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Shell refinery in Martinez has unplanned shutdown, health advisory issued

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  • A public health advisory was issued in Martinez and Pacheco after an early morning “upset” at the Shell oil refinery in Martinez, Calif. on Friday July 6, 2018. Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle

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The Shell refinery in Martinez, Ca., as seen on Tuesday September 12, 2017.

The Shell refinery in Martinez, Ca., as seen on Tuesday September 12, 2017.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle


The Shell refinery in Martinez, Ca., as seen on Tuesday September 12, 2017.

The Shell refinery in Martinez, Ca., as seen on Tuesday September 12, 2017.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle


A Shell gas station just outside the gates of the Shell refinery in Martinez, Ca., as seen on Tuesday September 12, 2017.

A Shell gas station just outside the gates of the Shell refinery in Martinez, Ca., as seen on Tuesday September 12, 2017.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle




A public health advisory was issued Friday in Martinez and Pacheco after an early morning “upset” at the Shell oil refinery.

The “unit upset” was reported at about 2:30 a.m. Friday.

Shell spokeswoman Kristin Marczak declined to provide specifics about the incident but compared it to a “ car running and you have an unplanned shutdown of that car. We have a number of units within the plant that operate and one of those units had kind of an unplanned shutdown.”

There were no explosions, flaring or injuries, Marczak said. Nonetheless, Shell issued a health alert for areas near the refinery.

A large apartment fire in south central San Jose displaced 16 people, including five children, early Friday morning. Leigh Martinez reports


Media: KTVU






A public health advisory was issued in Martinez and Pacheco after an early morning “upset” at the Shell oil refinery in Martinez, Calif. on Friday July 6, 2018. Photo: / Contra Costa County Health Services



“Out of an abundance of caution we issued a community warning level two, because there is potential for eye, skin or respiratory irritation,” Marczak said. “There is the potential for odors to reach outside of our refinery boundary.”


Contra Costa County health officials said that people should view the warning only as an advisory and that “most people will not be affected.”






County Hazardous Materials officials also assessed the situation.

“If people experience any irritation, advise them to go inside and rinse any irritated area of their body with water,” county health officials wrote in a public health alert.

There is no shelter-in-place warning and no “immediate threat,” Marczak said.

“We haven’t signaled that anything has left the site,” she said. “It’s really just an awareness for folks with sensitivity, but otherwise it’s safe to be outside.”


County health officials were not available for comment.

Erin Stone is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: erin.stone@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erstone7

Article source: https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Shell-refinery-in-Martinez-has-unplanned-13053834.php


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