ChevronTexaco Sued in Californian Refinery Emissions
Date: 23-Dec-04
Country: USA
The residents of Richmond, just outside San Francisco, accuse the petroleum company of failing to take precautions to prevent the Aug. 9, 2003, discharge of a cloud of black smoke from its nearby refinery, which unexpectedly shut down during a maintenance check, according to the Dec. 14 lawsuit.
The hydrogen sulfide gas released by a burning flare was measured at levels "in excess of (air quality) rules," the lawsuit filed in Contra Costa County Superior Court said.
San Ramon, California-based ChevronTexaco could not immediately be reached for comment.
The four named plaintiffs said they experienced headaches, burning eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, irritated throat, nausea and tingling skin.
The Richmond residents also accused ChevronTexaco of violating "numerous air pollution laws ... for decades," causing them "anxiety in not knowing the long term health effects from their exposure."
The lawsuit demands that ChevronTexaco be ordered to pay an unspecified amount of general and punitive damages as well as the residents' medical bills.
ChevronTexaco is the world's fifth largest energy company, and the second-largest US energy company based on market capitalization, according to the company's Web site.
