Richmond limits Chevron's crude oil

Contra Costa Times ^ | 6/7/8 | Katherine Tam - West County Times

[SmithL]

Richmond city officials' decision to restrict the crude oil the Chevron refinery can process if it upgrades its facility could drastically affect the company's plans.

After five hours of public testimony and deliberations, the Richmond Planning Commission early Friday morning approved a crude limit to calm public fears over increased pollution and health risks.

"Let's try something a bit ground-breaking and see if it flies," Commissioner Charles Duncan said. "The health of the community is at stake."

Exactly how much the new crude cap will alter Chevron's plan to upgrade equipment will depend on how extensive that cap is. The commission directed city staff to return June 19 with legal language for a "comprehensive cap" that limits how much crude the refinery would process as well as the kind of crude.

One commissioner expressed interest in restricting the sulfur content to 1.5 percent, a major change from what Chevron has pitched. Chevron wants to replace its hydrogen plant, power plant and reformer to refine a wider range of crude that includes increasing the sulfur content from around 1.5 percent to a maximum of 3 percent.

"The whole point of the project was to enable Chevron to respond to the change in the global crude market," refinery spokesman Dean O'Hair said. The company expects sulfur content in the light to intermediate crudes it handles to go up.

The Planning Commission's vote was 3-2, with Duncan, Nagaraja Rao and Stephen Williams in the majority. Commissioners Virginia Finlay and Jeff Lee, who cast the dissenting votes, preferred a city consultant's recommendation to restrict the crude running through one machine regarded as a critical point in the refining process. Consultant Ranajit Sahu said that would accomplish the same thing as a comprehensive crude cap, but it would be easier to enforce.

Project opponents, who lobbied persistently for a broad crude cap, heralded the decision as an environmental victory.

"The proposed cap by one unit by the city staff was a good start, but it was not sufficient," said Roger Kim, assistant director of the Oakland-based Asian Pacific Environmental Network.

"The commissioners recognized that and should be commended for requesting a comprehensive cap."

The earliest the commission could grant Chevron a permit with a crude cap would be June 19.

Anyone can appeal the decision to the City Council, whose members have expected the issue to reach them eventually.

O'Hair said the company would wait to see what kind of cap planning commissioners approve before deciding to appeal.

Chevron's proposal has been the subject of public debate and protests since it was first pitched a few years ago.

Discussion has centered mostly on whether upgrades would allow Chevron to refine more contaminated crude that some fear would increase pollution and health problems.

Other issues have included greenhouse gas emissions and flaring at the refinery.

Refinery representatives say replacing 40- to 70-year-old equipment will mean a safer, more efficient facility. They said they will continue to process light to intermediate crude, and overall emissions won't increase.

Project opponents have sought guarantees in the form of tougher restrictions. In addition to the crude cap, they asked city officials to revise and recirculate the project's environmental impact report, which they say is incomplete.

The signs that peppered Kennedy High School's multipurpose room at the Planning Commission's hearing Thursday night showed the public divide.

Opponents' signs declared "Don't Let Chevron Gamble With Richmond's Future" and "No Toxic Pollution" in their call for a crude cap. "Someone always has to begin an innovation; let it be Richmond," resident Michael Beer said.

Chevron supporters, many of them employees, had a different message: "Yes for Chevron; Yes for Richmond Jobs."

"It gives Richmond hope," resident Antwon Cloird said, adding that employed residents can bolster tax revenue for the city.

In the end, the Planning Commission decided not to recirculate the EIR. Instead, commissioners certified the report as complete, while acknowledging the document is imperfect.

They removed provisions from the proposed permit that are commonly referred to as a "community benefits agreement."

The provisions would have required Chevron to give a total of $1 million a year to the city's construction training program, summer youth employment and an industrial arts training academy; create an urban forest in the city; and provide semiannual reports to the Richmond Neighborhood Coordinating Council, which is a coalition of neighborhood groups.

Finlay is a member of the Coordinating Council.

It is unfair to require Chevron to do what other businesses aren't, commissioners said.

Instead, these "community benefits," combined with a request that Chevron donate land and funding to expand the Bay Trail at the edge of the refinery, will be forwarded to the City Council for consideration.

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ACORN member Lorie Chinn yells during an anti-Chevron rally before the Richmond Planning Commission meeting at Kennedy High School in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, June 05, 2008. Chevron is proposing to replace its hydrogen plant, power plant and reformer with new equipment at its Richmond refinery, sparking public debate on a number of issues.


Richmond Mayor Gayle McLaughlin (right) addresses protestors while Mari Roes Taruc looks on during an anti-Chevron rally before the Richmond Planning Commission meeting at Kennedy High School in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, June 5, 2008. Chevron is proposing to replace its hydrogen plant, power plant and reformer with new equipment at its Richmond refinery sparking public debate on a number of issues.


Pro Chevron demonstrator Antwon Cloird (left), of Local #374 and a Richmond resident, argues with Juan Reardon, of Richmond, and Jessica Tovar (right), of Communities for a Better Environment (CBE), during an anti-Chevron rally before the Richmond Planning Commission meeting at Kennedy High School in Richmond, Calif. on Thursday, June 05, 2008. Chevron is proposing to replace its hydrogen plant, power plant and reformer with new equipment at its Richmond refinery sparking public debate on a number of issues.

[goldstategop]

How the hell do liberals think gasoline is processed? Oh yeah - its out of thin air. We don need no stinkin' refinery in Richmond!

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[livius]

I did note that one the pro-Chevron protester shown was also black, btw, and he was trying to point out to what appeared to be a bearded white liberal male and a droopy white liberal female that Chevron=jobs for Richmond.

[43north]

The “people” of California are allowing their state to be legislated out of existence.

After all of the businesses and working folks move out who will be left to pay the taxes that support this marxist utopia?

[Texas Eagle]

One small problem with Chevron leaving Richmond. Chevron would have to pay billions (if not tens of billions) to clean up the site they left behind.

I wonder if the city of Richmond knows that.

Yeah. I bet they do.

[King_Corey]

You took the words right out of my mouth!

[Cymbaline]

Where’s Ellis Wyatt when you need him?

“I am leaving it as I found it. Take it. It’s yours.”

[TYVets]

When did Richmond become yankee country?

[dennisw]

We are soooooooo.... screwed!

[RightWhale]

It appears the party is over. Well, at least we have each other. LOL

[RoadTest]

“Richmond limits Chevron’s crude oil”

. . . thus adding to the price anguish.

[NonValueAdded]

From Bladerunner: “Then we’re stupid, and we’ll die.”

[Godzilla]

I can’t believe the stupidity of those idiots (banging head against wall).

[berdie]

later

[peter the great]

Believe it or not he’s on our side

[Paperdoll]

LOL! Don’t most mayors look like loons?

[xzins]

They can’t move. New refineries can’t be built.

It would have to be an upgrade to a different refinery.

[Farmer Dean]

I live about 45 miles southwest of Cleveland.Dennis Kosinich was/is the Gold Standard for loons that were mayor.I even remember when Ralph Perk set his own hair on fire with a cutting torch.Another loony Cleveland mayor.

[WOSG]

“The provisions would have required Chevron to give a total of $1 million a year to the city’s construction training program, summer youth employment and an industrial arts training academy; create an urban forest in the city”

That is extortion and blackmail on the part of the local Govt.

If anyone but the Govt was doing it, it would be a felony.

[STONEWALLS]

“That is extortion and blackmail on the part of the local Govt.
If anyone but the Govt was doing it, it would be a felony.”

....yep, that’s exactly what it is alright!...and it’s becoming all the more common...Jesse Jackson pioneered the race card corporate shakedown over 20 years ago....now other grievance groups are piling on....we stockholders are STUPID for allowing company management to get away with this....look for a whole lot more “community reinvestment” presssure if Obama gets in....his wife has already told young people “..don’t go into business, be an activist”