Richmond Hosts Public Meeting Tonight on Chevron Reconstruction

By Bay City News Service

Richmond city officials are holding a public meeting tonight, Wednesday, to discuss the rebuilding of the crude oil unit that was torched in the August Chevron refinery fire.

Representatives from Contra Costa County, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Cal/OSHA, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are expected to attend the meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in City Council chambers at 440 Civic Center Plaza.

The city is responsible for issuing building permits for the reconstruction of the damaged crude unit.

City Councilman Tom Butt said tonight's meeting will be "an opportunity to provide input into the process before these permits are issued."

City planners will talk about the materials that will be used to reconstruct pipes in the unit and there will be an update on various state and federal investigations into the massive Aug. 9 blaze.

Last week, Chevron submitted to the city a detailed risk analysis report about the type of material used to repair the damaged pipe, according to city officials.

Jim McLaughlin, the city's metallurgical consultant, and David Hendrix, a metallurgical engineering consultant recently retained by the city, are reviewing Chevron's analysis.

Butt said he believes the rebuilding and permitting process in the wake of the fire is now "about as transparent as it can be."

Copyright © 2012 by Bay City News, Inc. – Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.