Posted: 12:39 a.m. Thursday, July 10, 2014
Debate over Chevron refinery expansion in Richmond heats up

Associated Press
Chevron Refinery
By Heather Holmes
KTVU.com
RICHMOND, Calif. —
The battle over Chevron's plans for a $1 billion expansion of its Richmond refinery came to a head Wednesday night as dozens of locals weighed in during a public forum.
The city Planning Commission met at Kennedy High School where commissioners heard hours of public input on the environmental impact report for the Chevron project.
They're deciding whether to certify the report and grant a conditional use permit allowing Chevron to start work.
The project has divided the city, with some torn between the hundreds of jobs it will create and the expected increases in air pollutants it will generate.
"It's all about getting good jobs and they're good paying jobs. They're union jobs," said Troy Tagliaboschi of Richmond company Overaa construction.
He said the project would allow him to hire 50 to 100 employees.
"I just ran into a guy that is not working, that's been off for 11 months and he's waiting for this project to start," Tagliaboschi said.
But environmentalists are skeptical of the project.
"I think this modernization project will actually increase pollution that will greatly affect me, my neighbors, said Andrea Weber of El Sobrante and member of the Center for Biological Diversity.
She's critical of Chevron's proposal to expand the refinery's ability to process crude oil and oil with higher levels of sulfur.
Others said they share that concern especially after the 2012 fire and explosion at the refinery which was caused by a leak in a pipe that had been corroded by sulfur.
"Our job is to move it forward with some recommendations for a safe plant. We're going to put forth some conditions that will ensure the safety of the residents and workers," said Richmond Planning Commissioner Roberto Reyes.
He told KTVU he's happy with most of the changes in the new environmental impact report that will require Chevron to take steps to protect the community's health and safety.
"It's all coming together. It really is," Reyes said.
Chevron officials insist the new project will lead to a safer, cleaner refinery.
"We made the commitment of no net increase in criteria air pollutant greenhouse gas and health risk from toxic air contaminant emissions, so as a result of our project, our emissions won't go up, " said Chevron spokesperson Nicole Barber.
Because of the large turnout, the planning commission scheduled another special meeting for Thursday evening, when it's expected to vote.
Dueling parties debate Chevron refinery project in Richmond

At a hearing both supporters and opponents of the controversial Richmond Chevron refinery modernization project sounded off.

By Laura Anthony
Wednesday, July 09, 2014
RICHMOND, Calif. (KGO) --
A marathon hearing took place in Richmond where Chevron is trying to persuade the planning commission to authorize a controversial refinery modernization project. It's been put on hold for five years because of lawsuits and a big fire in 2012.

Wednesday night a large number of people showed up to the meeting in the first of two sessions before the planning commission. The second meeting will take place on Thursday evening.

Chevron is proposing a $1 billion modernization plan for its Richmond refinery. The company says it will make the plant safer and cleaner, while also creating 1,000 new construction jobs. They maintain this is strictly an effort to replace some of the refinery's oldest equipment with new modern technology.

Critics say this project is nothing more than an effort to mask an expansion that would allow the refinery to process crude that is potentially more polluting and emit more greenhouse gases. Both sides have taken their message directly to the local community.

"It's a reliability project at its core that allows us to replace some of the oldest processing equipment within the refinery. It' also allows us flexibility to process crude oil and gas oil blends with higher sulfur content all while meeting a commitment to no net increase in criteria air pollutant, greenhouse gas and health risk from toxic air contaminant emissions," Chevron spokesperson Nicole Barber said.

These meetings held before the planning commission are so they can consider the environmental impact report, to certify it if they so choose and then the final decision would be made by the Richmond City Council as soon as later this month.

Naomi Williams told the commission, "Please use common sense, at least for once."

She was among 130 public speakers who signed up to tell the Richmond planning commission exactly what they think about Chevron's proposed project.

Richmond resident Antwon Cloird told the commission, "Ya'll got a paycheck. We [haven't eaten] in two years. We lost our homes, we lost cars, our kids didn't get the G.I. Joe with the Kung Fu Grip."

Another resident said, "They will say anything to get out of spending money."

But opponents say the current plan doesn't go far enough in reducing emissions, especially greenhouse gases.

Project opponent Andrea Weber said, "I am tired of Chevron pulling the wool over our eyes on the projects they supposedly say are clean and safe. They are not."

EIR consultant Jennifer Hernandez said, "Under the environmentally superior alternative endorsed by the attorney general, it's actually a net improvement in air quality and health risks."

In the end, there are clearly those who trust Chevron and those who do not, especially after the 2012 refinery fire.

Andres Soto, from Communities for a Better Environment, said, "As far as many of us are concerned in the community, Chevron has zero credibility and there's no reason to trust them because they have consistently, throughout the history of our lives, lied to us."

Asian Pacific Environmental Network, or APEN, member Lipo Chanthanasak said,"Poison from the refinery releases into our community, impacting the health of our community members, including my own family. We need better solutions -- renewable energy owned and operated by our local residents to produce local clean jobs and power."

State Attorney General Kamala Harris last month sent a blistering letter to the city of Richmond criticizing its draft environmental impact report for the project. The letter stressed that the main purpose of the refinery project is to produce higher-sulfur crude oil, the kind that caused the corrosion that led to the refinery's massive August 2012 fire and explosion.

Harris called for a risk-management plan for the project that would fully address the higher risks associated with the higher-sulfur crude. The attorney general later said she would support an alternative plan proposed by Richmond's environmental impact report consultants that would create no increase in greenhouse gas emissions from the refinery.

Part of the new facility had already been constructed before the entire project was brought to a halt by those lawsuits in 2009.

If the planning commission doesn't approve the environmental impact report by July 16, it will go to the City Council for final approval. However, the public has 10 days to appeal the council's decision.

Bay City News contributed to this report
Map My News

Hundreds attend Planning Commission hearing on Chevron Richmond Refinery Modernization Project
July 10, 2014 by Mike Aldax
Hundreds of people packed the Kennedy High School cafeteria Wednesday night in support of the Chevron Richmond Refinery Modernization Project, which is facing a crucial vote by the city Planning Commission.
While most of the overflow crowd supported modernization – with many wearing shirts imprinted with the phrase “Richmond Proud” —  opponents of the project also attended the hearing to voice their concerns.
The commission hearing, which is set to conclude tonight, was held at the high school in anticipation of large crowds, and more than 125 people signed up to speak publicly about the $1 billion project. Commissioners must vote on whether to certify the city’s environmental impact report (EIR) and approve permits for the project.
“A new house is much better than an old house, and safer,” Richmond resident Naomi Williams told commissioners, adding that they should set politics aside and “please use common sense” in favor of the project.
But some of the people who signed up to speak in opposition to the project actually voiced support for modernization, calling on Chevron to do even more to protect West County residents.
“This is not about being for [modernization] or against it,” said Jeff Kilbreth, a member of the Richmond Progressive Alliance. “It’s about getting on the right course with Chevron.”
Henry Clark, an environmental activist with the West County Toxics Coalition, supported modernization, calling it the “best project that I’ve ever seen.”
“This time Chevron has taken a different approach,” Clark said, adding the company has been receptive to the needs of North Richmond and Parchester residents, who live adjacent to the refinery.

The graphic shows two main components of the Chevron Richmond Refinery Modernization Project.
In 2009, a judge halted a larger version of the project on the grounds that the EIR report was incomplete. The latest EIR received praise from all sides of the issue, with experts saying the 1,100-page report sets a new precedent for transparency.
“The EIR is a terrific piece of work,” Kilbreth said. “We know so much more about the refinery.”
Jennifer Hernandez, the Holland & Knight attorney hired by the city to vet the project, called the EIR the best she’s ever worked on in her 30 years of working on environmental reviews.
“I’m proud to be associated with it,” Hernandez said.
At Wednesday’s hearing, Hernandez tried to break down the complex language in the report and show how the project will reduce emissions. For example, the most toxic chemical comes from diesel engine combustion, which doesn’t derive in part from the refinery but from the ships that transport the refinery’s products, Hernandez said. As part of modernization, Chevron will replace the engines of several ships with newer versions.
While Hernandez lauded the EIR, she said an alternative plan submitted by Attorney General Kamala Harris would do even more to improve emissions. Some environmental activists, including Clark, urged the commission to go forward with Harris’s plan.
“The alternative proposal by the attorney general’s office is a net improvement in both air quality and health risks,” Hernandez said.
Kilbreth said he wants Chevron Richmond to also set future emissions goals that will allow it to one day be the “best refinery in America.”
The modernization project would replace an existing hydrogen plant with a modern version that is 20 percent more energy efficient, as well as enhance the refinery’s sulfur recovery units. The project would lead to a reduction in overall emissions, and if approved Chevron has pledged to invest $30 million over 10 years to lower greenhouse gas emissions in the community and create local green jobs.
A large number of supporters at Wednesday’s hearing touted the economic impacts of modernization. The project will create 1,000 construction jobs and 1,300 indirect jobs, along with $220 million in local spending during construction.  An agreement was signed with the city of Richmond and trades unions to ensure local hiring.
Public Comment on Richmond Refinery Renovation Extended to Second Night



(KGO) - Another meeting tonight will give people in Richmond a chance to tell planning commissioners what they think of a proposal to modernize the Chevron refinery.
KGO’s Jenna Lane has more. 
A marathon meeting las tonight was just part one of two. The modernization of Chevron’s Richmond refinery is controversial in a community still upset about the toxic smoke released from a large fire at the plant in 2012. 
Chevron officials have pointed out that increased safety and cleaner emissions are a couple of their goals in the $1B renovation plan. 
It would involve replacing older equipment, but opponents worry that the improvements would lead to Chevron processing crude oil with the potential for greater pollution. 
Chevron spokeswoman Nicole Barber tells KGO the company’s polling shows support for the project. “We know that 70 percent of the residents in Richmond do support us in this endeavor,” she says. 
But that is not completely reflective of the public comment planning commissioners heard last night. 
The commission is considering an environmental impact report, and could send it on to the Richmond City Council for approval next week.