Tosco's Troubles at California Refineries

Just as refining and labor groups are attempting to build support for new community-relations regulations in Contra Costa County, a spate of accidents and spills at Tosco's two refineries there, Avon (near Martinez) and Rodeo, threaten to derail the plan. According to a recent report in the San Francisco Chronicle, there have been five incidents during July and August:

• On July 29, a furnace fire at Avon
  
• On Aug. 3, power lines sagging in the summer heat knocked power out, necessitating the emergency burn-off of 2.5 tons of oil and gas at Avon
  
• Also on Aug. 3, a gas leak caused a major unit shutdown at Rodeo
  
• On Aug. 5, a malfunctioning switch caused the leakage of several tons of gas at Avon
  
• On Aug. 21, a storage tank overflowed, spilling 3,800 gal of fuel oil at Avon

  In 1996, the County had passed a "Good Neighbor" ordinance that required refiners to obtain permits for revamps and major maintenance work; this rule had been held up in court disputes until recently. But, because of jurisdictional legalities, the only refineries the rule affects are Tosco's. More recently, Tosco and local labor unions have been pushing an alternative proposal to require better recordkeeping of construction and emergency plans. That the accidents occurred while this was coming forward is "unfortunate," Tosco VP John Miller told the Chronicle. "The plain fact is, we're very disappointed in our performance."

  The support of the local Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers union in pushing the alternative rule forward is also complicated by disciplinary action taken by Tosco over workers it blames for the accidents. Meanwhile, local environmental groups are disgruntled with the support being indicated by local political leaders for the revised regulation.

  Edited by Nick Basta