"Oil Refineries Sue Bay Area Air District Over Pollution Rules"

"MARTINEZ -- Oil refineries have sued to overturn a series of new air pollution rules aimed at reducing emissions 20 percent at each of the Bay Area's five gasoline plants, the largest source of industrial pollution in the region.

The five rules were proposed in the wake of a fire and heavy smoke at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond in 2012 that sent thousands to hospitals with eye and throat irritation.

The measures, adopted in December and April, aim to tighten pollution controls on cooling and refining towers and other equipment, require more monitoring of pollution at the plant's borders, and determining if crude oil shipped to the plants is getting dirtier."

Denis Cuff reports for the San Jose Mercury News June 9, 2016.