From the Los Angeles Times on May 26th.
The FBI and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have opened a joint investigation into the release of hazardous materials from a Bay Area oil refinery — an incident that has sparked heated criticism of the facility’s owner as well as local government officials.
Martinez Refining, located on an 880-acre industrial complex on the northern edge of the city, emitted as much as 24 tons of so-called spent catalyst, a mix of chemicals used to break down crude oil into finished petroleum products like gasoline, according to the local air district.
The fallout left cars, homes and at least one school blanketed in a white powdery substance. Tests determined that the residue contained metals such as aluminum, barium, chromium, nickel, vanadium and zinc. UPDATE on June 9: Bay Area public health authorities announced Thursday that heavy metals released by a refinery in November do not pose a significant risk to gardeners or residents in the city of Martinez, according to new laboratory testing, though testing did find some places with elevated lead and arsenic.
PBF Energy, the parent company of Martinez Refining, also owns the Torrance Refinery, which has had its share of problems also. In the explosion of 2015, we also were covered in a white powdery substance, which they guaranteed posed no risk. Should we be concerned?
Torrance Refinery Action Alliance 