Refinery Reports Oil Spill At San Pablo Bay Terminal In North Bay

NORTH BAY, CA – The energy company Phillips 66 said a light oily sheen was discovered at its refinery marine terminal in Rodeo this morning.

A tanker was berthed at the marine terminal at the time and operations were temporarily shut down, company spokesman Dennis Nuss.

"The exact volume of the material released is still being determined, and the cause of the incident is under investigation," Nuss said in an email.

Phillips 66 officials did not explicitly say the oil spill is suspected of causing a mysterious odor that sickened many Vallejo residents Tuesday night.

Vallejo city spokeswoman Joanna Altman said the city received more than 800 calls by 10 p.m. Tuesday about the odor and residents going to a hospital.

Nuss said Phillips 66 is working with the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies on the response to the spill.

The Coast Guard has not responded to several phone calls regarding an update since this morning when it said one of its helicopters saw a 40-yard wide sheen on the water in north San Pablo Bay around 7:30 a.m.

San Francisco Bay Ferry service between Vallejo and San Francisco was briefly interrupted because of the spill.

Nuss said no injuries associated with the spill have been reported and there is no anticipated health impact to the community.

A shelter-in-place was issued in Vallejo on Tuesday night but was lifted around 6:30 a.m. today.

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--Bay City News/Morguefile image