MARTINEZ – Flaring was reported late Tuesday evening at the Martinez refinery.
In a statement posted to social media just before 10 p.m., the Martinez Refining Company acknowledged the flaring and said “all appropriate agencies have been notified.”
“Looking ahead, there is potential for intermittent flaring to continue while our employees work safely to repair affected equipment,” the company said in the statement.
The refinery has been under scrutiny for similar incidents. On Dec. 26, Contra Costa Health Services and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District officials paid a surprise visit to observe the facility’s operations, reliability and safety programs.
The inspection followed flaring in mid-December and a “coke dust” release in October. The latter incident, which nearly led to the cancellation of a local high school homecoming parade, was the third of its kind since July.
The refinery has been in the news since Thanksgiving 2022, when flaring at the facility caused a white powdery substance to rain down on the surrounding area. Tests revealed it contained higher than normal amounts of heavy metals that can cause respiratory issues.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.