MapCruzin.comMedia Release
For immediate release Nov. 17, 1999
COMMUNITY GROUP SPONSORS CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
Y2K READINESS/CHEMICAL SPILL PREVENTION MEETINGChevron, County Haz Mat, PG&E Will Meet with Community to Discuss Y2K Plans and Answer Questions from the Public.
Contact: Jorge Argueta or Cynthia Jordon, CBE, 415-243-8373 x 303 or (cell/pager) 415-290-5111 or Denny Larson (415) 243-8373 ext 212.
Richmond, CA-- Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) and other community organizations will sponsor a Community Conversation on Y2K Readiness in Contra Costa�s Chemical Industry, Thursday, November 18, 1999, from 6-8 pm at the North Richmond Missionary Baptist Church, 1427 Filbert Street, Richmond, CA. The meeting will be facilitated by the County Haz Mat Ombudsman, Michael Kent, and include representatives from Chevron, General Chemical, PG& E, Doctor�s Hospital and other local agencies.
We want the community that is potentially impacted by any Y2K problems at chemical plants to hear directly from the companies and the county about prevention efforts, said Jorge Argueta, a CBE community organizer in Contra Costa County. Other areas across the country are asking plants with problems to take a �Safety Holiday� if there is doubt and we want to know what Contra Costa companies think about this
CBE also announced that together with the Center for Y2K and Society in Washington, DC, an independent survey of Contra Costa chemical plant readiness is being conducted beginning today. Results of the survey, also being conducted in Ohio and Texas, are expected to be released in about a week. This effort follows Contra Costa County�s own survey which was announced last month. The survey efforts were spurred by recommendations from the Federal Chemical Safety Board and a Texas A& M survey that pointed to Y2K problems at some chemical facilities nationwide.
The Community Conversation meeting will begin with short presentations from several major industries in the area on their Y2K readiness efforts and then be open for community questions and concerns. The meeting is being held in consultation with Supervisor John Gioia�s office, West County Toxics Coalition and the North Richmond MAC. CBE has also produced a Handbook for industrial communities on Y2K that is available by contacting their office at 415-243-8373.
###
