Residents in Richmond hope to learn more about the state of their air quality Monday night during a public meeting focused on the Chevron refinery.
For years, residents have raised concerns about smoke, odors and emissions from the refinery. A report released last month appeared to validate those fears, showing elevated cancer risks for people who live near the facility.
“I don’t feel safe,” Richmond resident Judith Herrera said. “I don’t feel that my family, my kids are safe if it’s against our health.”
The Bay Area Air District’s preliminary health risk assessment found a maximum cancer risk of 37 in a million — more than three times the district’s threshold. It also found short-term non-cancer health risks above the district’s threshold.
The air district will explain the findings at Monday night’s meeting and hear from community members.
“I think that they should invest in how they can continue doing business but protecting the people that are around the area,” Herrera said.
The report linked the cancer risk to pollutants escaping through small leaks at the refinery. The short-term risks are mostly tied to the refinery’s wastewater treatment system.
Chevron has questioned the accuracy of the report. In a previous statement, the company said, “We have identified significant issues in the Bay Area Air District’s Health Risk Assessment that we believe materially overstate the Richmond Refinery’s emissions and modeled health risk.”
Chevron is still within the 90-day period to respond before the findings are finalized. If the findings hold after public comment and review, the air district said Chevron will be required to develop a plan to reduce pollution.
The air district will be accepting public feedback until Nov. 23.
