UPDATE 1-Chevron restarts L.A. refinery FCC -state

(Recasts with state notice, adds background)

HOUSTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Chevron Corp (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) was restarting the 90,000 barrel per day (bpd) gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracking unit at its 260,000 bpd Los Angeles-area refinery in El Segundo, California, over the weekend, according to a notice filed with state regulators.

Increased releases of sulfur dioxide from the refinery began Saturday night due to the restart, according to the notice with California Office of Emergency Services.

Chevron also filed notice with Los Angeles pollution regulators of flaring Sunday at the El Segundo refinery.

The flaring Sunday was expected to last throughout the day, up to 12 hours beginnng at 8:10 a.m. local time (1610 GMT), according to the notice filed with the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

Los Angeles refineries are switching over to making gasoline blended to reduce release of smog-causing chemicals in the higher temperatures of the summer driving season.

At least one other Los Angeles refinery is carrying out an overhaul of its gasoline producing units.

The switchover to summer-blend gasoline is staggered in California, with Los Angeles and areas south making the change in early February. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Diane Craft)