After responding to several complaints about strong odors and flaring Monday morning at the Martinez Refining Company, Contra Costa Health determined that there were no elevated public health risks to nearby communities.
“CCH’s HazMat team conducted air monitoring after reports of flaring and odors at the Martinez Refining Company (MRC) Monday morning,” Contra Costa Health said in an announcement. “No health risks requiring community action were found.”
According to Contra Costa Health, the refinery is planning to restart some of its equipment, which can lead to possible flaring that may be visible to the community.
The Bay Area Air District, the agency that monitors area quality across the region, said in an announcement that inspectors were also investigating the complaints.
Contra Costa Health said it has requested a 72-hour report from the company about the strong odors and flaring reported Monday. The report will be posted online at www.cchealth.org.
The complaints of strong odors and flaring come nearly one year after a major fire broke out at the Martinez Refining Company on Feb. 1, 2025, prompting shelter in place orders for nearby residents. A report investigating the cause blamed human error and oversight failures.