Report to Mayor and City Council
Monday, November 06, 2017
Discussion
SUBJECT:
Title
PHILLIPS 66 REFINERY - DEPARTMENT OF TOXICS SUBSTANCES CONTROL - PERMIT RENEWAL OF THE PROCESS WATER STORAGE POND CLOSURE PERMIT (CITY COUNCIL)
Body
I. SUMMARY
The State Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has provided the City with a notice of permit application to renew the closure permit for the Phillips 66 process water storage pond. The refinery had a very large process water storage pond, which contained oil and water mixed together. Phillips 66 obtained a permit to close the storage pond in 1999. The closure permit application is not available on the State's environmental website and Phillips 66 is not required to send the permit application to the City in time for meaningful review and comment. The facility inspection by DTSC in 2015 found seven violations in sampling and quality assurance. DTSC in 1999 exempted the closure of the storage pond from any environmental review.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
DISCUSSS and PROVIDE direction to the City on the proposed letter to DTSC outlining the City's concerns.
Body
III. ALTERNATIVES
None.
IV. BACKGROUND
The History of Oil and Its Impacts on Carson
The City is at the hub of oil refining, production and shipping in Southern California. The location of two major refineries serving the western United States, Tesoro and Phillips 66, impact the environment, public health and municipal services in Carson, including health effects on the community, soil pollution and air quality.
Carson has a long history in dealing with the impacts of the petroleum industry. The first refinery in Carson was constructed 100 years ago by Union Oil - which is now the existing Phillips 66 refinery. When oil was discovered by Shell in Signal Hill in 1921 it heralded a rush for Black Gold. Oil speculators turned their sites to Carson, where oil was discovered in 1923 in the Dominguez Field. ...
Click here for full text