Around 6:25 p.m., reports of. The Chevron Refinery is reporting a Level 1 incident, its lowest in severity, with no response from Richmond Fire. AUGUST 15, 2012. Some families brought small children, including one woman with two children on the back of her bicycle that sported a cardboard sign written in a childs hand that read: We need clean air to breathe. Chase has degrees in journalism and history from Loyola University Chicago. ", The Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department said on Twitter that residents in the area might see "dark smoke" due to the flaring but that "NO shelter in place orders have been issued for Crockett or Port Costa. ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) An explosion and fire near an illegal oil refinery site in Nigeria's Niger Delta region killed at least 12 people Friday, police said, although local residents reported a . He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. Prior to joining The Chronicle, he covered immigration for the Daily Journal, a legal affairs newspaper, and a variety of beats at the North Bay Business Journal in Santa Rosa. View our online Press Pack. (BCN) Bay Area activists plan to gather Saturday in Richmond for a march and actions commemorating the 10-year anniversary of an explosion and fire that tore through the Chevron Richmond. 2012-03-I-CA, December 2013), CSB Responses to public comments on the CSB's Draft Report, "Regulatory Report: Chevron Richmond Refinery Pipe Rupture (Report No. This is causing smoke to come out from the flares. Ten years ago, an explosion and fire at the Richmond Chevron refinery poured black smoke and rained acrid chemicals across the East Bay city, sending thousands to hospitals gasping for air. b. Monitor and confirm the effective implementation of the damage mechanism hazard review program (2012-03-I-CA-R1 and 2012-03-I-CA-R2), so that all necessary mechanical integrity work at the Chevron Richmond Refinery is identified and recommendations are completed in a timely way. News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Chase DiFeliciantonio is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. He is a graduate of Bowie State University in Maryland with a BS degree in communications. An estimated 15,000 people in the area sought treatment after a 2012 incident at the facility. Our team did go out to the site and run tests, he said before referencing the afternoons light southerly winds that dissipated most of the smoke within 30 to 45 minutes. Require a comprehensive process hazard analysis (PHA) written by the company that includes: i. Around 6:25 p.m., reports of smoke plumes over the refinery drew multiple posts to social media. As the march wound its way westward in the lanes of Macdonald Avenue, protesters on bicycles blocked cars from entering intersections and blasted upbeat hip-hop and Afrobeat tunes, complemented by the occasional blaring of a sympathetic car horn. Chevron Richmond refinery flare visible in East, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Info stolen in Oakland ransomware attack set to be released, Map: Track this weekends rain in the Bay Area, Chevron Richmond refinery flare visible in East Bay. This review shall be an integral part of the Process Hazard Analysis cycle and shall be conducted on all PSM-covered process piping circuits and process equipment. Randy Sawyer of Contra Costa Countys Health Services department, who oversees hazmat response, said the incident appeared to be a plant upset at the refinery, where gases in process were sent to a flaring system to be burned off. Im really frustrated how frequent their flaring is occurring. Implement or cause to be implemented a compensation system to ensure the regulator has the ability to attract and retain a sufficient number of employees with the necessary skills and experience to ensure regulator technical competency at all levels of process safety regulatory oversight and policy development in Richmond, California. The purpose of this practice is to identify any low-silicon components that are corroding at accelerated rates. The county did not activate its community warning system alert, and there were no plans to ask residents to shelter in place as a result, Sawyer said, adding that county staff were sending a crew to monitor conditions near the refinery on Thursday evening and that officials may ask Chevron to provide a report explaining what triggered the incident. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy. In a statement, a refinery spokesperson said a process upset "that. In that report, posted to social media by KQED reporter Ted Goldberg, refinery staff said the incident began at 5:40 p.m., with no injuries or fatalities and no reported evacuation. d. Incorporate as a normative reference API RP 939-C: Guidelines for Avoiding Sulfidation (Sulfidic) Corrosion Failures in Oil Refineries; and. Replace the terminology high-temperature sulfur corrosion with sulfidation corrosion; b. From my front porch on 12th Street, I could see the fire, Robinson said. CSB Releases New Safety Digest on Worker Participation to Help Prevent Catastrophic Chemical Incidents, Statement from Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland on the California Department of Industrial Relations Approval of New Refinery Safety Rules, CSB Board Approves Chevron Refinery Final Report with a Unanimous Vote, Final Investigation Report - Chevron Refinery and Fire, CSB Announces Public Meeting in Richmond, California to Release Final Report and Safety Recommendations Resulting from Chevron Refinery Investigation; Report Released Prior to Meeting. We need a (Richmond) general fund that is not dependent on fossil fuels, Robinson said. Participate in the joint regulatory program described in recommendation 2012-03-I-CA-R11. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Include requirements for inherently safer systems analysis to be automatically triggered for all management of change (MOC) and process hazard analysis (PHA) reviews, as well as prior to the construction of new processes, process unit rebuilds, significant process repairs, and in the development of corrective actions from incident investigation recommendations. This process shall provide the submitter of the denied or deferred recommendation with the option to seek further review by his or her manager, who can further elevate and discuss the recommendation with higher level management, such as the Area Business Unit Manager. pic.twitter.com/DZodFAhzNq, John Gioia (@supejohngioia) May 28, 2021, In a social-media post Thursday evening, Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia expressed his frustration with what he described as how frequent their flaring is occurring.. Jointly plan and conduct inspections with Cal/OSHA, California EPA and other state and local regulatory agencies with chemical accident prevention responsibilities to monitor the effective implementation of the damage mechanism hazard review and disclosure requirements under 2012-03-I-CA-R9 and R10 above. Inspect every component within all carbon steel piping circuits susceptible to sulfidation corrosion that may contain low-silicon components once. Require the use of leading and lagging process safety indicators to actively monitor the effectiveness of process safety management systems and safeguards for major accident prevention. Chevron again will need to explain to the community why the Richmond refinery is worth the risks that accompany it. The regulation should provide workers and their representatives with the authority to stop work that is perceived to be unsafe until the employer resolves the matter or the regulator intervenes. According to this news organizations reporting, the refinery saw multiple flaring reports last year, including two straight days in February 2020 and an August 2020 episode. Organizers will recall smoke from the fire that sent thousands to local hospitals and clinics on Aug. 6, 2012. While (Contra Costa Health Services) did not order a shelter-in-place, this flaring incident impacted our communities through its odors and visibility.. RICHMOND An equipment issue Tuesday at the Chevron refinery led to clouds of black smoke billowing into Bay Area skies. How 'deluded' Putin thought Ukraine invasion would break up Nato & have West bowing down to Russia, leaked docs show, Man had sex with his wife on bollard after fuming neighbour placed it in cul-de-sac in protest during parking row, 'Bubbly' nightclub worker, 31, killed after her Audi crashed into a bridge on her way home from work, Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department said on Twitter, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). Replace the identified at-risk carbon steel piping with a steel alloy that is more resistant to sulfidation corrosion. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy. CSB stressed that the petrochemical refiners . Richmond Vice Mayor Eduardo Martinez then called for the crowd to take local action on climate justice. The shimmering Bay Lights turn off Sunday night as the effort to raise $11 million to fund a bigger, better version is only partway there. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. We coexist with industry in the area, which is why we have high regulatory standards. 1 min read There were explosions overnight in the Russian city of Tuapse. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Investigators with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board reported that Chevron had ignored warnings about corrosion in the pipe that eventually caused the fire. These circuits have the potential to contain carbon steel components that were not manufactured to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) A106 specification and may contain less than 0.10 weight percent silicon content. Our workforce . 2 The Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, California appears to have smoke pouring out of it Credit: Twitter/@PennieOpal These improvements shall include engaging a diverse team of qualified personnel to perform a documented damage mechanism hazard review. Conduct a pre-response meeting with personnel with specific technical expertise (e.g., inspectors, operators, metallurgists, engineers, and management) and the Incident Commander to determine pressure, temperature, remaining inventory of process fluids, potential damage mechanisms that caused the leak, and worst-case leak scenario; c. Establish a hot zone that identifies the area of risk of exposure or injuries due to flame contact, radiant heat, or contact to hazardous materials, taking into consideration the worst-case leak scenario; d. Limit site access around leak location to essential personnel only; e. Isolate the leaking piping or vessel, or if isolation is not possible, shutdown of the unit when the leaking process fluid poses immediate danger to safety, health, or the environmentsuch as piping fluid that is toxic or near the autoignition temperature. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. For all California oil refineries, identify and require the reporting of leading and lagging process safety indicators, such as the action item completion status of recommendations from damage mechanism hazard reviews, to state and local regulatory agencies that have chemical release prevention authority. The damage mechanism hazard review shall identify potential process damage mechanisms and consequences of failure, and shall ensure safeguards are in place to control hazards presented by those damage mechanisms. The Chevron Refinery has a history of fires, according to residents. The periodic process safety culture report shall be made available to the plant workforce. Here is the correct one: https://t.co/07Y6hJYVu2Thanks @insights724 for pointing that out. His first newspaper job was as a Washington Post paperboy. By 1915, the refinery spread across 435 acres (176 ha), employed 1,700 workers, and had a capacity of 60,000 barrels (9,500 m 3) a day. Revise ASME PCC-2-2011: Repair of Pressure Equipment and Piping to require users to follow the minimum process fluid leak response requirements established in API RP 2001: Fire Protection in Refineries, developed in response to recommendation 2012-03-I-CA-R31, before conducting process fluid leak repair. Richmond police vehicles kept watch over the event, and no Chevron representatives came out of the black gate enclosed behind a layer of cyclone fencing. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! We expect industry to operate at the highest level with no room for error, because error causes harm to life, Gioia told this news organization last February. Require an oversight committee comprised of the regulator, the company, the companys workforce and their representatives, and community representatives. The Board believes, however, that there is enough supporting evidence to ask the recipient to reconsider. Bay Area activists plan to gather Saturday in Richmond for a march and actions commemorating the 10-year anniversary of an explosion and fire that tore through the Chevron Richmond. As the air grew thick with smoke, residents instinctively knew the source: the Chevron oil refinery that for decades has loomed over the working-class community. Organizers expect hundreds to be in attendance Saturday, but this is not the first time that Richmond residents have protested the refinery. pic.twitter.com/aQTM8dxlfa, John Gioia (@supejohngioia) August 10, 2021, Chevron tells @Cal_OES the refinery is releasing sulfur dioxide, acknowledges this was unplanned and says the release is ongoing. Why Pistons are praising Warriors' Map shows stunning improvement in California drought, A $200M bike bridge tantalized this Bay Area city. Martinez, who is running for mayor of Richmond, said the refinery needs to contribute more in tax revenue to the city than it does currently. ", Bay Area Air Quality tweeted after the smoke was spotted by several residents in the area, "The Air District is closely monitoring the current incident at the #Chevron Refinery in Richmond. Off work, he enjoys playing in bands, busking and karaoke. Accident: Chevron Richmond Refinery Fire Location: Location: Richmond, CA Accident Occured On: 08/06/2012 | Final Report Released On: 01/28/2015 Accident Type: Oil and Refining - Fire and Explosion Investigation Status: The CSB's investigation is complete. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. Anyone with questions may call the refinerys general number at 510-242-2000, ask about specific noises or odors at 510-242-2127, visit the refinerys air-monitoring site athttps://www.richmondairmonitoring.orgor e-mailrichmondrefineryinfo@chevron.com. Initial Notification: On April 10, 1989, there was an explosion and fire at Chevron's hydrocarbon cracking tower at the Richmond Long Wharf. He also floated ideas like Chevron putting money into an industrial risk bond that would pay for damage to the city and community the refinery caused. After an initial explosion, a black cloud was visible over the fire, which contained heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and ammonia. Chevron Richmond refinery smoke visible in East, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Map: Track this weekends rain in the Bay Area, Chevron Richmond refinery smoke visible in East Bay. @CoCoHealth HazMat crews on scene doing air monitoring. No actions by the public are needed. Require an oversight committee comprised of the regulator, the company, the companys workforce and their representatives, and community representatives. This process shall use established qualitative, quantitative, and/or semi-quantitative methods such as Layers of Protection Analysis (LOPA). I posted the wrong incident report above. @CoCoHealth HazMat crews on scene doing air monitoring. He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. We are responding to the scene to conduct air monitoring in the surrounding community. Require the analysis and incorporation of applicable industry best practices and inherently safety systems to the greatest extent feasible into this review. Lots of sirens. Around 3 p.m. Contra. Ensure the effective implementation of the damage mechanism hazard review program (2012-03-I-CA-R1 and 2012-03-I-CA-R2), so that all necessary mechanical integrity work at the Chevron Richmond Refinery is identified and recommendations are completed in a timely way. According to this news organizations reporting, the refinery saw multiple flaring reports last year, including two straight days in February 2020 and an August 2020 episode. George Kelly is a breaking news reporter for the Bay Area News Group's East Bay Times and Mercury News. Air District inspectors are on scene investigating and we are working to find the root cause of the smoke in addition to any potential air quality violations. Release has not been stopped and is not contained with no waterways impacted. When you operate industry in an urban environment, there needs to be precautions to protect life.. According to this news organizations reporting, the refinery saw multiple flaring reports within the last year, includingthis Mayand lastAugustandNovember. Require that the reported data be used for continuous process safety improvement and accident prevention; b. Analyze data to identify trends and poor performers and publish annual reports with the data at facility and corporate levels; c. Require companies to publicly report required indicators annually at facility and corporate levels; d. Use process safety indicators (1) to drive continuous improvement for major accident prevention by using the data to identify industry and facility safety trends and deficiencies and (2) to determine appropriate allocation of regulator resources and inspections; and. He has worked as an online coordinator and, before that, a copy editor and page designer for Bay Area-based newspapers and magazines. Release has not been stopped and is not contained with no waterways impacted.. d. Develop process safety culture indicators to measure major accident prevention performance. Revise API 570: Piping Inspection Code: In-service Inspection, Rating, Repair, and Alteration of Piping Systems to: a. This participation shall include contributing relevant data to the repository of investigation and inspection data created by the California Department of Industrial Relations and jointly coordinating activities. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, At first, it was unclear what was causing the black smoke above the Chevron oil refinery, Later, Chevron revealed an "unplanned upset" caused the flaring activity, The same site dealt with a fire on March 25, 1999, with smoke from that explosion pictured here, Chevron refinery fire fears as thick black smoke seen rising from huge 2,900-acre oil site in Richmond California, Inside sinister rise of pink cocaine sweeping UK nightclubs as warring cartels battle to control 'Coca Cola of drugs', We live on Britain's WORST street - it's rife with drug addicts, crime & prostitutes we're terrified for our lives, Man 'naked and covered in blood' arrested before mum found 'murdered' at home as neighbours reveal hearing screams, Leicester 'explosion': Listen to massive 'sonic' boom that shook homes and rattled windows. In a statement, a refinery spokesperson said a process upset that was quickly corrected within the refinery led to a safety flare at 2:40 p.m. The county did not activate its community warning system alert, and there were no plans to ask residents to shelter in place as a result, Sawyer said, adding that county staff were sending a crew to monitor conditions near the refinery on Thursday evening and that officials may ask Chevron to provide a report explaining what triggered the incident. Closed - Acceptable Action (C - AA) - The recipient has completed action on the recommendation. Implement a compensation system to ensure the regulator has the ability to attract and retain a sufficient number of employees with the necessary skills and experience to ensure regulator technical competency at all levels of process safety regulatory oversight and policy development in California. c. If low-silicon components or components with accelerated corrosion are identified in a carbon steel piping circuit meeting the specifications detailed in 2012-03-I-CA-R26(a), require designation of these components as permanent Condition Monitoring Locations (CMLs) until the piping components are replaced. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will convene a public meeting on January 28, 2015, starting at 6:00 p.m. at 440 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA, 94804. Kat Lee, a Richmond resident and activist with the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, said she remembers watching the news of the 2012 explosion from her aunts house in San Leandro, and worrying about the effects the black plume of smoke could have on her mother and sister, then a 2-year-old with asthma. This review shall be an integral part of the Process Hazard Analysis cycle and shall be conducted on all PSM-covered process piping circuits and process equipment. This review shall be an integral part of the process hazard analysis (PHA) cycle and shall be conducted on all covered processes, piping circuits and equipment. Ten years ago, an explosion and fire at the Richmond Chevron refinery poured black smoke and rained acrid chemicals across the East Bay city, sending thousands to hospitals gasping for air..