Neighbors of Crude-Oil Plant Want Probe of Health Risks

A resident on Monday night accused a Unocal crude-oil processing plant of being a health risk, but government officials said the plant poses no danger.

At issue was the Unocal facility at 4541 Heil Ave. near Huntington Harbour. The plant separates water from crude oil taken from an offshore oil platform.

For about six months, residents of homes and apartments near the Unocal plant have complained of strange odors and fumes, which they say have caused severe headaches and breathing difficulties.

Unocal officials in early October met twice with residents, both times assuring them that the plant was safe. Many residents, however, said they did not trust the oil company and that they wanted city and state government to investigate the plant’s safety.

One property owner in the area, James H. Bridges, appeared before the City Council on Monday night. Bridges said residents of the Unocal plant area have been kept uninformed about any dangers that might exist within the facility.

“We’re concerned about what is in use there,” Bridges said. He charged that the facility did not post a state-mandated sign about toxic chemicals until a little over a month ago. He also charged that the facility was unsafe, especially since it is surrounded by heavy residential development.

But city staff members gave the City Council a Fire Department report that said an inspection found that “the overall fire and life-safety conditions” at the Unocal plant were “in excellent condition.”

That report was written by Fire Department Capt. Mark Bodenbender, who is in charge of oil field inspections for the city.

In addition, Fire Chief Michael Dolder gave an oral report to the City Council in which he said the department had looked into Bridges’ complaint and had found no danger at the Unocal facility.

Another official who defended the plant was Ben Shaw, a representative of the state’s Air Quality Management District. Shaw told the council that the AQMD has been inspecting the Unocal plant at least once a year for the last 15 years and that overall, the plant’s record is good.

Shaw said the AQMD so far has found no health risks at the plant. But he added that the state agency will continue inspections and “will be looking over the shoulders” of both Unocal and a private agency Unocal is hiring to make a safety inspection.

Bridges, however, told the council that residents of the area are not satisfied with what has been done so far. Bridges criticized the city Fire Department and said he thinks the Orange County Grand Jury should look into the department’s handling of the oil plant.