By Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
The Board of Directors of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (Air District) on Wednesday adopted amendments to regulate emissions of particulate pollutants from oil refineries, which have serious health effects on residents.
After Rule 6-5 was adopted in 2015 to minimize emissions of particulate matter from Fluid Catalytic Cracking Fluid Units (FCCUs), which are the largest single source of particulate matter produced by Bay Area refineries, the new amendments impose stricter control requirements to reduce health-threatening air pollution.
The rule is now the strictest regulation of its kind in the country.
"Today's vote by the Air District Board of Directors is a victory for all Bay Area residents, particularly those who live in the communities surrounding the refineries, as well as the refinery workers who are regularly exposed to harmful particulate pollution," said Santa Clara County Supervisor Cindy Chavez, chair of the Air District Board of Directors.
"We are committed to protecting the health of both refinery workers and neighbors and look forward to implementing this landmark protection rule with Chevron and PBF," she said.
As scientific knowledge about the adverse health effects of particulate pollution advances, tighter controls are needed to protect those who live and work in refinery communities," said Air District chief executive Jack Broadbent.
He said the Air District is committed to reducing exposure to air pollution in impacted areas and "these amendments are a necessary step to control the health hazard of major air pollution in the Bay Area.
Analysis by Air District staff found that PM2.5 particulate matter - fine inhalable particles, with diameters generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller - emitted from FCCUs are the primary health threat in the Bay Area, particularly in terms of premature mortality.
Air District said in a statement that it has calculated that for the one million people most affected, exposure to particulate matter from the Chevron refinery in Richmond increases mortality by an average of up to 11.6 deaths per year, while the PBF Martinez refinery increases mortality by up to 6.3 deaths per year.
Rule 6-5 applies to the four Bay Area refineries that have FCCUs. One of these already controls emissions from its FCCU with a wet scrubber.
More information about Rule 6-5 is available at baaqmd.gov/reg6rule5.
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