Pascagoula residents press Chevron for buyouts amid Venezuelan oil influx

The U.S. claim on Venezuela’s oil and efforts to prioritize shipments to U.S. refineries have raised the prospect that more Venezuelan heavy crude could flow to Chevron’s large Pascagoula refinery, and neighbors say that could worsen pollution. The refinery already processes Venezuela’s heavy, sulfur‑rich crude into gasoline, diesel and jet fuel.

Residents of the Cherokee Forest neighborhood describe frequent odors and point to refinery monitoring that shows periodic benzene spikes. Community sensor studies identified short pollution episodes tied to winds from the industrial area and detected elevated nickel in children’s nail clippings, and neighbors say those findings bolster their push for a buyout.

Chevron has told residents the facility is equipped to process heavy sour crude, that it uses emissions‑control equipment and reports fence‑line benzene levels to regulators, and that it remains open to collaborating with the community. The Pascagoula refinery has expanded since opening in 1963 and is a major local taxpayer.

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