February 27, 2024
City Council
DATE: February 27, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Mayor Eduardo Martinez and Vice Mayor Claudia
Jimenez
Subject:
BAAQMD Rule 6-5 Agreement with Chevron Richmond
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) will
provide a presentation explaining the Agreement with
Chevron Richmond Refinery concerning BAAQMD
Regulation 6- rule 5
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
RECEIVE a presentation from the Bay Area Air Quality
Management District (BAAQMD), explaining the recent
settlement of Regulation 6 Rule 5 – (Mayor Eduardo
Martinez 510- 620-6503 and Vice Mayor Claudia
Jimenez 510 620-6565).
DISCUSSION:
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District announced it has reached two separate agreements with Chevron and Martinez Refining Company resulting in an end to the litigation against the agency over its groundbreaking Regulation 6, Rule 5, major emissions reductions from both refineries, unprecedented penalties, and other AGENDA
REPORT
February 27, 2024
payments of up to $138 million, and a Richmond-area Community Air Quality Fund, among other benefits. The Air District estimates that the emission reductions achieved by the rule will result in tens of millions of dollars per year in health benefits by reducing early deaths and other health impacts of exposure to particulate matter. Both agreements are related to the Air District’s enforcement of Rule 6-5, the most health protective rule of its kind in the nation. The rule reduces airborne particulate matter, or PM, emissions from petroleum refinery fluidized catalytic cracking units, or FCCUs.
FCCUs are devices used in the manufacture of gasoline and are the largest sources of PM at these refineries. As a result of Chevron and MRC’s compliance with Rule 6-5, there will be an estimated 70 percent reduction of PM emissions from Chevron’s FCCU and an 80 percent reduction from MRC’s FCCU.
California Assembly Bill (AB) 617
Assembly Bill 617 (Garcia, C., Chapter 136, Statutes of 2017) is a State-mandated program that uses a community-based approach to reduce local air pollution in communities around the State that are continuing to experience disproportionate impacts from air pollution. Richmond-North Richmond-San Pablo is one of two focus communities for the Bay Area Air Quality District’s (BAAQMD) initial implementation of the AB 617. Local Richmond community leaders, residents, businesses, and city staff representatives have been a part of the AB 617 Path to Clean Air Steering Committee to guide the development of the Community Air Monitoring Plan and Community Emission Reduction Plan (CERP).Visit BAAQMD's website for program updates and information on meetings, www.baaqmd.gov/community-health/community-health- protection-program/richmond-area-community-health-protection-program.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Chev MRC Agreement
Attachment 2 - Rule 6-5 Agreements
Attachment 3 - BAAQMD Press release