June 06, 2023
City Council
DATE: June 6, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez
Subject:
Resolution in support of AB 1465, Sponsored by
Assembly Member Buffy Wicks
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to supporting the resolution.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
The City Council has always taken a position to hold
refineries accountable for violations.
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The Chevron refinery has dramatically increased its total number of violations of existing regulations and its
planned and unplanned flaring incidents over the past
four years. AB 1465 seeks to triple the fines for refinery violations.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution in support of Assembly Bill 1465,
sponsored by Assembly Member Buffy Wicks to triple
fines for refinery violations - Councilmember Claudia
Jimenez (510-620-6565).
DISCUSSION:
Refineries generate a large percentage of the total violations of existing environmental regulations. AB 1465 aims to reduce this number by tripling the existing fines for refinery violations. In our Bay Area region with four operating refineries, Chevron Richmond is the leader in both regulatory violations and flaring events.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 06, 2023
The City Council adopted a resolution in support of AB 617 to create a Community Emissions Reduction Program. AB 1465 compliments AB 617. To significantly reduce pollution in our community, we will need many strategies. One of them involves significantly stiffening penalties on refineries that violate California environmental regulations, which AB 1465 would address.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Support Letter from AB 617 Community Steering Committee for Richmond, North Richmond and San Pablo