Order forces refinery to clean up its act

By Caitilin McAdoo, Bay City News Service

September 1, 2006

MARTINEZ (BCN) - Tesoro's Golden Eagle Refinery in Martinez is investing in a multi million dollar equipment upgrade that promises to cut down on air pollution and reduce incidents of flaring, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

The upgrade comes as a result of an abatement order issued by the air district after the refinery spewed out sooty particulate pollution over a 19-day period in January 2005, leaving black fallout in the surrounding community. In addition to the upgrade, the air district and the Contra Costa County district attorney's office collected over $1 million in fines following the incident.

The upgrade will consist of a $300 million replacement of the refinery's coker, a unit that processes heavy petroleum feedstocks into lighter refined products. The new coker, which will is scheduled to be up and running by July of 2008, is expected to reduce incidents of emissions. It is also designed to reduce other pollutants during routine use.

According to a study conducted by the air district, the new coker is designed to emit 3,000 tons less sulfur dioxide, nearly 700 tons less ammonia, nearly 300 tons less nitrogen oxide and an estimated 50 tons less carbon monoxide and particulate matter annually than the current coker.

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