be much lower further away(for example in the eastern part of Crockett). Test results from surfaces and soil at both the refinery and in the community indicate that this is what indeed happened. How could I have been exposed to these chemicals? If you wort downwind during the release(that is,east or northeast of the Unocal plant)you could have been exposed by breathing air containing these chemicals during toe time of the leak, by touching automobiles, outdoor furniture, soil, or eating fruits and vegetables that may have had chemical residues. We don't expect people to be still exposed now because these chemicals stay in the environment only a short time, and because they would tend to be washed away by rain. What health problems can these chemicals cause? In high concenbutions the Catacarb mixture irritates the akin,eyes,now, and throat Wben it is diluted, as during the Unocal release, sore throat, cough, difficulty breahing, watery eye=, or headache are the most common problems that might be expected if you were to breathe this mixture. In addition, some residents have also reported flu-11ke symptoms wch as fever and fatigue. Some of the chemicals in the Catacarb mixture have additional health effects which have been associated with long-term exposures at relatively high ooacmtrations. Potassium carbonate: Concentrated potassium carbonate is strongly alkaline and can cause irritation and burns with high exposures. In low concentrations it is not believed to be toxic. It is on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) list of food additives which are generally recognized to be safe. Po 'um bicarbonate: Potassium bicarbonate is only slightly alkaline. Crhe sodium form of bicarbonate is baking soda). it is also on the FDA list of food additives which are generally recognized as being safe. Boron compounds: In studies of workers, long-term exposure to boron compounds has been found to cause skin problems such as eczema, and bronchitis from Inhalation of the dust. In animal studies, a boron.compound (sodium borate, or borax) was shown to cause injury to the testes of dogs and rats,and sterility in rats after two years at a level of 1%in the diet. The testes are the most sensitive target organ to longer-term exposures to boron compounds. To be completely protective of human health, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a level believed to be without harmful effects to the human body. Community exposures from the Unocal release would not be expected to exceed this EPA level. Boron is a normal constituent of soils and many food plants and is found in the human diet at a daily intake of about 0.01 to 0.02 milligrams per day. Vanadium/metavanadate: Occupational exposures to vanadium compounds have caused effects ranging from mild sone throat and eye irritation to more severe bronchitis and pneumonia at very high exposures. These effects were seen to be reversible, although some reports have suggested that repeated cxposures could cause morn respiratory problems to an allergy-like sensitivity. In most cases no other organ systems have been reported to be effected. A few vanadium workers have reported general effects such as weakmess, ringing in the eats, nausea, and headache. Vanadium is a normal constituent of soils and many food plants. An estimated average daily intake in the human diet is about 2.5 milligrams per day. Diethanolamine: Diethanolamine (DEA) probably has low toxicity. It produces mild skin irritation at concentrations above 5*with little risk of an allergic mWonse developing. A 15% solution causes eye irritation. PolyhydMUlatod_alr ohol . 'These are generic alcohols which were present in low levels in the Catacarb mixture and are not believed to pose a health hazard. 2 Could the chemicals from the Ink cause prolonged Beal* affects? Some residents have reporoed prolonged symptoms such as fatigue end fever or "hot Clashes"that have continued since the spill. We cannot prodict how lona these symptoms may continue. However, it is likely that these prolonged symptoms will improve rapidly over time unless the problems were severe immediately atter the spill. What it Imown about what happens to these chemicals in the envbronment? On the whole these chemicals tend to remain in the environment for only a few days to weeks. All of these chemicals mice easily with water. Any remaining would be expected to wash out of the soil with the recent rains. It is possible, under very specific conditions, for one of the chemicals,diethanolamine (DEA)to react with nitrogen in the soil to form a different ebanical (nitrosodietbanolsmine,NDEA)that has been shown to cause cancer in experimental animals and probably causes cancer in people as well. According to Unocal scientists,the specific conditions for its formation were unlikely to be present in the community. They,therefore, do not expect to find NDEA in soils from Crockett. However,because this chemical is difficult to test for,only a few samples have been taken,looking for NDEA. Three other samples taken from community soils before the rains did not show this chemical. Could these chemicah cause new health problem: in the Man? We believe this is very unlikely. Two of the chemicals fro® this release, potassium carbonate and potassium dicarbonate have been shows; to cause no delayed health effects in animal experiments. There is also little evidence for delayed effects due to vanadium. Vanadium has not been found to be elevated in samples of community soil and garden produce. While boron has caused male reproductive problems in animals when given in large doses, the amounts of boron found in community soils and garden produce are representative of levels found in typical soil and produce, and is not expected to cause health effeets in the tLture. One chemical, nitrosodiethanolamine (NDEA), which we mentioned above, might have been produced as a result of chemical reaction with DEA, is known to cause cancer in laboratory animals and probably in people. This chemical was found in one sample taken in Tormey,near the Unocal plant, but the low level of NDEA in this sample suggests that there would be no significant risk of cancer from this chemical. NDEA was not found in any of the other community samples that were tested for it. The county and state health departments are continuing to review what is known about these chemicals. We are looking closely for any additional information about whether there could be health effects for pregnant women and unborn babies or whether cancer risk is increased by any of these chemicals. As soon as now information becomes available, it will be shared with residents. 3 Is it safe for children to play outside:? The release left brown droplets visible on some surfaces such as on ecus, windows and plants. These droplets can be removed by scrubbing with water. Residents should wash down outdoor equipment, oars, toys,and other spotted surfaces. We believe there is no problem with children playing outside. Children exposed immediately alter the release through contact soil or play equipment should not have any significant or lasting health effects. At this time there is no compelling evidence to suggest that children should not be allowod to play outside. Is food from the garden sale to at? We don't know how much of the chemical macture is in the soil and how much is on plants and other surfaces. However, we do know that potassium carbonate and Bicarbonate are normally found in soil, and are generally accepted as safe food additives. Small amounts of borates are necessary nutrients for green plant growth, and are also found in common household detergents (for instance, 20 Mule Team Borax). Eating large amounts of borates could be toxic, however, sampling of fruits and vegetables from neighborhood gardens downwind from the refinery have shown no increase in levels of vanadium or borates when compared to the same types of fruits and vegetables purchased at a supermarket. Unocal has been paying for tests of fruits and vegetables. While these test results are encouraging, it is easy and prudent to thoroughly wash and peel garden product in Tormey and Crockett before eating it. If I'm still having health problems I think were eeund by the leak, what should I do? Consult your physician for any ongoing bealth problems,whether or not they were caused by the release. If you don't have a doctor, you can make an appointment at the Richmond Health Center by calling 374-3021. Asthma and other symptoms should respond to the regular treatments for these conditions. If your physician wants more information,she or he can call the State Health Services Department at 540-2194. 4 APPENDIX C Comments and Questions From Rodeo and Crockett Residents at Health Services Department Community Meetings October 6, 1994 Rodeo Community Meeting (Most concerns expressed were about the Unocal hydrogen sulfide release shortly after the Catacarb release.) 1) It takes too long for you to believe we're sick. 2) Shouldn't fines be put into moving Hillcrest school? 3) If there's a shelter-in-place or at the school, parents will be breaking down the doors - literally - to get their kids out. More thinking needs to be done. 4) A teacher said she had never seen so many 5 year olds with asthma. Health Services Department needs to go to the powers-that-be and say this situation is intolerable. There are too many refineries here, and they are talking about re-opening Garret School! 5) Who'll activate the warning system? You can't trust industry. 6) Why didn't the County join in our lawsuit against Pacific Refinery? It took 2 hours for the Air Board to come after the gasoline leak there. Sulfur is being burned in spite of orders not to. The Air Board doesn't have any answering service after 9 p.m., and accidents happen at night. 7) Will there be air monitors working 24 hours? Are there cancer clusters? High rates of Asthma? 8) There should be long term health studies here, like in North Richmond after the General Chemical spill. 9) I heard Unocal insurance adjusters were offering people $100. 10) I'm from Bay Vista. My 3 kids were healthy and now they have asthma and bronchitis. 11) My daughter came home very scared the day of the hydrogen sulfide leak. If not for Mr. Amato I wouldn't have known what was going on. 1 12) What about the water in my swimming pool? 13) For shelter-in-place at Hillcrest,the bathrooms and most water fountains are outside. No porta-potties. There needs to be planning, and emergency kits -blankets,bottled water, gas masks made available. What about fans? There should be special training for principals, for example, get the kids inside first, then find out what the chemical is, or if it's dangerous. School staff should have Unocal's pamphlets describing smells, etc., to learn about the chemicals. There should be chemical drills (like quake and fire drills). October 5, 1994 Crockett Community Meeting 1) A Rodeo parent with a child who got sick from the September hydrogen sulfide release was first notified of the spill before reading the newspaper. The parent would like Unocal hook-up to the school for notification. 2) Monitors are needed in all the industries, with a telephone tree to assist in notification. Why are schools so close to industry? Is there a danger to pregnant women, or to couples trying to conceive? 3) Could CAN be used even when the event is not life threatening, and charge the violator for the cost? An escrow account should be established by large refineries so the cost is available up front. BAAQMD only has one staff person at the phone to handle complaints and that is not enough. 4) How can we rely on the companies to tell us about spills? Can't we get monitors? Why were doctors notified but not residents? Why will Unocal pay M.D. bills only if people agree not to sue? Unocal's hot line recorded her call but gave her no information about a spill. 5) Health problems from the spill are not going away. Can there be exposure from deposits? Do these chemicals interact with each other? We don't know the answers and Health Services Department doesn't either. Issue of having to sign waiver. 2 6) Health Department should put out information about where to go for treatment. 7) What happened when someone first saw the leak - who said it was OK to keep going? Exactly what steps were taken and how was the decision made to keep going? 8) Can the CAN System be used to give information to people after a spill? Who made the decision in Health Services Department not to use CAN? We depended on you and you let us down. 9) I ate garden tomatoes on the 12th and I am still sick from it. I never knew there was poison on them. 10) We need remote sensors. We need Good Neighbor agreements and community oversight. 11) Doctors are doing nothing, or treating us with antibiotics. Until the warning system is up and running, you could use air sirens and send people out with cars and megaphones if you can't use CAN. You should set up clinics locally after an incident. People don't know they should see a doctor. 12) What about replacing trees that are showing damage? 13) A local veterinarian said a Unocal doctor told him to reconsider diagnosis of some dogs. One died while he was doing an autopsy and toxicology. Tests on various animals are 'but of whack". Animals lick their feet and get exposed to residues. Other vets didn't know about the spill. A person who owns a local grooming shop said she had seen accelerated skin conditions. 14) Did anyone test storm drains? Why can't citizens do monitoring with some of the money from the fines? 3