Dirty Air in Martinez, Ca. Is Everybody s Concern.

1. Dirty Air in Martinez, Ca. Is Everybody�s Concern. Celeste Stewart Urbs/Geog 515 : Race, Poverty and the Environment. Professor Raquel Pinderhughes, Urban Studies & Environmental Studies Programs, Sa n Francisco State University Spring 2004

2. Contents of Presentation This presentation focuses on: Poor air quality in Martinez, California The environmental health hazards that children in Martinez, California face. This presentation is designed to: Educate the public, residents and parents of Martinez, California on the processes associated with air pollution.

3. What to expect The following presentation begins by offering the reader a brief history of Martinez, California and its location. This presentation focuses on the negligence of the companies of industrial nature located in Martinez, California. These businesses and refineries, that discharge dangerous amounts of toxins into the air, jeopardize the health of people living in Martinez and nearby.

4. Martinez is the county seat of Contra Costa County. It is a small town of 36,000. In 1846 Martinez was a major trading post and shipping port. Early settlers of the county bought sold and shipped their goods there.

5. In an article written by Karen Hershenson, published in the Mercury News Nov. 17, 2002, the title reads, Martinez remains staunchly in the past. The author is mocking the city of Martinez for not jumping on the redevelopment wagon. �� the old timers, and they are legion, want nothing of it [redevelopment] preferring that Martinez remain suspended in time like a grape in Jell-o� She mocks. However, redevelopment is not always what it is cracked up to be.

6. Problems in Martinez began with the arrival of the Shell oil company in 1915. Today Martinez, California stands out from other cities in the county. Martinez has lots of parks and compared to other cities in the county it would, at first glance, appear to be well kept. Perhaps we can accredit the clean finish appearance of Martinez to the fact that it is the county seat for political activities. The county Jail is also located in Martinez.

7. One of many beautiful sights in Martinez.

8. Martinez is serviced by Amtrak. From the Amtrak train going northbound, there is the opportunity to see several tanks. I was blind sighted to the potential dangers of all of the tanks located in the water, until recently. The tanks contain toxic waste that is the waste of some of the refineries located in Contra Costa County.

9. What�s an oil refinery? Oil refineries convert crude oil, coal of natural gases into fuel. The processes involved include heating and chemical reactions. I was shocked to learn that oil refineries emit so many toxins into the air, devastating the environments, air, land and water. The air is filled with dangerous pollutants from the stacks and leaking equipment at refineries. Martinez is polluted by the large amounts of toxic waste from refineries that they need to dump. And our lungs and underground aquifers can become polluted by the fallout of particulates produced by refineries. Accidental oil spills pollute underground water supply and open waterways abroad and at home.

10. No New Refineries The logical thing to do may be to rid the whole city of refineries. However this solution is unlikely because refineries contribute an economic base for the community. However, According to the California Energy commission, �It is unlikely that new refineries will be built in California. In fact from 1985 to 1995, 10 California refineries closed down.� More strict rules for companies who pollute and small companies yielding less than 50,000 barrels a day are expected to close. The cost of complying with environmental regulations has no mercy on the small business man. Older and less efficient refineries that are not protected by government subsidies may have to also shut down. For the communities who breathe and live the pollution of these industries this is great news, but the people of Martinez continue to battle staggering health effects due to the poor maintenance of such companies.

11. The following is a photo of how some toxic waste tanks look. The ones on the lower left most resemble the ones you see from the train as it passes through Martinez, California.

12. Chevron Texaco operates a refinery in Contra Costa County, Richmond. Incidentally, this industrial giant, Chevron Texaco, had 304 accidents between 1989 and 1995. These included incidents of fires, spills, leaks, explosions, toxic gas releases, flaring and numerous air contamination offenses. Chevron Texaco and constituents can not deny repeatedly endangering the lives of local community members. Between 1989 and April of 1992 there were 35 major industrial accidents in Contra Costa County, California. As of 1995 there had been a total of 1900 different incidents reported in this county.

13. Enviro Racism ? Martinez, California is located in the western area of Contra Costa County along with the cities of Richmond and San Pablo. This is where the Refineries of the county are located. These Refineries are located in the neighborhoods of people of color. By people of color, I am specifically referring to African Americans, Latinos and Asian immigrants. Although Los Angeles is tops in total air emissions, Contra Costa ranks numero uno in per capita emissions according to (SFBG news/smog check/May 17,2000). Chevron, an environmental bully, disputed charges of enviro-racism, insisting that since it�s refinery broke ground in 1902 when there was no developed community, that the community grew up around them.

14. Health focus Breathing dirty air has proven to be dangerous causing inconveniences from illnesses to death. Gases and particulate matter that are emitted by oil refineries ,or any source, in high concentrations, are harmful to humans and can cause circulatory, respiratory problems and even death. Although Refineries are a huge threat to public health they have not cease to exist. Some people have been key in tightening legislation to stiffen penalties on corporations when they violate clean air initiatives. Unfortunately the laws are not always implemented, and some individuals in our society remain under represented when it comes to issues such as justice. You will find that many of your own neighbors are employed by these facilities. Small children and the elderly bare a greater burden. Because my own children (all children) are still developing , brain and organs, I worry about them. My 71 year old grandma has a compromised immune system, but I know that she will live longer and happier at home with me and my children. Because we do not have money to move to a better neighborhood, we remain. If you live in an economically disadvantaged area, it is important that you do not become discouraged. See the community action plan located towards the end of this presentation. It is important to know that you can do some things. Get started contacting the people who represent your state in congress.

15. There should be more measures of protection for us. When a toxic accident occurred near my own home, I felt so awful that I rushed to the nearest hospital. As I had not imagined, the hospital emergency waiting room was packed from one end of the department to the next. Their were people of color and their families lined up outside the door. Guess what else? No news camera until several hours later. Worker�s inside the plants wear protective gear, and they get sick from these accidental emissions. How many residence do you think carry around protective gear? Maybe people in poor neighborhoods should think of carrying one of these gadgets on their person. Perhaps the companies should be required to furnish them.

16. The northern part of Contra Costa County is heavily industrialized with small industrial plants and chemical plants on to of the normal array of smaller offenders of total air quality. The following is a list of some of the companies who pollute in Martinez, California. Acme Fill Corporation Benzene 220 lbs/yr Ethylene dichloride 58 Methylene chloride 1700 Vinyl Chloride 660 And other pollutants American Cleaners Perchloroethylene 350 lbs/yr Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Ammonia Pollutant 42000 lbs/yr Benzene 78 Chloroform 530 Chromium .0100 Formaldehyde 3500 Methylene Chloride 2100 Perchloroethylene 1100 Chevron Products Co. Benzene 11 Crystal Cleaners Perchloroethylene 1100 Equilon Enterprise Benzene 120 lbs/yr

17. Companies who pollute Martinez air continued (2001 annual report of Bay Area air �quality Management District) Highlander Cleaning Center Perchloroethylene 530 lbs/yr Martinez Cogen limited Partnership (Avon Refinery) Benzene 150 Formaldehyde 260 Martinez Refining Company Acetaldehyde 190 Arsenic .4 Benzene beryllium 8500 Butadiene 3700 Cadmium .280 Chromium .3100 Formaldehyde 11000 Hydrogen sulfide 23000 Xylene 65000 Mt View Sanitary District pollutants Benzene 7.1 lbs/yr Chloroform 78 Perchloroethylene 72 Sunrise Cleaners Perchloroethylene 720 Ultramar, Inc Avon Refinery Acetaldehyde 190 Arsenic .400 Benzene 8500 Beryllium .034 Butadiene 3700 Cadmium .280 Chromium .3100 Formaldehyde 11000 Hydrogen Sulfide 23000 Manganese 85 Nickel Pollutant 20 PAH�s 84 Xylene 65000

18. Summary The following presentation was designed to describe what refineries are and to point out that even small businesses such as dry cleaners contribute to over all poor air quality in Martinez. It has also described the social, environmental and public health impacts of the processes associated with the refining process. the presentation confronts issues around poor people and residents in communities of color bearing a disproportionate burden of toxic contaminants and Finally offers a fraction of useful strategies to gaining leverage against companies who wish to come and pollute in your community.

19. Community Action What you can do as a community to make companies and industries follow safe and clean operating procedures. Courtesy of Environmental Justice Action in South Africa. Call a community meeting Do a health survey of your neighbors Keep up with the data on air pollution surveys in your area �Ask for the companies to provide you with details of all of their accidents Talk with the people who work in the plant Keep your local politicians informed of meetings and of your concerns Know the environmental laws of your community Line up attorney�s who have represented similar cases Inform your neighbors of their rights Protest Be prepared to take action Fight companies such as these from expanding in your community

20. Bibliography Biological treatment of urban Air Pollution http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/ESPE/research_pollution.html The politics of Socio-economic class and the environment by Robin Claremont and Angela Park http://www.elpnet.org/newsletter.fall2003/elpnews_fall03_socioecon.html Sustainability and Environmental Activism http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/ESPE/research_activism.html Testimony on protecting our children from Adverse environmental affects by Kenneth Olden, PH.D. http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t000502c.html Injustices: Manifestation of Environmental Discrimination by Jeff Emberton http://www/philosophy/ilstu.edu/bailey/phi330fld/Emberton.html

21. Bibliography pg. 2 Dirty air could persist beyond 2015 says EPA http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/index.ssf?/base/news/14/1080899633221740.xml Tesoro News page Martinez, Ca http://www.tesoropetroleum.com/martinez.html Reconstructing Bronzeville: Racial Nostalgia and Neighborhood redevelopment. By Michelle, Boyd EBSCOhost US Department of Justice Incident Reports from Compliance and Enforcement Division Bay Area Air Quality Management District 939 Ellis Street San Francisco, Ca 94109

22. Bibliography page 3 Demographic information source http://www.city-data.com/demographics.Martinez-California.html Bay area Air Quality Management District /toxic air contaminants 2001Annual Report Contra Costa Ranks Second in Industrial Pollution http://www.own.org/docs/publication/prescriptions/five.htm