- Aug 18:
- Despite fire, Chevron refinery's safety record better than most
- Aug 17:
- Battle shaping up over repairs to Chevron's Richmond refinery
- Aug 16:
- Richmond forum deals with aftermath of refinery fire
- Aug 15:
- Attorneys sue Chevron over refinery fire, claiming 'gross negligence'
- Investigators say maintenance at Chevron refinery before fire among 'key' questions
- Aug 14:
- Safety alert lifted at Shell refinery in Martinez after gas leak sealed
- Richmond refinery repairs could take several months for Chevron to complete
- Crews quickly contain fire at Shell Refinery in Martinez
- Aug 13:
- Investigators set to comb through Chevron fire site in Richmond
- Aug 12:
- Data center: Refinery and chemical plant accidents in Contra Costa County
- Richmond residents learn to 'tolerate' Chevron refinery
- Aug 11:
- Chevron refinery has history of fires and pollution releases, but that is par for industry
- Investigator: Chevron's Richmond refinery fire 'near disaster' for workers; pipe safety in question
- Aug 10:
- Leaks not so uncommon in refineries
- Daniel Borenstein: Air district's Richmond refinery fire statement incomplete, inaccurate
- You thought Monday's Chevron fire was bad, look back to the '90s
- Richmond: Smoke pollution tests expected next week in refinery fire investigation
- Aug 9:
- Chevron deluged by thousands of calls, opens center for fire-related claims
- Richmond: Furious crowd confronts Chevron refinery, government officials at town hall meeting
- Aug 8:
- How an oil refinery can pollute the air (infographic)
- Richmond Chevron refinery fire health facts
- Tests reveal safe toxics levels near Chevron refinery fire, but airborne particulates data not available
- Barnidge: After the Chevron fire, a search for accountability
- Gasoline prices jump 5 cents in one day following Richmond refinery fire
- Documents: Air quality analysis after the Chevron fire
- Questions raised about Chevron's handling of gas leak that sparked massive blaze
- Richmond: Air quality determined safe after Chevron refinery fire
- Aug 7:
- Richmond: Furious crowd confronts Chevron refinery, government officials at town hall meeting
- Audio: Richmond refinery fire 911 call from Chevron
- How the public was notified of Chevron fire
- Richmond residents report breathing problems, eye aches in aftermath of Chevron refinery fire
- Previous incidents at the Chevron refinery in Richmond
- Document: 2011 Contra Costa Industrial Safety Ordinance Annual Report
- Much-maligned warning system again attacked in wake of Chevron refinery fire in Richmond
- Chevron says fire causes No. 4 crude unit at Richmond refinery to be shut down
- Aug 6:
- Refinery fire: Tolls temporarily waived on Richmond-San Rafael Bridge; drivers to be billed later
- Analysts: Richmond refinery fire could affect gasoline prices
- Large fire at Chevron refinery in Richmond affecting air quality
- Chevron's statement on the refinery fire
- Chevron Richmond refinery fire: Shelter-in-place tips from Contra Costa Health Services
- How the story of the Chevron refinery fire in Richmond developed
- Massive fire at Chevron refinery in Richmond fully contained; shelter in place lifted
RICHMOND -- The investigation into the massive fire at the Richmond Chevron refinery by a handful of agencies has gotten chippy, as state officials used social media to claim their federal counterparts were "grandstanding," "scaring" the public and biased.
Since the early stages of the investigation, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has held news conferences and spoken openly about its findings, while the other handful of agencies have played a quieter role with the media. As the investigation into the Aug. 6 fire continues, the agencies have been working alongside each other at the damaged No. 4 crude unit.
On Aug. 11, Cal/OSHA lead investigator Clyde Trombettas posted a statement on his Facebook page -- which is open to the public --criticizing the feds.
"Typical CSB grandstanding in the press," he wrote. "Scaring the public with half truths and misleading information. Two days into an investigation and they can't wait to talk to the press. Hmmm ... one might conclude they have a biased agenda. they don't even play nice in the sandbox."
Cal/OSHA compliance engineer Carla Fritz commented on Trombettas' post, calling the chemical board's comments "a one-note, quickie conclusion designed to incriminate, to indict, to dazzle the media, & to inflate one's standing in a community of committed health & safety professionals...
"I would be a poor investigator indeed if I were to climb onto the bandstand early & loudly with
my uninformed OPINION, only to be constrained to retract my bombast later on," she wrote. "Without putting too fine a point on it, it is unwise, incautious, prejudicial, & likely ultimately not helpful to pursue the 'ready fire aim' strategy."Trombettas' post was eventually removed.
Chemical board spokesman Daniel Horowitz declined to comment on the Facebook chatter, but said the two agencies signed an arrangement for site preservation and evidence testing Friday, along with the United Steelworkers union, and now they await Chevron's action.
"This will be an effective blueprint for continued, sustained cooperation," Horowitz said.
In a Wednesday post, Trombettas posted photos from the feds, stating: "I'd lose my job if I released photos like that to the general public. That's the difference between an 'advisory board': who only makes recommendations, and an enforcement agency i.e. Cal/Osha who issues citations (with a monetary penalty.)"
Fritz again chimed in, saying the federal agency "treats local law enforcement like the Clampets from the Beverly Hillbillies."
Neither Trombettas nor Fritz could be reached for comment, and Trombettas' second post was removed Saturday as well.
Contact Matthias Gafni at 925-952-5026. Follow him at Twitter.com/mgafni.
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