Investigators Still Waiting For OK To Enter Richmond Refinery
RICHMOND, Calif. (AP) — Investigators looking into the cause of an oil refinery fire at Chevron's Richmond facility are waiting for structural engineers to determine if it's safe to enter the unit.
Federal, state and company inspectors hope to get the all-clear and gain access to the fire site later Monday.
The Aug. 6 fire destroyed an area of the refinery that produces gasoline that satisfies California's clean-air regulations, the toughest in the nation. It started as a pipe leak.
Other parts of the refinery, which supplies 16 percent of California's daily gas consumption, are still producing fuels. But the refinery's reduced output has sent gas prices rising.
The average price for a gallon of regular on Monday in California was $4.07, up from $3.86 last Tuesday.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
