HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06021992 - X.1 X. [
TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS r, `,, Contra
IFROM: Supervisor Nancy Fanden
Costa
County
DATE: June 2, 1992
SUSJ_CT: RECONVENING THE PACIFIC
REFINERY TASK FORCE
f
SPECIFIC REOUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION: Reconvene the Pacific Refinery Task
Force. Representatives from the BAAQMD, District Attorney
Environmental Health, a representative from the City of
Hercules and one from the Rodeo community will review
Pacific Refinery operations to ensure that the plant
operates at the highest possible standard, without risk to
Rodeo residents. In addition the task force will review the
refinery's emergency notification process, the community
disaster notification system, community health issues,
expanding the air monitoring program, and review enforcement
measures.
FISCAL IMPACT: Staff Time
BACKGROUND: There is great fear in the Rodeo community of
a catastrophic release from Pacific. My office received a
number of anguished calls after Fridays fiery plant
breakdown, which caused a huge amount of petroleum product
to be sprayed over much of the Rodeo community.
The community questions whether Pacific can operate safely.
The City of Hercules is addressing the proposed expansion,
not the current operation. The County must coordinate that
responsibility.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: RYES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
IONAT RE S :
ACTION OF BOARD ON June 2 199 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER.�—
The Board heard testimony from residents of the Rodeo area, and REFERRED to the
County Administrator, Health Services Director, District Attorney, and County Counsel
for review the issues of concern relative to the recent release at Pacific Refinery,
and REQUESTED a report to the Board on June 9, 1992 recommending improvements in
notification. procedures of the community and appropriate agencies, and the format for
citizen input.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
_UNANIMOUS(ASSENT AND CORRECT COPT OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: HOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOAAD
ASSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOW
cc County Administrator ATTESTED june 2, 1992
Health Services Director PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
District Attorney SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTMTOR
County Counsel () Q
By .DEPUTY
M362 JIWSS)
The BAAQMD has directed that the flare and wastewater
systems be enclosed along with installation of a better
sulfur recovery system. The task force could determine
whether there are other improvements that could be made to
improve air quality or reduce risk. The community also
wants to know if state and local regulations are being fully
enforced.
Pacific has been given many opportunities to clean up their
act. The question is can they and will they? Community
concerns must be addressed now.
moi.. f
A r�,
Residents .say F
June 2 '1092
'recent:,act ent ,
�I'" sates "flaws ,.i
BY Vh=h►tiAorris efirie InTIight of this information and
.Buff wrasr
:HERCULES..-- -•Rodeo resident v other comments alreadyJRreceived in
`•. :Jerry Hirst donned a gas mask Won- ' IOM PAGE to "Ming, commission Chairman
day night to express the feelings he Mike Geier said the city will proba-
t ...gay Area Air Quality Management -bly .issue a revised draft environ-
shares with many of bis neighbors.
about the .pro 'District, which will eventually con-,.,mental report, which will once
posed modifi- ,. '-eider whether to issue permits for . again be open for public comment
cation of Paci#- ;y - i obnstruction and operation of the when-ft is completed.
is Refining. •�""��`�' Once all the questions about the
would �`Although Rodeo residents have project are answered, the commis-
we
that s ;said they thought the air district was cion will decide whether to certify
.we don't .have- UE RERNERIf IIEVOWRa prepay ed m approve the project,tits- the document as complete. It will
..these as. Stan- trict spokesman Mark Kragen said ,then be used as a source of informa=
dard -issue is ; his agency believes the report seri- tion when city officials review Pacif-
Rodeo;"' Hirsf " busly underestimates volatile organ- 'ies application for a land use permit
`#old the'-City'Council and Planning is emissions, including cancer-cans- to build the project.The report will
Commission during a bearing on ing chemicals such as benzene, by .also be used by other agencies who
*-'-the draft environmental study for ; as much as 48 tons per year. Emis- oversee parts of the project, includ-
` the proposed$600 million project. . : { •sions from the loading of rail can jng the air district and Regional Wa-
Hirst was one of more than 200 f and tankers also are underestimat- ter Quality Board.
Rodeo and Hercules residents who = acl,he said.'
spilled into the courtyard outside.. : :. aran of the fust speakers was Joe
_ underestimating these types �iSparano,thief executive officer for
City Hall to voice their opposition to, '
.the modification and their anger - of emissions,the report dtmunrsbes. Pacific Refining, who apologized to
over a refinery.accident that doused the health risks of the project, Kra- Rodeo residents for last Fridays ac-
parts of Rodeo with steam, soot,-oil 'gen said.Pacific has pointed proud- cident,which occurred when a cool-
and other chemicals Friday ly to the fact that the proposed mod- trig'line ruptured and forced the
afternoon. tfication would decrease the cancer emergency shutdown of an ail refin-
"The solution to this whole thing 'risk of the facility as one reason it iirug unit..
is to shut the refinery down, dis should be approved Sparano said Pacific has beard
mantle it, move it to the other side. '' Kragen also said more in-depth the concerns of its meighbors and is
of Hercules so the good citizens of. study of the potential for accidental .now willing to move a proposed
Hercules can share in .the noise,_ chemical releases is needed in light new crude oil storage tank to the
` odors and risks that Rodeo has- to. 'L of Friday's accident,and said the air ,south side of the refinery, away
},, experience," said Rodeo resident district,"takes exception"to the re- 'from Rodeo.In addition,it will build
and former refinery worker C.M.. port's conclusion that the project . a landscaped,,earthen berm along
Maddy. 'T.This little incident-on Fri- 'will reduce odors. Garretson Avenue to shield Rodeo
thday is e robust ma,spotlight to shine ,on - Rr'agexi said the project will in- from the refinery. i
p
Using terms like "skarn," "atro- -volve a 100 percent increase in the -" Bust this'intormation did not ap-
crious," and "grossly substandard,".- number of pumps,valves and eom- 'pease the crowd of Rodeo residents
a steady stream -of speakers toldpscessors at the refinery,and this has -who applauded those who spoke out
Hercules officials to reject the envi- .� potential to lead to new odor against the project and sometimes
ronmental study they see as flawed 'problems. :'heckled the few who dared to speak
and'reject the project they believe abi favor'Of It:,,
will subject_ahem to even greater. "We believe there is the potential
1
dangers from,toxic emissions,odors .' for a deadly'release of hydrogen " know the refinery in its pre
.and catastrophic accidents. `s fide gas-tato-the -neighborhood sent.state is unable to operate
Some of:these opinions were that could kill people,and we do not what's already there," said long-
shared by s iepi+esepinioe of the believe the report deals with this is-, ..time Rodeo resident Mai Decker.:
aue or even addresses it,"said Julia `.`And I don't think should be;
y
Please see REFlNEt31f,baric page ; May, clean air director for.San given additional bells and whistles
r.
k Flrancisco=based Citizens # •a Het- ..when they can't operate what they
_ ter Eniimnment. already have." r
::;.Twasdey,jww.2,3992 West County Tlmes-
or
u wants- o ow - v at elaye -notification
P_W�►1Mllly.Morris :�' ►Ve'thinke'$hould �aVe been rwtrfied ty,
a:` diene.was a danger to the'community,she said
Or`" ;,earller,''±ahe=dL"We need to sit down and- ::After determining there was.a potential.prob
�=wceivecl
The Yost tion munty =ri�allc to'Pacific.and nee how tbek notification iem,the community alert system was activated
of Friday's accident at'Pacific rocedur�es can be improved."... :_- ,. T= usbout h20
� � p.m.,-errd the fast calls went out
Refining came from a concerned .:._ -Although
citizen, and envy officials want to know the °0y now believes ffie inn x:30 pm.
.
-why- -ileal,-_svhich.:dumped cooling water and oily : '..:
soot on parts of Rodeo, began about 3:15 p.m., ,... :.,.Hein-Silva said about'701 residences were
'T'racy'Hein-Silva, coordinator of the coup contacted -ffie computerized
ly's community alert system,said the Office of ._the Office of Emergency Services did not bear -.�Y by pu rized' tele-
Emergency Services was first notified of the :_about the.problem until 327 p m, HeinSiba -,phone system,and 62 percent of the calls were
problem by Supervisor Nancy Fabden's office, macanswered either by a person or an answering
which had received several calls from con- -County officials then called the refinery for :., .:.. .
eerned Rodeo residents. .lconfirmation, but were told they did not think. :_%Please see NOTIFY,back page
O a before ttie;3:25 pi m. starting time
Nrefinery officials announced on Fri-
day.
-FROM PAGE 1A This is-confirmed by resident
Refinery spokesman Ralph Ed- complaints,to the Bay Area Air
wards conceded that Rodeo resi- Quality Management District,which
dents .who'were concerned about received a rash of calls around 3:15
steam from the refinery's cooling p•m,district spokeswoman Jane Ol-
towers were probably the first to no- der. ' said. Firefighters from the
tify public agencies about .the Ro4eo-Hercules Fire Department
incident Well.sent.(0_the.refinery.at..3:18
4 y He said Pacific delayed notifying p'm'
. :the county because county officials :•. ...Edwards'`skid ti�tmery �ficials--. -
want detailed information about an . hav�revised their earlier statements
incident, and that type of informs- and now believe the incident began
about 320 p.m.,although a cloud of
bon was not available until refinery -.std was released from the plant's
officials had a chance to assess.the Cooling towers about 3:10 p.m.
problem The cooling tower release
"It would make it a-lot easier if showed refinery worriers there was
ewe could just make a simple notifi- a problem,and they began search-
cation with the.understanding that ing for the source, Edwards said.
we could get back to them as soon.' About 3:20 p.m. workers noticed a
as possible with further details;'Ed- refining unit was overheating and
Wards said `4rr the case of these in- immediately began an emergency.
tridents it's a tough call" ' -shutdown,which released clouds of
The county's information places .,game and black smoke from the
ifie start of the incident 10 minutest emergency flare system, he said.