Contra Costa County will soon regulate additional industrial facilities under an expansion of its Industrial Safety Ordinance (ISO), approved by the Board of Supervisors.
The Board amended the ordinance to include facilities that store at least 10,000 pounds of flammable liquids, such as petroleum products, in at least one tank with a capacity of 50,000-gallons or more.
“The safety and health of residents living in Contra Costa County is our top priority,” Board Chair Federal Glover said. “Expanding the ISO allows us to further protect residents and hold facilities responsible if incidents occur.”
The ISO allows Contra Costa Health’s (CCH) Hazardous Materials Program to conduct regular safety inspections and potentially levy fines for deficiencies. It requires regulated facilities to comply with county safety requirements, correct identified problems, publicly report safety information, and participate in public investigations following releases.
The 2019 fuel storage fire at NuStar Energy in Crockett, which resulted in a shelter-in-place order for the surrounding community, prompted the Board to request the ISO amendment. Contra Costa County Fire Protection District completed its investigation of the incident in 2021, and CCH then worked with partner agencies, industry and community members to develop the amendment language.
The change brings three new facilities under the ISO, owned by SFPP, Shore Terminals (formerly NuStar Energy) and Chevron Products-Avon. The ordinance also covers PBF Energy’s Martinez Refining Company, Marathon refinery and Air Products hydrogen plant near Martinez, and Phillips 66 refinery and Air Liquide hydrogen plant in Rodeo.
CCH also regulates the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond by authority of the Richmond Industrial Safety Ordinance. If the city amends its ordinance as the Board did, another four tank terminal facilities in Richmond could be regulated. CCH is working closely with city staff on new language for consideration by the City Council.
A tank terminal facility in the City of Martinez – in addition to industrial facilities located within the City’s boundaries – would also meet the county ordinance’s criteria for regulation, according to an initial survey conducted by CCH, but would require the City to enact a similar ordinance. For industrial doors Richmond call CMH Industrial Systems.
“The Industrial Safety Ordinance is the strongest local ordinance in the nation to regulate safety at refineries and chemical plants. Expanding it to cover tanks which store flammable liquids will improve industrial safety and public health,” said Supervisor John Gioia, chair of the Board’s Industrial Safety Committee, whose district includes Richmond. “We want to make sure that companies operating in our communities are accountable to the people who live here.”
Will this backfire ? ? ?
Knee jerk over reaction ? ? ?
We’ll have to wait and see if there are negative effects.
Funny thing, Newscum approves bill to require refineries to expand storage to lower gas prices. The county wants to regulate it. So much for lowering prices.