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Tosco Refinery: What's next
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Due to the innovative nature of this project, problems are to be expected. Project partners have worked diligently to find appropriate solutions. |
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Photo by Jim Gallagher, Contra Costa Health Services |
Data Challenges
- The UV and laser monitors are highly sensitive to compounds that tend to be problems at refineries. These monitors can detect the presence of the problem compounds (benzene, toluene, xylene, hydrogen sulfide, and ammonia) at lower concentrations than other available monitoring equipment. However, both the UV and the laser monitors have had significant reporting errors. For example, the UV monitors have had zeroing problems (reporting negative concentrations) and the laser monitors have recorded both false positive and false negative readings. Consequently, there are concerns about the quality of the data from these monitors, which need to be addressed.
- It is possible that a toxic release plume could pass around, over, or below the monitors without being fully detected.
- Given the volume of data produced (millions of data points each year) the process of reviewing data to assure it meets quality assurance standards has been burdensome.
- Because the system produces so much data, interpreting and presenting it meaningfully to the public remains a challenge.
- Some of the project partners are concerned about gaps in the available health information. For example, many of the chemicals have not been studied for their chronic health effects or their effects in combination with other chemicals.
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Photo by Christy Shake |
Recommendations
In May 2001, the project partners made eight recommendations. These are:
- Tosco should release the fenceline monitoring data to the public in real time, on the Web. The partners developed a list of priority chemicals which they recommend be reported in real time. These priority chemicals are: ammonia, benzene, 1,3-butadiene, carbon disulfide, carbon monoxide, carbonyl sulfide, ethyl benzene, formaldehyde, MTBE, ozone, toluene, xylene and total hydrocarbons, reported as butane. The project report includes a recommended process for deciding which data are accurate enough to release publicly.
- SEA should develop a fenceline monitor Web page which shows, for each of the priority chemicals, the percentage of detections for that chemical (e.g., the number of detects divided by the total number of samples) the highest reading, the detection limit, and the public health alarm levels.
- The number of chemicals that are monitored by the fenceline system in real time should be reduced.
- The monitoring system should be enhanced so that real time monitoring data is retained for four hours and is accessible to staff at Contra Costa County.
- Contra Costa County should have fully functional 24-hour access to the real time data.
- Existing hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide monitors around Tosco should be added to the real time monitoring system, and their data made available in real time to the county and the community.
- Tosco should observe the fenceline monitors when it reports an incident and include that information in their 72-hour reports to Contra Costa County.
- Tosco should revise the format of its monthly report and create an electronic version.
Final recommendations are being presented to the public, Tosco, and Contra Costa County. Partners are still considering collaborative proposals for carrying out the recommendations, including how to appropriately publsh real-time data on the Internet.
Opening photo by Christy Shake
