MARTINEZ — Contra Costa County is looking for volunteers from the area of a refinery that released hazardous metal-laden dust for six hours on Thanksgiving to help oversee an independent investigation of the facility.
Health officials with the county in a statement said the volunteers are needed for a committee that will oversee the investigation into the Martinez Refining Company.
On Thanksgiving, the refinery leaked a white powdery substance that had higher-than-normal amounts of heavy metals, which over time can cause breathing issues. The refinery is located in the 3400 block of Pacheco Boulevard and owned by PBF Energy. It was once owned by Dutch company Shell Oil.
The independent investigation will run parallel to an investigation that the Martinez Refinery Company is required to conduct.
Health officials said the leaked material contained aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and zinc in higher levels than are considered safe.
The committee will be nine members and chaired by a staff member from the county’s hazardous materials program. Five volunteers will represent the people of Martinez and Pacheco, where the leak occurred. Representatives from the City of Martinez, the Martinez Refining Company and labor organizations representing the refinery’s workers also will be on the committee.
A subcommittee of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors tasked the Contra Costa Health Department with rounding up the volunteers.
In its statement, Contra Costa Health Services said the oversight committee will advise the Board of Supervisors and hazardous materials program on the hiring of contractors to probe the cause of the Thanksgiving release. The committee also will advise those officials on the effect the leak had on community health and the environment.
Health officials said the refinery company did not report the release via the county’s Community Warning System or directly to the health department. Those actions would be violations of the county’s notification policy, because they prevented an immediate response, officials said.
Health department officials have referred the case to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office.
The refinery has had flaring episodes since the Thanksgiving leak, including an incident Dec. 22 that prompted a demand from hazardous materials officials for a 72-hour report from the company to explain it.
Volunteers can apply for an at-large seat on the committee by filling out the online form at cchealth.org/hazmat or by sending an email to hazmat.arpteam@cchealth.org. The email must include your name, address and a brief statement about why you want to participate.
Residents of Martinez and Pacheco and the surrounding unincorporated areas who are at least 18 years old will be considered. County Supervisor Federal Glover’s office will pick the members. The deadline to apply is Jan. 27. Interested volunteers can phone 925-655-3200 for assistance.
Source: www.mercurynews.com