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Big West defends handling of ammonia leak
| Wednesday, May 21 2008 7:10 PM
Last Updated: Thursday, May 22 2008 7:17 AM
Refinery officials said Thursday one cup of anhydrous ammonia is what set off an alarm at the refinery this weekend, an event that has a state senator and county supervisor calling for a full-scale investigation.
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Aerial photograph of Big West refinery.
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Come investigate, said Big West Health, Safety and Environmental Director Bill Chadick.
“We would welcome anybody coming out here,” Chadick said. “We think the more disclosure we can do, the better they can see how we run our operation. And we're very pleased with how we run it.”
The company said it stands behind its response to the incident despite mounting criticism of it. State Sen. Dean Florez, D-Shafter, and Supervisor Mike Maggard issued separate calls this week for regulators to investigate the refinery’s safety following the release.
Florez has asked the state attorney general’s office to look into the facility’s compliance record while Maggard has requested the county fire and environmental health departments fully analyze the leak and Big West’s response.
Florez said Big West failed to notify local fire and environmental inspectors when the leak was detected. According to the state’s Health and Safety Code, Florez said, facilities must report “any release or threatened release of a hazardous material.”
County fire and hazmat crews did respond to the incident Sunday but only because an off-duty police officer who lives near the refinery heard the evacuation alarm and contacted the police station.
Big West said the leak was so small that contacting authorities wasn’t required.
Chadick said the company has determined that one cup of anhydrous ammonia dripped from a faulty valve on a storage tank Sunday. The ammonia droplets immediately vaporized and the fumes set off ammonia alarms in the area.
The leak was immediately stopped and no one was injured, Chadick said. The company didn’t contact fire or county environmental regulators because the leak was so small and posed no threat.
“Clearly for us to see a few drops, we didn't feel it posed a threat to the neighborhood or employees,” he said.
Chadick quoted a different set of state rules — the state’s Code of Regulations — which says reporting of an incident “... shall not be required if there is a reasonable belief that the release or threatened release poses no significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety ...”
Furthermore, Chadick said, the state Office of Emergency Services only requires notification of an anhydrous ammonia release when 100 pounds or more is spilled. The one cup that leaked was equal to 1/2 pound, Chadick said.
Chadick touted the fact Big West was recently recognized for going a full year without an accident that caused employees to miss work.
The refinery has become a community focal point after announcing plans last year to expand and build new units that would require the use of hazardous chemicals. In the past year, it has been scrutinized by Kern County Environmental Health Services for how it handled several gas releases that affected surrounding neighborhoods.
Florez has also criticized the facility’s plans to start using another hazardous chemical following the expansion.
Chadick said Big West has invited Florez to discuss his concerns about Sunday’s leak and the refinery’s proposed $700 million expansion, but the senator has so far declined.
Florez said Wednesday he plans to ask questions of Big West officials during a senate committee hearing he plans to hold in Bakersfield in June on the refinery’s ammonia release.