Fed board rejects refinery safety recommendation
Jan 16, 2014, 6:06 PM
RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) – The federal officials probing a 2012 fire at a Northern California Chevron refinery have voted against recommending a tougher, European-style refinery safety system.
The San Jose Mercury News reports (
http://bit.ly/1b6cQzH) that a divided U.S. Chemical Safety Board voted Wednesday against recommending implementation of the so-called “safety case structure,” which forces a company to document how it’s reducing risks.
Those who voted against the safety case recommendation say it’s too complex and would take too long to implement.
The board has 120 days to modify the report.
The investigation stemmed from an Aug. 6, 2012, fire at the Richmond refinery caused by an old, corroded pipe that Chevron failed to properly monitor and replace. More than 15,000 people sought treatment for respiratory and other discomforts after the blaze.
___
Information from: San Jose (Calif.) Mercury News,
http://www.mercurynews.com
(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
