Chevron to pay Richmond $5 million to settle 2012 refinery fire lawsuit
Chevron will pay Richmond $5 million to settle a lawsuit stemming from the 2012 refinery fire that hospitalized thousands of Bay Area residents and prompted new state workplace safety laws.
Lawyers for the multinational energy corporation based in San Ramon have already signed the agreement, and the payment is expected to be made later this month, according to City Attorney Bruce Goodmiller. He said the settlement does not include an admission of fault by Chevron.
The Aug. 6, 2012 fire sparked when a leaky, corroded pipe ruptured in one of the refinery’s crude oil units, where petroleum is heated above 700 degrees Fahrenheit.