Oil spills and safety
At the BP Cherry Point Refinery we work with crude oil and refined products every day. We take pride in our safety systems and performance record. Rest assured, we want to go home healthy and we also want our friends and neighbors to be protected.
Overview
The world we live in today is an industrial one. All around us people make, move and use materials created from oil products. As a result, there is a remote possibility that a hazardous or flammable chemical could be spilled during a train derailment, a freeway accident or a manufacturing incident.
At BP Cherry Point we have emergency plans, safety systems and training to handle emergencies. Some of these are required by federal and state laws. Other prevention and protection measures we use exceed regulatory requirements to ensure protection of ourselves and others.
At BP, we insist on the use of safety equipment and implement strict operating procedures focused on preventing releases. Examples of our safety controls include leak detectors, warning alarms and automatic system shutdowns.
In the unlikely event that an accidental release should occur, BP employees are trained and prepared to reduce its impact. Furthermore, thoroughly investigating all incidents, even small drips or leaks, ensures that we improve our procedures and prevent similar occurrences. Regular equipment inspections and maintenance also ensure proper operation of our refinery. Both BP and outside regulatory agencies routinely audit our processes and our procedures to ensure safety.
"No matter whose spill is in the water, BP Cherry Point will always respond with whatever it takes to minimize environmental damage and protect the health and safety of our neighbors."-Rick Porter, BP Cherry Point Refinery Manager.
Responding to an incident at BP Cherry Point
The BP Cherry Point Refinery responds to every incident seriously and immediately. We have a trained team of over 110 responders that engage in a proven process of assessment, planning and mobilization. The United States Coast Guard and the Washington Department of Ecology regard the BP Cherry Point Spill Management Team as one of the most proficient in the state.
The initial assessment is one of the most important elements of a response. In some situations, more damage can be done to the environment by the response than by the spill itself. In responding to a spill, BP Cherry Point makes every effort to minimize the environmental damage by taking into consideration the nature of the affected habitat and the type of product spilled. In developing a response strategy the focus is on minimizing environmental damage as well as ensuring the safety of the public and responders. A containment boom is the primary tool used for shoreline protection and oil collection and diversion. Booms are stored at several locations throughout our local area to protect environmental resources and public and private property. Once oil has been contained, a skimmer can be used to remove oil from the surface of the water.
From a spill response perspective, there are two classifications for petroleum products: persistant oils and non-persistent oils.
Persistent oils are composed of a mixture of light to heavy-weight components. Examples are crude oil and some refined products. Clean-up operations or weathering may not completely remove these types of oils from an affected area.
Non-persistent oils are refined products composed of light-weight components such as gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel, which will be completely removed from the affected environment through natural weathering. Only short-term impacts are typical from these refined products.
How BP Cherry Point prepares for an incident
The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and Washington State Department of Ecology regulations require regulated facilities, such as refineries, to conduct two equipment deployment exercises annually and hold one tabletop exercise annually. The BP Cherry Point Refinery holds four equipment deployment exercises each year and conducts an annual exercise designed to continue and extend the training of our Spill Management Team.
There are a number of different state and federal preparedness and response criteria which are required to be addressed in these exercises. Each of these has to be met once every three years. As a result, any Contingency Plan holder is on a triennial cycle for completing all of these requirements. Once during each triennial cycle, the annual tabletop exercise must be based on a "worst case discharge" scenario that tests the full capabilities of the Plan Holder's in-house and contracted response capabilities.
If you want to learn more about these accident scenarios or about our planning and prevention activities, please contact Public Affairs at the BP Cherry Point Refinery by calling (360) 371-1500 or visit other pages on our web site.
What to do if you see oil in the water at the beach
Accidental releases are unlikely, but they can happen. They can also occur quickly. It's what you do in the first few minutes of any emergency that will do the most to protect you and your family. Be aware and prepare.
If you notice an unusual smell or something that smells like gasoline or diesel fuel take action quickly. Listen to the local radio broadcast or television station for more information. You will be notified if you need to leave the area.
During some spill scenarios you should go inside and stay there. This procedure is called Shelter in Place. You can use your entire house or only a few rooms. Make sure you choose an area that has a telephone, water, a toilet and someplace you can seal off easily. A bedroom is an excellent choice.
If you Shelter in Place, shut off heaters and air conditioners - you do not want the outside air to be pulled into your house. Additionally, make sure all fireplace dampers are closed. Go to the area you've chosen as your Shelter in Place. Close all doors, windows, vents and any other openings to the outside. Ensure that all the openings are sealed air tight with duct tape or wet towels. If you think chemicals are leaking into your home, cover your nose and mouth with a wet cloth or towel.
Listen to your local news radio or local TV station to learn more about the emergency. You will be notified if you should leave.
During any emergency it is important to stay off the phone. Do not tie up regular or cellular phone lines needed by the fire, police or sheriff department. Only call 911 if there is an injury or other immediate emergency. Do not call 911 for information on the status of the emergency. The best thing you can do is stay put and listen to the radio and TV as the spill or release is monitored by local officials.
If an evacuation is necessary, in most cases your local fire department or law enforcement agency will contact you with complete instructions on what to do.
When the emergency is over, the fire department will issue an all clear. At that time you can open windows and doors to let in fresh air and move your family outside.
For information during an accidental release
The best thing you can do is listen to the radio or TV as the spill is monitored by kocal officials. If evacuation is necessary, in most cases your local fire department or law enforcement agency will contact you with complete instructions on what to do.
Tune to a local radio or TV station and then wait for instructions. In the Blaine, Birch Bay area, tune to channel 10 on cable network television or KGMI radio at AM 790.
You can also call the BP Refinery at (360) 371-1500 during the day, or (360) 371-1301 after hours and on weekends, or dial 1-800-362-6742. Only call 911 if there is an injury or other immediate emergency.
