Chevron Corporation refinery spill that leaked about 600 gallons of petroleum and water into the San Francisco Bay on Tuesday is being investigated by California authorities, reports Equities.
The investigation
According to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, the investigation is ongoing.
About the spill
The company said that the spill was discovered around 3 p.m. Tuesday, when Chevron first noticed a sheen on the water by the wharf at its Richmond refinery and started working to contain it.
Statement from Chevron Richmond: pic.twitter.com/jUTqMdIXE1
— Chevron Richmond (@ChevronRichmond) February 10, 2021
Cleanup work in progress
Chevron, along with local, county and state agencies, stopped the leak about 5 p.m., and clean-up efforts are ongoing, according to NBC.
In a tweet, Contra Costa County supervisor John Gioia said the refinery’s pipeline was leaking roughly five gallons per minute of oil and gasoline mixture into the bay.
There is currently a 5 gallon per min.leak of a petroleum product at the Chevron Richmond Long Wharf.
Chevron&Fire Agency on scene and in process of booming the leak. County HazMat in route. There is a Public Health Advisory In effect for Richmond, San Pablo and N. Richmond pic.twitter.com/6HWKocfgLR
— John Gioia (@supejohngioia) February 10, 2021
Damage caused
The spill’s cause, as well as extent of damage, is still unknown.
No oil-covered animals had been found, but the public was urged to report any oiled wildlife they spot.
2007 oil spill
One of the largest oil spills in the Bay occurred in November 2007, when a Cosco Busan container ship in heavy fog hit the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and leaked more than 53,000 gallons of oil. The spill killed an estimated 6,800 birds and shuttered local beaches due to damage.
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Source: Equities
