San Jose Mercury News: Costs of oil accident mounting: “After Shell Oil Refinery accidentally dispersed 150 gallons of oil in a mist over downtown Martinez, the company could spend $525,000 to $1.05 million just on cleaning oil-stained vehicles.”: Posted Sunday 27 November 2005
SHELL EXPENSES INCLUDE TRANSPORTATION, CLEANING CARS, HOMES
By Nargis Nooristani
Knight Ridder
After Shell Oil Refinery accidentally dispersed 150 gallons of oil in a mist over downtown Martinez, the company could spend $525,000 to $1.05 million just on cleaning oil-stained vehicles.
As of Tuesday, more than 3,500 claims have been made for vehicles and 500 claims for homes. Also as of Tuesday, 1,600 cars have been cleaned.
The company is spending between $150 and $300 on each vehicle for cleanup, with some vehicles requiring multiple detail treatment or even new paint -- raising the total costs even higher. Costs of the home cleanups haven't been determined yet, according to Shell.
On Nov. 8, a mist of ``oil slurry'' blanketed several downtown neighborhoods after leaking from a catalytic cracking unit at 8:35 p.m., but posed no health hazards, a Shell news release said.
Although officials downplayed the possibility of health risks, Shell has offered to pay doctors' bills for anyone affected by the mist.
Shell has been making out checks to a number of companies to help with cleanup efforts.
Two companies that specialize in over-spray removal, Overspray Removal Specialists and Professor Overspray, were hired to man the on-site car wash. People are also being referred to Autopia Car Care, a vehicle detailing business in Concord and Walnut Creek.
The two- to four-hour car wash process also has been a business opportunity for a couple of taxicab companies that were hired to shuttle the owners of the oil-splattered vehicles to their desired destinations while their vehicles are out of service. The $50-an-hour rate Shell is paying is just another expense tagged on to the overall cost of the Nov. 8 oil incident.
With six to eight taxis working 10- to 12-hour shifts at $50 an hour, Shell has spent $42,000 to $67,000 on driving people home, to work, and to pick them up when their vehicles are ready, Shinn said.
Two other companies with restoration expertise were designated to do home cleanups. Restoration Management and Servpro have cleaned about half of the 500 reported oil-coated homes, according to a Shell news release.
Shell representatives could not yet give an estimate as to how much the home restorations are costing the company. Extra labor costs haven't been determined, either.
``It's still too premature to foresee the total cost,'' said Steve Lesher, Shell public affairs manager.
He said the company's main focus now is to correct the damage that was incurred by the malfunction that resulted in the damaged properties.
Contra Costa Health Services has also advised residents of northern Martinez to wash any outdoor items, such as children's toys and patio furniture, before they are used.
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