Mar 21, 2008 2:26 pm US/Pacific
Chevron Pitches Upgrade To Richmond Refinery
RICHMOND (CBS 5 / AP) ―
It was an overflow crowd as hundreds of Richmond residents turned out to hear a pitch from Chevron executives seeking to upgrade the company's 106-year-old refinery.
About 400 people crowded into the City Council chambers and spilled outside into a large tent erected in the parking lot Thursday night as three Chevron managers tried to convince the city's planning commission to approve a controversial plan to upgrade the 3,000-acre refinery.
Chevron wants to replace the aging refinery with a new power plant and new production facility.
Company officials said with the improvements, the plant could process a wider range of crude oil, including oil that contains larger amounts of sulfur and other impurities.
But opponents blasted the proposal, saying the changes would rain more pollution and toxic chemicals on Richmond.
They have asked the planning commission to delay the expansion until more studies can be made.
Chevron issued a statement saying the project "meets or exceeds" regulatory requirements, however, California Attorney General Jerry Brown's office disagrees, citing Chevron's report as inadequate.
It was not clear when city planners would decide on Chevron's request.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
