EPA cites 62 Richmond violations by Chevron

Release of the flammable vapor cloud that led to the fire at the Chevron Oil refinery in Richmond Calif, Aug 6, 2012. By Tony Lee/Special to the Chronicle Release of the flammable vapor cloud that led to the fire at the Chevron Oil refinery in Richmond Calif, Aug 6, 2012. By Tony Lee/Special to the Chronicle Photo: Tony Lee {fototaker} Photo: Tony Lee {fototaker} Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close EPA cites 62 Richmond violations by Chevron 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency notified Chevron on Tuesday that the company could face fines of $37,500 for every day it fails to rectify 62 regulatory violations the agency has identified since the smoky Richmond refinery fire last year.

In a letter that marked the first step in fining Chevron for the Aug. 6, 2012 fire that sent 15,000 people to hospitals complaining of breathing problems, the EPA's Western Regional Administrator, Jared Blumenfeld, said Chevron "repeatedly failed to follow its own practices, plans, and recommendations" to limit the danger of such an environmental calamity.

The massive fire began with the leak of a heavily corroded pipe in the refinery's crude oil processing unit - a system that Chevron had repeatedly identified as being at risk from sulfur-related corrosion. The pipe had lost 90 percent of its original thickness, investigators said.

When it burst, a vapor cloud set off a stubborn blaze that fouled nearby communities with black smoke and toxic fallout for hours. Chevron's behavior - before, during and after the Richmond fire - "raises concerns" about whether it is able to follow all of EPA's rules, Blumenfeld said in his letter to Kory Judd, chosen by Chevron to manage the refinery after the disaster.

'Serious issues'

In an interview, Blumenfeld stressed that the problems his agency found at Chevron remain unaddressed. Specifically, he said, a string of makeshift clamps used to repair old leaks remains in place, when new pipe needs to be installed.

"You don't get 62 counts unless you have some very serious issues that need to be addressed in your culture of safety," he said. "We did a very long and deep dive across many systems in the refinery - we identified pretty systemic problems."

If the company had complied with its own federally mandated plan to reduce the risk of failure, he added, "we believe this accident would not have happened."

The EPA probe found that Chevron did not keep accurate records about its refinery piping; did not properly inspect or test piping in the crude unit that was identified as at risk from corrosion; and failed to understand just how catastrophic such a failure could be. Close to 20 workers narrowly averted being killed by the ignited vapor cloud.

Lax reporting

Blumenfeld also said in his letter that his agency found 13 instances in which the refinery had failed to promptly report the release of toxic material into the air.

Within 30 days, Chevron must provide the EPA with a plan detailing how it will comply with federal regulations. The agency will review that plan for any "remaining gaps," with any unaddressed violations punishable by a fine of $37,500 per day, per violation.

"Your compliance," Blumenfeld concluded, "is essential for the health, safety and well being of the residents in the city of Richmond and surrounding communities."

Chevron said Tuesday that it is reviewing the letter and is "committed to work with the EPA and the other agencies" probing the accident. The company said it had spent more than 1.9 million hours repairing and improving the crude unit as well as $10 million to better monitor the air surrounding its refinery.