U.S. CSB Proposes Changes for How Refineries are Regulated in California
The proposal comes in the wake of the Chevron 2012 pipe rupture and fire in the Bay Area
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has proposed recommendations for changes to the way in which refineries are regulated in California, according to a press release from CSB’s website. The report, titled “Regulatory Report: Chevron Richmond Refinery Pipe Rupture and Fire” asks California to eliminate the current “reactive” and “activity-based” regulations and instead use more rigorous regulations.
The report is the second in a three part series of CSB’s investigation into the 2012 Chevron pipe explosion and fire. The CSB calls for stricter, more performance-based regulations at California refineries that are similar to the processes used in the UK, Norway and Australia. The method employed is called the “safety case” system. The safety case system requires companies to demonstrate to regulators, in a safety report, how they are controlling major hazards and reducing risks. The reports are then reviewed, audited and enforced by highly trained regulatory inspectors, according to the press release.
The August 2012 rupture and fire “endangered 19 workers and sent more than 15,000 residents to the hospital to seek medical attention,” according to the press release.
For more information, visit CSB.gov.