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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 06201995 - U1 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FROM: SUPERVISOR JEFF SMITH - = `;. Contra Costa DATE: JUNE 20, 1995 URGENC_Y_IT_EM_BY_4/5-THS_V_OT_E__T_O-AUD_T_OAGEN County SUBJECT: RECENT INCIDENTS AT UNOCAL REFINERY IN RODEO SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RE00MMENDATION: REQUEST a thorough report to the Board of Supervisors by June 27th on the recent Unocal tank fire and related non-compliance issues from the Health Services Department, County Counsel, and Community Development. DIRECT the District Attorney's office to explore possible criminal negligence proceedings to stop repeated violations and report to the BOS by June 27, 1995. FILE formal complaint with Bay Area Air Quality Management District,State Department of Water Resources,and the State Department of Toxic Substance Control. COMMUNICATE with state legislators concerning continued violations and repeated non-compliance of the Unoca REPORT all options available to the BOS to stop this pattern of repeated violations by UNOCAL,including an emergency shut down of the plant while corrective measures are put in place. Prepare all documents necessary to act on report by June 27, 1995. BACKGROUND\ The continuing incidents of non-compliance that are occuring at Unocal Refinery in Rodeo are of tremendous concern to the residents of West County. Problems resulting from the Catacarb spill last August are still not resolved,and the repeated spills and fires at Unocal have frustrated and angered citizens. We,as a County,need to be pro-active in addressing their concerns, and the lack of responsible action by Unocal. Minor incidents occur on a regular basis. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BIA APPROVE OTHER (/ SIGNATURE(S): ACTION OF BOARD ON June 20, t995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the- second.-.recommendation is amended and the District Attorney's Office is REQUESTED to ekplore possible criminal negligence proceedings to stop repeated violations and report to the Board on June 27, 1995; and staff is REQUESTED to. solicit advice or assistance from the Council of Industries and the Industrial Association on this issue. VOTE OF SUPERVISORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE _ 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. ATTESTED June 20, 1995 PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVIS951§AN UNTY A INISTRATOR Contact Person: CC: County Administrator Health -Services Department Cpunty Consel District Xttorney s Office Community Development Department 2 According to the records of the Hazardous Materials Department, the following list itemizes responses to the field they made as the result of a Unocal event. 1/17/95 H2S Release, valve failure 1/14/95 Unicracking unit shutting down 1/24/95 Starting up unicracker 2/8/95 Increased flaring 3/23/95 Abatement compressor down Last Friday's tank fire was by far the most obvious incident to occur this year. People's concernsare magnified by past operating incidents. We need to respond quicky and fairly to the residents of our County and ensure that required monitoring practices are being observed. { RECEIVED PRODUCTS COMPANY JUN 20 PA ,. 1B XffUft ERVI ORS �KCONTRA COSTA CO. JEFFREY C. WILKES June 20, 1995 San eFrraal n^c asnc o9 Refinery The Honorable Gayle Bishop The Honorable Jeff Smith The Honorable Mark DeSaulnier The Honorable Jim Rogers The Honorable Tom Torlakson Contra Costa Board of Supervisors Dear Supervisors: We regret the concerns created by the June 16 tank fire and subsequent odor problems experienced by our neighbors. In addition, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused the members of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. When an incident like this'occurs, our focus is two-fold: 1)to determine its cause, and 2) to implement corrective action plans to avoid such incidents in the future. An investigation on the cause of the tank fire was initiated immediately and is still underway. Once we have completed this investigation, a detailed corrective action plan will be instituted to improve our operations. We have also already begun to analyze our response efforts and would like to report our initial findings: • Unocal, as well as the Rodeo/Hercules Fire Department, Crockett/Carquinez Fire Department, and neighboring facilities responded immediately. The fire was contained and extinguished in two hours. No one was injured and there was no threat to the community. • All appropriate regulatory agencies were notified. • The Contra Costa County Health Services Department identified and activated zones for the Community Alert Network. 1380 San Pablo Avenue Rodeo, California 94572-1299 PH 15101 245.4415 A U n o c a l C o m p a n y June 20, 1995 JCW-66-95 Page 2 • Unocal called our list of sensitive receptors as well as members of the Community Advisory Panel (CAP) to alert them of the fire. • Our Community Information Line was regularly updated to provide callers with a status of the incident. We also mobilized trained medical professionals, industrial hygienists, claims specialists and public affairs personnel to personally respond to community members on a 24- hour basis. On Saturday afternoon, immediately after we became aware that the tank contents were causing intermittent odors in the community, we expanded our response activities. On Sunday, I faxed a letter to you detailing some of our steps to respond, allow me to review them again: • We developed and immediately began implementing a plan for neutralizing and removing the tank's contents in the safest and fastest manner possible. Appropriate regulatory agencies were briefed on this plan at a special meeting on Monday, June 19. • We activated a team of industrial hygienists to conduct monitoring in the community on a 24-hour basis. • We placed electronic monitoring devices in key locations in the community. To date, there have been no detectable levels recorded on the monitoring devices. • We again called our list of sensitive receptors as well as our CAP members to alert them of the potential for odors. • We also notified the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Contra Costa Health Services Department and local fire departments to inform them of the odor problems. • We recruited more than 30 employees to hand deliver notices concerning the potential for odors to all residents of Rodeo, Crockett, Tormey and Bayo Vista on Sunday, June 18. • We activated our Physician Notification System, providing background and medical information on the odors. An update on the results of our monitoring activities was sent to participating physicians last night. • We expanded our claims activities and are responding on an individual basis to any concerns expressed by our neighbors due to the odors. Those with medical concerns are being encouraged to visit their physician and to contact our claims department. • If physicians advise their patients to relocate temporarily while there is the potential for odors, Unocal is arranging for alternate housing. So far, about 30 families have been housed in local hotels. June 20, 1995 JCW-66-95 Page 3 • The Community Information Line continues to provide updated information to our neighbors and we continue to have trained medical, claims and public affairs specialists available on a 24-hour basis. Throughout the response, we have been extremely pleased and appreciative of the cooperation and coordination between Unocal and the responsible regulatory agencies. We are particularly appreciative of the assistance provided by the Contra Costa County Health Services Department, Hercules/Rodeo Fire Department, Crockett/Carquinez Fire Department and Bay Area Air Quality Management District. This coordination and collaboration will continue as these agencies -- and we -- further analyze the incident and the emergency response activities. We have and will continue to cooperate with any investigations by these regulatory agencies, including those directed by the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Again, we apologize for the concerns caused by the tank fire and subsequent odor problems and again wish to extend our thanks to those who assisted in the response activities. Please do not hesitate to contact me personally if you have any questions or concerns. I can be reached at 510-245-4415. Sinc e Y C. WILKES General Manager DATE: ' REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing_t4ard. r NAME: y �/ PHONE: ADDRESS: 6( f / Ln � %' CTIY: AVzo I am speaking formyself OR organization: (% ate_ (NAME OF ORGANW.TION) Check one: I wish to speak on Agenda Item # My comments will be: general for against I wish to speak on the subject of I do not wish to speak but leave these comments for the Board to consider.