Consultant hired by county can now begin work into determining what caused Thanksgiving night release; public meeting on risk assessment report planned Sept. 25; still no word on status of D.A. probe
UPDATE: I received the following statement from the D.A.'s Office on Monday about why it did not provide the update on its MRC investigation at last week's Oversight Committee meeting. A spokesman confirmed that the D.A.'s Office had initially agreed to attend the meeting before canceling:
"While we can confirm that the District Attorney’s Office has received and is reviewing a referral
from the Contra Costa Health Services Hazardous Materials Programs alleging two violations,
The State Bar of California prohibits a member of the Bar who is participating in an investigation
or litigation from making any pre-filing statements that have a likelihood of materially
prejudicing a case.
However, we can disclose the code and ordinance that are currently under review:
1.) California Health and Safety Code, Section 25510(a) – “Failure to report a release or
threatened release of a hazardous material to the unified program agency and Cal OES.”
2.) Contra Costa County Ordinance Title 10 Section 1014-4.006(a) – Prohibited Discharge –
“Release of illicit discharges to the county stormwater system.”
Additionally, The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has referred for enforcement
action the Air District Notices of Violation (“NOVs”) to the District Attorney’s Office. We are
currently awaiting the completion of the Air District’s investigative report supporting the NOVs
– which will also be reviewed for a charging decision.
The violations received to date are alleged against the Martinez Refining Co. LLC and not any
For anyone interested, here's a piece I wrote for my personal substack newsletter on Lahaina disaster and the failure (once again) to heed the warning signs of a disaster in the making and act to prevent it.
It will be interesting. One thing I hope that last year's election made clear is that the days of special interest groups being able to quietly influence Martinez elections with no one paying attention are over. The money that is spent on our elections, and the motivations and agendas behind it,, is something every voter should be aware of. I'll do everything in my power to bring that influence to light, whether I agree with the agenda and motivations of a particular interest group or don't (in a quarter century of living in Martinez, I've yet to come across an interest group or political agenda I agree with 100% of the time, so it's a pretty easy task for me to perform).
UPDATE: I received the following statement from the D.A.'s Office on Monday about why it did not provide the update on its MRC investigation at last week's Oversight Committee meeting. A spokesman confirmed that the D.A.'s Office had initially agreed to attend the meeting before canceling:
"While we can confirm that the District Attorney’s Office has received and is reviewing a referral
from the Contra Costa Health Services Hazardous Materials Programs alleging two violations,
The State Bar of California prohibits a member of the Bar who is participating in an investigation
or litigation from making any pre-filing statements that have a likelihood of materially
prejudicing a case.
However, we can disclose the code and ordinance that are currently under review:
1.) California Health and Safety Code, Section 25510(a) – “Failure to report a release or
threatened release of a hazardous material to the unified program agency and Cal OES.”
2.) Contra Costa County Ordinance Title 10 Section 1014-4.006(a) – Prohibited Discharge –
“Release of illicit discharges to the county stormwater system.”
Additionally, The Bay Area Air Quality Management District has referred for enforcement
action the Air District Notices of Violation (“NOVs”) to the District Attorney’s Office. We are
currently awaiting the completion of the Air District’s investigative report supporting the NOVs
– which will also be reviewed for a charging decision.
The violations received to date are alleged against the Martinez Refining Co. LLC and not any
individuals."
For anyone interested, here's a piece I wrote for my personal substack newsletter on Lahaina disaster and the failure (once again) to heed the warning signs of a disaster in the making and act to prevent it.
https://open.substack.com/pub/craiglazzeretti/p/disasters-waiting-to-happen-an-american?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thank you for opening the window into the 2024 election.
It will be interesting. One thing I hope that last year's election made clear is that the days of special interest groups being able to quietly influence Martinez elections with no one paying attention are over. The money that is spent on our elections, and the motivations and agendas behind it,, is something every voter should be aware of. I'll do everything in my power to bring that influence to light, whether I agree with the agenda and motivations of a particular interest group or don't (in a quarter century of living in Martinez, I've yet to come across an interest group or political agenda I agree with 100% of the time, so it's a pretty easy task for me to perform).