A strong, egg-like smell that prompted complaints from west Contra Costa County residents Thursday night was caused by a release of hydrogen sulfide from the Chevron refinery, according to officials.
The smell, which prompted a number of alerts to be sent Thursday and Friday by San Pablo police and Richmond Mayor Eduardo Martinez, lingered into the night but was gone by Friday morning. There is no current danger to the community, according to authorities.
“I’m smelling it on Macdonald Ave. by the Richmond BART station,” Mila Kee said on Instagram. Another resident, Vanessa Garfias Gomez, said that the smell reached the Grant Elementary area in the North and East neighborhood.
“Pregnant, about to go throw up,” Gomez said, using an green-faced emoji to describe her discomfort.
Chevron released a statement Thursday evening, saying it is reviewing their operations.
“We are aware of an odor affecting parts of Richmond this evening and understand the concern and disruption this has caused for our neighbors,” the Facebook post reads. “As a precaution, we are actively reviewing our operations, investigating conditions at the refinery, and conducting mobile air monitoring in and around the facility.”
According to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District’s Hazmat Notifications Dashboard, an alert was sent shortly after midnight describing the incident as a “Level 1 other” from the Chevron refinery.
Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia posted on Instagram Friday morning that an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Martinez had said on Thursday night that both Chevron and PG&E were investigating the incident, which initially had been thought to be a possible gas leak.
“The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Hazardous Materials Program and the Bay Area Air District are aware of a hydrogen sulfide odor in the Richmond area and have been investigating with personnel in the field,” Gioia wrote, adding that a requested 72-hour report from the refinery will be posted on the fire protection district’s website.
Richmondside reached out to Chevron’s spokesperson Caitlin Powell, who said the refinery will release more information as it becomes available.
“We continue to investigate and remain engaged with the Bay Area Air District, the City of Richmond and County Health,” Powell said.
