Two refineries in Contra Costa County have agreed to end lawsuits against the Bay Area Air Quality Management District in a settlement that includes millions of dollars in payouts from Chevron.
BAAQMD officials announced Tuesday that they have reached separate agreements with the Chevron Richmond Refinery and the Martinez Refining Company over the district’s so-called “Regulation 6, Rule 5.”
That rule is intended to reduce emissions of particulate matter from the refineries’ fluidized catalytic cracking units (FCCUs), which are used to make gasoline and are the largest sources of such emissions, according to district officials.
“As a result of Chevron and MRC’s compliance with Rule 6-5, there will be an estimated 70 percent reduction of (particulate matter) emissions from Chevron’s FCCU and an 80 percent reduction from MRC’s FCCU,” BAAQMD officials said in a news release.
As part of the agreement Chevron will reduce emissions and faces up to $85 million in fines for any potential future violations past the compliance deadline of July 2026.
The company also agreed to pay $20 million into a Richmond-area Community Air Quality Fund on top of a $3.5 million annual payment to the fund for four years, according to air district officials.
Chevron will also pay a $20 million fine for 678 other violations, will implement “measures designed to reduce persistent flaring” and will pay up to $500,000 of the district’s attorney fees.
“Today, Chevron and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) have reached an agreement that reduces particulate matter emissions at our Richmond facility and allocates funding for air quality projects in the Richmond area,” Chevron said in a social media post Tuesday. “The agreement provides a benefit to the Richmond community and solidifies Chevron Richmond as an essential producer of energy for the Bay Area and California.”
In a separate agreement, the Martinez Refining Company “will demonstrate compliance with the regulation using a continuous monitoring system instead of periodic quarterly stack testing” and will pay up to $500,000 of the district’s attorney fees.
“Martinez Refining Company (MRC) is pleased to announce that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) has approved an Alternative Emission Monitoring System (AEMS) for purposes of MRC’s compliance with Rule 6-5 effective July 2026 and, as a result, we have agreed to withdraw our lawsuit against the BAAQMD challenging Rule 6-5,” Martinez Refining Company posted.
There is a much easier way, close the refineries and refine outside borders of CA where there exists political stability and regulatory certainty. Then add the cost of transportation there by raising cost consumers will pay at the pump.
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After 122 years of conducting business in Pittsburg U.S. Steel voted with their feet.
Shutting down the net $50,000,000 a year profitable operation rather than continue doing business in CA.
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In addition to elimination of almost 700 living wage jobs in Pittsburg, U.S. Steel announced steelmaking at the Granite City, Illinois Works plant is closing. An additional 1,000 living wage jobs lost.
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There are six steel can manufacturing plants in CA, Pittsburg plant used to supply all their tin plate steel.
No word on how loss of their steel supplier will effect can production or if there will be enough cans for upcoming summers’ canning season. Will have to wait to see how large, CA produced canned goods, a price increases will be.
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But of no matter to the eco-wonderkin, on the never ending and their complete unaccountability for negative consequences of their quests.
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Surrounding cities as well as CoCo county will soon feel the loss of tax revenue, purchasing power wiped out by plant closure. Additionally for every steel worker job eliminated between 7 to 9 workers in companies that supplied goods and services to steel plant will be negatively effected. With some becoming unemployed due to employers’ loss of revenue.
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One can only hope resulting public entity budget shortfalls will result in a few eco-wonderkins learning what it feels like to be without employment.
Clarification Granite City works furnished coils of unfinished steel which Pittsburg plant made into a finished salable product. Additionally all during covid lock down U.S. Steel Pittsburg plant was designated an essential producer that had to remain open and operating.
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JG27 AD, …
You are correct. Bay Area has more than it’s share of shallow thinkers content to accept as both news and fact whatever their hand held device spews towards them. Also proven by election results candidate or ballot initiative spending most money on advertising wins.
Supporters of Prop 1 have $10,764,084.60 to spend.
In a matter of days expect all forms of non stop advertising pollution.
http://tinyurl.com/3cxfct56
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Doesn’t matter if it’s Prop 1 of shiff for brains running for senate.
Too many CA voters have the attention span of a fungus gnat.
Hogwash. You can make a healthy profit without spewing toxins into the air, water and soil. That’s what this is about, profit margins. That’s it, end of rational discussion.
Original G. I doubt the average voter in the Bay Area can make the connection between these heavy industries and the cost/quality of life.
AD
I’d watch them. They might be lying.