U.S. Refineries Tighten Security After FBI Warning

August 25, 2003

HOUSTON, (Reuters) - U.S. refineries were operating with tightened security Monday after the FBI warned of a terrorist threat against petroleum and power plants in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The alert went out to FBI offices in those three cities late Friday night, said Special Agent John Iannarelli, a spokesman at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C.

"It's very vague and non-specific," Iannarelli said of the threat. "Post 9/11, we'd be remiss if we didn't pass on any information we have."

The agency has issued similar warnings previously, but no attacks have occurred.

Tesoro Petroleum Corp., which operates the 168,000 barrel per day (bpd) Golden Eagle refinery in the San Francisco Bay area town of Martinez, California, said the company was contacted by the FBI.

"Golden Eagle was notified late Friday by the FBI to increase security and we have taken the necessary steps to do so," said Tesoro spokeswoman Tara Ford.

Stephen Lesher, spokesman for Shell Oil Co.'s 155,000 bpd refinery in Martinez, confirmed the refiner has been in contact with the FBI and local law enforcement agencies about the warning.

In a written statement, Shell said it has maintained special crisis management teams and increased security at all of its plants since the September 11 attacks.

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