RICHMOND — Chevron has issued a community warning after a problem at its refinery in Richmond caused a flare to go off, which is emitting an unknown quantity of sulfur dioxide vapor, according to a hazardous materials spill report filed with the state.
The malfunction, which began around 12:15 p.m. Sunday, was caused after a problem with a process unit caused refinery staff to “send excess gas to the flare,” according to the report. Flares are used to burn off excess emissions.
Members of the public reported smoke coming from the facility, according to the report. Freelance journalist Brian Krans tweeted a photo of what appears to be a plume of smoke rising from the refinery.
This is fine. pic.twitter.com/GvsYnDkVzq
— Brian Krans ☀️ (@citizenkrans) March 17, 2019
Chevron spokesman Braden Reddall said the incident is ongoing and the company is investigating what caused the problem, but does not believe it poses an environmental threat to local residents.
The level one community warning issued by the company is the lowest on the scale and suggests “no safety concern for our residents,” said Reddall, who pointed to a website where residents can view emissions data.
“We want to assure our neighbors that flares are highly regulated safety devices, used in refineries to relieve pressure during the refining processes and help keep our equipment and plants operating safely,” Reddall said in a statement.
Reddall said he did not know how long the flare will continue burning or how long it will take for staff at the plant to fix the issue.
The refinery issued a similar warning earlier this month after a power outage.
Last year, Chevron agreed to pay a nearly $3 million fine and spend $160 million on environmental improvements and upgrades at its oil refineries nationwide to resolve allegations the company violated pollution laws, according to the Associated Press.
The fine, in part, was to resolve investigations into a 2012 fire at the Richmond refinery that prompted the evacuation of 14,000 presidents. Chevron also agreed to spend $20 million on improving the Richmond facility to settle claims made by California regulators, according to the AP report.
In 2016, two separate malfunctions at the Richmond plant, caused by communication issues between refinery workers and a clogged pump line, may have emitted large amounts of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas into the air, according to a company investigation reported by KQED.
