San Francisco nearing vote to drastically cut refinery pollution with new tech Reuters 17 hrs ago By Laura Sanicola (Reuters) -California air quality regulators vote July 21 on a plan that would require two San Francisco-area refineries to install technology to curb pollution that exacerbates health problems, an official said on Tuesday. Exposure to soot and fine particulate matter has been linked to health issues ranging from asthma to heart attacks. Recent studies have shown fine particulate matter has a disproportionate impact on communities of color and low-income neighborhoods that are often found near industrial plants. The two refineries are urging the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) to adopt a less stringent standard that would not require them to install wet gas scrubbers, which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars. Dozens of refineries have already invested in the technology, including the nearby Valero Benicia refinery.