By Cathy Bennett
Special to the Herald
When the subject of Valero comes up most of us think about the refinery. For many of us, this is a reminder of the toxic emissions it releases into our air on a daily basis. That’s troublesome enough, but most of us are unaware that Valero also operates the largest asphalt production plant in California, right here in Benicia located on the perimeter of the Valero refinery. This means that in addition to all the toxic emissions we are exposed to from Valero’s refinery, Benicians are in double jeopardy due to the extremely high levels of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) being released into the air from Valero’s asphalt production plant.
I first learned about the asphalt production plant last April after we had our first hot spell. During the warm stagnant evenings, I started sleeping with my windows open. When I awoke in the mornings I had a headache, irritated eyes and throat, and a bloody nose! These being unusual symptoms for me, I made some inquiries and subsequently did some research. It turns out these are classic symptoms of toxic exposure to H2S. And one of the highest concentrations of H2S come from asphalt production. Here’s what I learned.
Relatively “safe” limits of H2S are between 30 to 50 ppm (parts per million).
At exposure to 50 ppm, one’s sense of smell is deadened (you cannot smell it any more) & nose, throat & lung irritation occurs. At 100 – 500 ppm a potentially fatal build-up of fluid in the lungs & pulmonary oedema can occur. At 500 – 1000 ppm respiratory paralysis, chest pain, heart failure, shortness of breath, collapse & death can occur.
There are two types of Asphalt: Paving asphalt (which the production of routinely emits H2S at 100 to 300 ppm) and rubber modified asphalt (which the production of can easily emit H2S between 500 and 3,000 ppm). Valero produces rubber modified asphalt (according to Wright Asphalts Products), the most toxic kind with potentially lethal H2S concentrations!
In a nutshell, hydrogen sulfide is created during the process of refining crude, and then it is extracted to improve the fuel product. The remaining heavy residue is the asphalt. Valero then takes that asphalt and adds synthetic rubber and a sulfur compound catalyst to treat the rubber. In this process, the H2S vapor can easily elevate from the base asphalt at 100 to 800 ppm to more than 3,000 ppm inside the processing plant. Valero’s asphalt processing equipment is not a closed system, and hazardous H2S vapors routinely escape into the environment. Valero relies upon gas collection systems to capture and treat the escaped H2S, and relies upon the wind to disburse it when it is released into the air. Leaks, accidents and vapor escape is hardest to contain during the handling, transfer and transportation of the asphalt product. Valero moves this product from its offsite warehouse, to the processing plant, in and out of tanks, and into container trucks. Most of the handling, loading and transporting of the material takes place in the wee hours of the night, while we’re all sleeping.
At Valero’s other asphalt processing plants, the refinery footprint has a natural buffer of miles of land between the plant and the local residents, allowing for wind to more safely disperse the escaped gas. But in Benicia, the Valero refinery and asphalt plant are less than 100 yards away from neighboring businesses and residents! There is no “buffer” to protect us from these escaped gasses. A coincidental succession of leaks, combined with a lack of wind and/or a slow-moving waft of poisoned air blowing into the windows of unsuspecting neighbors, can result in catastrophic physical harm to anyone breathing this stuff! The damage is compounded when you take into account the cumulative impact of long term exposure. And Benicians are not informed when these highly toxic “incidents” occur! Our only evidence, is the physical symptoms we experience and our declining respiratory and cardiac health.
So would Benicia benefit from an ISO? Absolutely! Valero has been able to operate under a cloak of invisibility for 17 years. Since 2001, Valero has chosen to make a hazardous asphalt product even more hazardous because it elects to operate its plant as economically as it can get away with. Valero knowingly makes a hazardous situation significantly worse for its neighbors and increases the dangers to the community & environment. And Benicia is none the wiser.
I totally get why Valero opposes an ISO! Valero doesn’t want any additional oversight of its operations and especially to be held accountable for its ongoing abusive practices. Why should Valero be pressed to cut into corporate profits and spend the extra money to keep the community safe, when the community at large doesn’t even know all of the dangers they are being exposed to? That makes sense.
What doesn’t make sense is why, after being fully informed of these and multiple other abusive practices, including Valero’s lack of transparency, failure to disclose incident reports and failure to provide air monitors to the residential areas of Benicia, three of our City Councilmembers voted to shut down even a look at a draft of an ISO. Yes, they actually refused to ask city staff to even review an ISO. It’s obvious why Valero feels threatened by an ISO, but why are these three City Councilmembers refusing to even consider reviewing an ISO? It’s a safety ordinance! Whose interests are they serving? One has to wonder about the motive of any responsible leader, knowingly allowing such reckless harm to fall upon its citizens, and then to turn a blind eye when viable options such as an ISO is being offered.
We have a local election this November. I urge all Benicia citizens to remember who on the City Council voted to protect Valero, rather than protecting the health and safety of the people they are elected to serve.
Cathy Bennett is a Benicia resident.
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Cathy I to sleep with my windows open. I have a breathing problem that gets checked every year. Just had it in fact checked. My doctor informed me my test had improved and he would see me next year. These test are very sophisticated. In a closed cubicle. I think you will find out that an ISO does not monitor air. What did your doctor say about your condition? Was it because of Valero or just very hot weather? I would like to know what your doctor said. It could help others. The motive is not political. It is that we already have a better option. If in six months it is proven to not work it will be back at the table and this time it will pass. Because the mayor and the Patterson twelve and yourself are making it political I to will make it political. Read my Special today.
I live relatively close to the water so enjoy the wind coming in and sleep with windows open. But there is a greasy black dust that builds up in the windowsill. I have never lived anywhere that has black dust and I have lived in LA! These are large particles. Now where this comes from, I don’t know. The refineries to the west, the co-gen plant, Valero,…the list goes on. All I know is that our air can not be good if this stuff is coming into my house.
You may want to check what type of trees you have surrounding your property. I have lived around refineries most of my life and never experienced that. Martinez with two refineries and Benicia with one. You may want to call the health department and have them check it out. How long have you lived in the house. Is this a new issue or has it been going on for years. The only time I get dust on my car is when someone is using a leaf blower where I am parked. I hope you check it out and give us all a heads up. Thank you.
I have lived in several locations in town-all different trees or no trees. Same black gritty dust at all locations.
Christine, If you are interested in getting some folks together and collecting some swab samples, from various locations, and having them analyzed. I can help out with that. You can get my contact information by contacting the Herald. Thanks,
I believe Thomas you should just do it on your own. There is plenty of anti Valero folks that will allow you to do this. I have lived in Martinez and Benicia and do not know what you folks are talking about. Thomas please help us out on this issue. Time to do your public service.Then tell us what you found and if it is happening only in all refinery cities or just common in all cities. I have never seen it. Have any of you talked to Valero about this issue. From what Christine says it is all over this city and she still lives in Benicia. Not on my property.
Bob, Duly noted. If this happens, the results will only be provided to those who took part. You are more than welcome to take part, if you wish. You have my email address, I’d be happy to correspond with you further over email if you are interested.
If you truly are for a better environment you would share the results with the entire city. By the way you told me to never e-mail you again. I did obey and will disregard your invite. I will not take part in an event that is only for your chosen group. That being you will not share. I want your results to be review by all concerned. It does not matter if it is Valero, air monitoring agency’s, state, feds etc. be open. Your group keeps harping about transparency. Yet that does not seem to be your motive. Share it with all. Looking forward to your certified results.
Bob, you are on your own, as you did not seem interested. As such, nobody is looking for any direction from you. If you decide otherwise, you have been given an option to reach me and potentially. take part, and if you feel further compelled to comment on this that would be the proper channel. Have a great day.
Not giving direction. You apparently are trying to prove that Valero ,is the villain and they apparently are not. Just another attempt to use only ,folks that agree. Kathy has never told us what her doctor said. Just makes a statement and we are supposed to believe it was Valero’s fault.
Christine,
I also have this build-up on sills and screens at my place. I have heard from folks all across town that have this issue, as well. It is not something I’ve noticed in all the other places I’ve lived. You’re observation is valid, and it is definitely a thing in Benicia.
I get it too. Combination of dust and soot carried by our strong winds. Soot likely comes from diesel trucks running up 80 and along 780 and all those ships running through the Strait.
I agree. Used to get similar soot on boats in King Harbor when the wind blew offshore–largely from the power plant. No unregulated cogen or other power plants upwind here, but plenty of ships running by.
I wondered about the ships. However, I also lived in San Pedro-plenty of ships going in and out of port of LA and Long Beach and plenty of refineries-though they were to the east a bit. But no black, gritty dust. Of course here there is a lot of human activity to the west of Benicia, be it freeways or industry, so who knows where it all comes from. I would love to get it analyzed just to figure out the mystery.
Thomas is taking the wheel on this. He will tell all of you what is happening. Do not hold your breath..
Christine, Mr Livesay has nothing to base his comment on. If he did, he would be able to enlighten us and give a bit of information on the numerous environmental sampling projects I’ve been involved with over the years. He will instead just default to something ad hominem.
Wrong Thomas. I know what you do. You forgot I have your resume. You freely sent it out. I do know that you can do it. My question is why you have not done this in the past. It could well be that the samplings you have done are confidential. I am looking forward to your results shared by all. Remember Thomas you are the one that reached out to give help.Thank you Thomas.
As predicted.
Bob, I never sent you my resume.
It seems that you have become interested in the prospect of finding out what the soot is that you have on the sills and screens of your home. When is a good time to collect some samples from your house? Please contact me though email so we can set something up.
Thanks,
Hmmm and Greg, Those are all good assumptions.
True enough, Christine, grit and grime are a product of living among millions of people. Most likely culprit is diesel engines from railroads and boats (especially tugs). My submarine had diesels we used for emergencies, battery charges, etc. and after use black residue was everywhere topside.
OH, and let us not forget the sugar refinery upwind of us…
Excellent comment Vegetables. But the anti Valero crowd only wants to blame Valero.
Bob, Are you calling Christine anti-Valero? I don’t see that she ever took such a position in her comments.
Yes I am. Think CBR and read her article. It is very clear. The “Patterson Twelve” are also very anti Valero. Just where have you been. No matter what Valero does it will not be enough for these anti Valero folks. I have followed these folks for a very long time. I do know where they stand regardless of what they might say. Such as “I would rather they were not in Benicia”. Come on man get with the program.
Bob, There are no articles by Christine Mayall regarding CBR. Just what are you trying to pull?
Sorry, my mistake regarding Christine. You did send out your resume. I have it.
Bob, I have never sent you my resume. Please explain how you have it.
You could be right, Bob. To add grist to the mill about being downwind of C&H; In a study of downwind population from 1997-8, they found that hospital admissions in children and elderly were increased downwind of a sugar burning facility (C&H routinely burns sugar–why it smells like carmel from time to time) … From the summary re: health effects, “it is similar to that observed in urban areas due to exposure to industrial and vehicle-emitted air pollutants.” Does this sound familiar to ISO paranoics? SO, here we are downwind of a sugar refinery AND living in an urban area, yet ISO paranoics blame Valero (which is downwind of us most times of the year)… Here’s the link…granted, not one in 10 of you will understand it (especially ISO paranoics who have a grudge against fossil fuels and living in this century… https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1459926/
I also believe all of you should contact the Patterson Dozen especially “The Reverend Straw”. He now goes by the name. Do not forget Buetel. I would answers at once to put more blame on Valero.
OK, thanks to Prop C (oh my aching wallet) the public works dept is busily spraying oil on the asphalt and/or repairing our asphalt streets. I think we should get rid of our public works as they are a danger and keep me from opening my windows at night. Seriously, Cathy and ISO fanatics…paranoia does not look good on you. Better yet, move to Copperopolis where you’ll only have to worry about copper talings poisoning the ground water–but hey, the air is clean!
Cathy you stated “I urge all Benicia Citizens to remember who voted to protect Valero, rather than protecting the heath and safety of people they are elected to serve”. Does that mean do not vote for Councilmember Campbell who has always been a vote for you. You voted him and Vice Mayor Young too the council in 2016. Had a change of hart. Councilmember Campbell did the right thing with some strong strings attached. For that vote the residents including myself. THANK HIM. Alan is not running for re-election at this point. Mark has not declared. Just who do you want the citizens to vote for? Tell them, they deserve to know your biased choice. Thank you.
The big issue I see with the article is its content. It all points to Valero. Toxic emissions, asphalt plant, dust and particles on window sills and screens and now sickness. How is anyone to take those comments. They are not compliments. Some have suggested other sources but that does not appear where the writer wants to go. So why would anyone wonder that I think this is an anti Valero Special To The Herald. All content points to Valero. The comments from the public saying remember who voted yes. Is that a threat? I think so. So I do come back and defend the council decision. Councilmember Campbell made a brilliant motion and it passed. Now is the time to come together and lets see what happens over the next six months.. I think it will be positive. The City Manager/staff and Valero were put on notice. I personally think both will perform very well. Staff will co-operate with Valero on what needs they need to get the monitoring done and Valero will co-operate with staff also. It was a very positive move that should be given the time that city council directed staff to do. They were elected to do as they just did. Pointing fingers at the councilmembers will not reach the conclusion we all want. A very safe and health city. I have all the confidence in the world that both will do a very professional job. If not we know the ISO will be back big time. I am rooting for a very good and positive outcome that solves the main issues which is communication and health and safety. Being a nay-sayer is of no help. Positive results are what we all want.
After moving to Benicia this past Nov, I have been getting headaches almost every morning. I was listening to the Vallejo city council meeting a few months back and their cement factory is also indicated in the vast increase in childhood asthma cases experienced in the community. Even Mare Island was a Superfund site, yuck. So depending on which was the wind blows, contaminants from all directions. Tacoma, WA got gid of the Asacro plant (American Smelter and Refining Company) in 1993, residents there are still dealing with the aftermath.
ex-Mare Island Naval Shipyard was never a Superfund site.
STM 10-7
However, several areas on Mare Island are designated as Military Cleanup Sites, Cleanup Program Sites, DTSC Cleanup Sites, and DTSC Hazardous Waste Sites.
The question is what causes your headaches. Could it be allergy’s. I to get headaches all the time from my sinus condition and allergy’s.. Does not matter where I live. I have lived all over California and on the east coast. Same thing. Travel outside of the USA to the EU and Asia. Same thing.
Pretty sure the proposed cement plant in Vallejo has not yet caused anything except active opposition.
Hmmmm, I’ve been reading a bit on the internet about microaggressions, Your response is a classic microaggression and just plain wrong. If someone believes that the proposed cement plant in Vallejo is the cause of their woes who are you to dis-spell that?
John…the point Hmmmm was making was that anything that doesn’t yet exist (ie, proposed), can’t hurt anybody yet. Got it? Good., lets move on.
Arrogance aside, I’m wondering if she might be talking about the Syar Industries plant.
Then that points to another issue. People making uninformed and malicious statements without becoming informed.
Did somebody make a malicious or uninformed statement?
I would be interested in seeing actual data on the H2S. Those symptoms can be linked to a variety of issues. I am mostly interested because if H2S is truly in the air, having your window open would not have any effect on your inhalation of it, as the air you breathe in your home is essentially the air you breathe outside. This really seems like a flawed argument and just another way to target the Valero Refinery. Interested in getting feedback.