Investigations of the fire are currently being conducted by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cal OSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration), Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Contra Costa Health Services, and Chevron. Find out more about their roles below:

Contra Costa County
Please click here for an August 10, 2012, update from Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia. 

On Tuesday, August 14, 2012, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors received a report from Contra Costa Health Services Department staff.  The item is listed on page 2 of the agenda with a staff report on pages 44 and 45 of the meeting packet.  A video recording of the meeting is accessible at the following link under "Item D1 oral report on the event at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond".  

On Tuesday, August 21, 2012, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors received another update from Contra Costa Health Services Department staff during the Board of Supervisors Meeting.  The oral report is listed as item D.1 on the meeting agenda.  A video recording of the meeting is accessible at the following link under "Item D1 oral report on the event at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond."

View more information from Contra Costa County on the Chevron refinery fire health impacts and FAQ. 

Contra Costa County Sheriff

The Contra Costa County Sheriff, Office of Emergency Services (OES) is responsible for Disaster Management and Emergency Preparedness. OES coordinates information, plans for resources, and support priorities among County agencies, local governments, and special Districts.  Interested residents can register to receive alerts on your phone here. 

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) 
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board of Directors will have a special meeting from 9:45AM to 11:00AM on September 10, 2012.  The meeting will take place at the BAAQMD Board Room on the 7th floor Board room at 939 Ellis Street in San Francisco.  Richmond City staff will provide a link to the meeting packet once it becomes available.   

Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) 2012 News Releases regarding the Chevron fire including the initial statement and ongoing investigation can be found here. The news releases include the following:

- Air District statement on particulate matter from smoke analysis (08/23/12)
- Air District statement on continued Chevron investigation (8/09/2012)
- Air District statement on Chevron fire air quality amples (8/07/2012) 
- Air District statement on Chevron fire (8/07/2012) 

The Chevron Refinery Incident Sample Results and Sample Map results of air samples collected by BAAQMD during the August 6^thfire are available online.  

BAAQMD requires that refineries within the District have flare minimization plans in place to prevent and reduce the number of flaring incidents.  Flare minimization plans and annual reporting updates for each Bay Area refinery can be found here.  Refinery flare monitoring data can be found on the following BAAQMD webpage.  The data is based on reports submitted by each refinery to the District on a monthly basis.

Bay Area Quality Management District: (415) 771-6000

U.S. Chemical Safety Board 
On August 11, 2012, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced that it will pursue a full investigation to determine the causes of Monday’s fire at the Chevron oil refinery.  The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. Please visit the CSB’s website for up-to-date information.  

On Thursday, August 16^th, CSB issued the following statement: “CSB are continuing with interviews. Today the CSB received a large volume of documents from Chevron, including pipe thickness measurements on the 8 inch pipe - the CSB is currently reviewing these documents. The team has not moved any closer to the location of the release due to the ongoing concern of nearby hydrocarbons. Chevron is working on a plan on how to clear out and isolate the nearby line.”  

On Friday, August 17th, CSB  issued the following statement: "Progress continues today on the investigation of the August 6 fire at the Chevron Richmond Refinery.  This afternoon the CSB and Cal-OSHA both signed an agreement providing for sustained cooperation at the site, including the ongoing preservation of the accident site and the identification and testing of evidence.  The CSB looks forward to the inclusion of Chevron and the United Steelworkers Union in the agreement, which will provide a blueprint for the orderly conduct of the various investigations and inspections.  Future agreements should cover the independent testing of the pipe that failed and any other key pieces of evidence.  All parties continue to cooperate.

The immediate area of the failed pipe remains hazardous for entry due to hydrocarbons and structural issues.  A plan is under development for making the site safe for entry.

On Monday, August 20th, CSB Chairman Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso plans to travel to San Francisco and tour the accident site. The CSB investigation team will continue work at the site this weekend, but no further updates are planned, and no spokespeople will be available."

Please click here for CSB news releases including the following:
- CSB to Pursue Full Investigation of August 6 Fire at Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California (8/11/2012) 
- CSB Deploying to Fire and Explosion at the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California (8/08/2012) 
- CSB Investigators Examine Accident Site at Chevron Refinery: Video (8/14/2012) 

For further information contact Communications Director Hilary Cohen at (202) 446-8094, Sandy Gilmour at (202) 251-5496 or the U.S. Chemical Safety Board mainline at (202) 261-7630.

California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal/OSHA) 
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health, commonly known as Cal/OSHA, enforces worker safety and health standards and regulations and assists employees in complying with workplace safety and health regulations. On August 27, 2012, Cal/OSHA released the following statement on the status and role of Cal/OSHA's ongoing investigation at the refinery. 

City of Richmond The City is continuing to receive updates from various governmental agencies involved in determining the public health impacts, results from air quality testing, and the current status of multiple ongoing investigations.   We will continue to update the City’s website with up-to-date information as we receive it.  Residents can also receive weekly updates from the City Manager by signing up for the City Manager weekly report here. Archives of the City Manager's weekly report can be found here.

As a result of the Chevron Refinery fire and in an effort to protect public health and sanitation, the City of Richmond’s Parks and Landscaping Division performed a general wash down of all park play equipment, benches, picnic tables, and drinking fountains at all of the City’s 53 park sites. Work began on Wednesday, August 8, 2012. 

City Manager's Office Contact Number: (510) 620-6512.

Links to Additional Information Contra Costa Health Services: (925) 335-3200
Health Emergencies Information
Shelter-In-Place Information
CCHS Facebook page and Twitter page
Contra Costa Community Awareness and Community Response (CAER): (925) 313-9296
Contra Costa County Office of Emergency Services: (925) 228-5000
Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office - Community Warning System: (925) 313-9603
Office of the Sheriff Community Warning System Twitter
Contra Costa County Disaster Preparedness Services information (PDF)Odor Call Line: (510) 242-2127
Kaiser Richmond: (510) 307-1500
Doctor's Medical Center: (510) 970-5000 Brookside Community Health Center: (510) 231-9800
United Way of Bay Area Help Line: 2-1-1