January 31, 2002

RELEASE IMMEDIATELY

CONTACT: 
Angela Jones, Public Information Officer
(510) 621-1230

CHEMICAL LEAK AT CHEVRON FALLS UNDER CONDITIONS OF CITY’S NEW INDUSTRIAL SAFETY ORDINANCE

Incident marks third release 
by a Richmond refinery in two months

Richmond’s Mayor Irma L. Anderson and City Manager Isiah Turner are waiting for the findings from an incident report following a sulfur dioxide release at the Chevron Refinery that prompted warning sirens and a shelter-in-place alert just before 1:30 p.m. on Thursday.

“I am dismayed that another chemical release has occurred in our City,” said Mayor Anderson.  “But I am also pleased to report that Chevron, the City of Richmond, and the County responded to this unfortunate incident immediately and appropriately.  Our newly adopted Industrial Safety Ordinance will be implemented.”  The City Council adopted the ISO on December 18, 2001.

Refineries must routinely complete a report within 72-hours for review by County health officials when a chemical release impacts the community.  The conditions of Richmond’s ISO mean Thursday’s incident, classified as Level 3, the highest category of a 4-level alert system, automatically requires Chevron to complete a full-scale investigative report called a Root Cause Analysis within 30 days and forward it to the County.  Prior to the adoption of the City’s ISO, Richmond officials relied on the County to enforce its ISO requiring refineries to conduct a Root Cause Analysis following major chemical releases or accidents.

Chevron officials say the incident occurred at 12:45 p.m. when a Sulfur Recovery Unit went off line, resulting in the release of a plume of sulfur dioxide. The unit extracts sulfur from crude oil.  Chevron initially reported the incident to the County as a Level 1 alert because the release was confined on site.  By 1:26 p.m., the sulfuric odor of rotten eggs was detectable offsite.  Chevron officials informed the County and the Community Warning System was activated, initially setting off all 22 sirens around the City.  The sirens were soon localized to the Point Richmond community and areas west of 23^rd Street and south of Hensley Street out to the San Francisco Bay and a computerized telephone system automatically called residents with a brief message about the incident.  County officials issued an All Clear notice at 3:48 p.m.  There were no reports of any residents being affected by the release.

On November 29, 2001, a Level 3 alert was called after the General Chemical plant released a plume of sulfur dioxide.  A second, less serious leak occurred the next day.

Richmond officials say the incident reports will be key in determining what steps the City, County and Chevron will take to prevent another toxic release.  “I’m concerned that this is the third chemical leak in the past two months,” says City Manager Isiah Turner.  “We will await the results of the 72-hour report and the Root Cause Analysis and then work with the responsible parties to insure that any and all recommendations for corrective action are fully implemented.”