Early this morning the Chemical Safety Investigative Office (CSIO) announced that it had determined that last week’s explosion at the Ravard Refinery in Los Angelas was the result of sabotage. Trevor Kletz, spokesperson for CSIO told reporters that: “Investigators have found a device on a pump in the crude oil distillation unit that is believed to be the source of the explosion.”
Background information provided by CISO on the device explained that that the singed remains were relatively intact because of where it was placed on the pump motor. The device consisted of an energy harvesting circuit, a flammable gas sensor, and a capacitor. Investigators from the National Critical Infrastructure Security Operations Center (CI-SOC) confirmed that the device was programed to short out the capacitor, producing an electric spark, when the gas sensor detected a flammable atmosphere. Gen. Turgidson, CI-SOC Director, confirmed that his team had been able to recover programming data from chips on the device that enable them to determine the way the device operated. “No communications were necessary to initiate the explosion, it was entirely automated,” Turgidson explained; “when the conditions were right for the spark to do the most damage, the device shorted out the capacitor.”
Shortly after the CISO announcement was made, a radical environmental group, Students for Immediate Neutralization of Chlorine Technology and Energy Reversion (SFINCTER), claimed responsibility for the attack. The social media claim stated: “We have begun a new engagement in our struggle against the corporate polluters responsible for the devastating changes in our climate. This is just the beginning.”
Johnathan Quest, spokesperson for the Federal Bureau of Inquiry confirmed that the FBI had assumed control of the investigation of the refinery incident. “Now that this is confirmed to be a terrorist attack, the full weight of the Bureau will be employed to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice,” Quest announced.
John Muir, spokesperson for the Ravard Refinery, noted that there was significant damage to the crude oil distillation unit and the refinery was completely shutdown until that unit could be restored. “While there was little or no damage to other operating units, there will be no fuel or other chemicals produced here until that unit is back in operation.” Muir explained.
Gasoline prices on
the West Coast, already the highest in the nation, are expected to rise sharply
as the Ravard refinery is about 20% of the West Coast’s refinery capacity. The
Governor’s Office on Climate Change (COCC) noted that: “This is just another
reason why it is so critical for the State to develop and support alternative transportation
fuels.”
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