Community group will join probe of toxic Chevron fire

[Starry Messenger]

http://www.peoplesworld.org/community-group-will-join-probe-of-toxic-chevron-fire/

In an unprecedented move, a community environmental organization will participate directly in investigating the disastrous Aug. 6 fire at Richmond, Calif.'s Chevron refinery. Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) announced Aug. 14 that it has accepted an invitation to join in a city-county "root cause analysis" of the incident that sent plumes of toxic smoke pouring over the city and neighboring communities.

CBE community organizer Andrés Soto said in a telephone interview that the "close incident review" under an industrial safety ordinance adopted by the city of Richmond and surrounding Contra Costa County was originally planned to include only "government actors." But, Soto said, "we have been working with people in the county and city so closely that when we said, 'hey, it's time to include the community at the table,' they chose to go ahead and do that." He called the step "unprecedented."

All information given the city and county will be "shared with all committee members including community members," and will add weight to community demands for greater safety, Soto said.

Noting that Chevron is preparing an environmental impact review of its plans to modernize and upgrade the refinery, Soto said CBE would like to go beyond the current requirement that emissions be limited to current levels, and demand that emissions be reduced. He added, "We also want to see Chevron endow a community environmental justice fund that will help the environmental justice community in Richmond, and help fund and stimulate urban agriculture, and use that as a way for employment."

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[bayareaboy]

1. I wish them good luck ...

But I figure that the first time there is a meeting with Chevron being present, they will ask to have them thrown out.