Chevron U.S.A. Inc.

The Richmond fire became a process-safety accountability test because a familiar refinery damage mechanism attacked one low-silicon component much faster than neighboring pipe; because available inspection, materials and turnaround decisions did not remove that vulnerability; because people were brought close to a worsening hot-hydrocarbon leak before the unit was shut down; and because technical findings, initial citations, negotiated dispositions, community remedy, later rules and proof of implementation answer different questions.