Martinez Refining Company LLC (MRC) personnel continue to monitor the scene of the recent incident to assess equipment and ensure the safety of the general area.
The California Department of Industrial Relations (Cal/OSHA) opened its inspection and has restricted the scene of the extinguished fire to incident investigators under a preservation order.
MRC has launched its incident investigation in accordance with the California Accidental Release and Prevention Program, the Contra Costa County Industrial Safety Ordinance, and Cal/OSHA Process Safety Management. We are working urgently and thoroughly to identify the root cause(s) and take appropriate corrective actions.
Contra Costa Health has requested certain information regarding the products that were released or caught fire during the incident, and MRC is working expeditiously to meet the deadline of February 10, 2025, for providing that information.
The Bay Area Air District and Contra Costa Health continue to have 24/7 access to the refinery.
MRC will continue to work cooperatively with all agency inspections and investigations.
Refinery operating units have been shut down, except required utility and environmental systems.
There is potential for flaring over the next several weeks as operating units are drained and purged. We are working diligently to minimize flaring and, as always, will only flare if necessary for refinery and worker safety.
As a reminder, flares are an essential part of a refinery’s integrated, engineered safety systems, which are designed to safely manage excess gases and pressure through efficient, effective combustion. You can learn more about flaring on our website: https://martinezrefiningcompany.com/about-flaring/.
