Valero Benicia Refinery Announces Planned, Intermittent Flaring

BENICIA, CA — A vapor release was reported Saturday by the Valero Benicia Refinery and was quickly contained, the Benicia Fire Department said.

The incident was reported at 7:49 a.m. Saturday during what the refinery called an operational issue that caused a vapor release.

The Level 2 notification Saturday from the fire department followed a Level 1 notification Friday that the Valero Benicia Refinery would be performing work on a processing unit which may result in visible, intermittent flaring for several days.

The fire department said it would communicate with Valero, Solano County and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District about any flaring activity during this period.

"The flares are designed as a necessary safety precaution and are managed in accordance with Valero’s Flare Minimization Plan," Benicia FD Division Chief Jed Matcham said in a news release. "There are no expected off-site impacts from this incident. Fire personnel will continue to monitor the situation and will update the public if conditions change."