For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email public@csb.gov. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu said in a statement Saturday that he plans to ask the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to include Saturdays incident as part of an ongoing investigation into the problems at the trouble-plagued refinery that began two years ago. The AQMD scrapped the potential ban in 2019 instead accepting proffers from both refineries that promised to make safety enhancements to their existing MHF units. proporcionarte nuestros sitios y aplicaciones; autenticar usuarios, aplicar medidas de seguridad y evitar el spam y los abusos, y. medir el uso que haces de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. But HF is highly corrosive, posing a threat to nearby communities if it were dispersed as a gas during a fire, explosion or the like. That 2015 blast registered as a small earthquake that shook nearby houses, injured four of the facilitys workers and covered the area in dust and ash. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. As a result, when the valve was needed during an emergency, it did not work as intended, and hydrocarbons were able to reach an ignition source. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery Sold Amid Report Of Potential Disaster A five-story processing unit had burst open, spewing industrial ash over a mile away that some mistook for snow and propelling a 40-ton hunk of equipment into the air. Cal/OSHA has shut down the fluid catalytic cracker and will only allow operations to resume once it can be exhibited that the unit can operate safely. That update was completed last year as well. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. Refinery officials, though, say MHF was specifically designed to be safer than its non-modified original hydrofluoric acid and has been reviewed by experts and deemed the best catalyst for the refining process. Its unacceptable we were put in harms way, said Daphne Wong, who added that she does not believe the official line that Torrance is a safe community. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. "Emergency procedures have been activated to address the incident, and employees are working with the appropriate agencies," a statement by the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery said. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. North Torrance resident Daphne Wong, her husband, Eng, and their three children, ages 5 to 9, all walked to the refinery together despite the rain. Weve won over $1 Billion for our clients, recovered some of the largest verdicts and settlement in history, and obtained record-setting victories against the biggest trucking, oil and gas, maritime and petrochemical companies in the world. The Torrance refinery, according to its website, has made several improvements, including a leak-detection system, upgraded water monitors, 24/7 automated, continuously monitored unit cameras and an expanded water mitigation system. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. More than a day after the accident, no representative from ExxonMobil had directly contacted the Torrance fire chief and city officials still did not know what was in the substances that were released into the surrounding areas. Had the tanks ruptured, the report said, it would have caused a massive release of MHF, which can be deadly to anyone who comes in contact with it. In the past 5 years alone, our Plant Explosion Lawyers have Won over $1 Billion for workers who were seriously injured and burned in refinery and industrial accidents, represented workers in connection with every major plant and refinery explosion in recent history, and recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas companies in the world, including ExxonMobil, Williams, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The battle over a highly toxic chemical used in oil refining recently received a fresh jolt, seven years after the substance became a regional cause celebre in the wake of an explosion that rocked the Torrance Refinery. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plants crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. A group of activists on Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of an explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers and prompted continuing concerns about the potential for an even more catastrophic incident and the release of toxic chemicals and fumes into local communities. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Both the PBF and Valero refineries are situated in densely populated areas of the South Bay: About 245,000 people live within three miles of the Torrance refinery and another 153,000 live within that same distance of Valeros refinery, AQMD said. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. All Rights Reserved. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. The incident caused the refinery to be . If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. Across California, CA | News | 15h. The motion also instructs county departments to review existing health and safety measures related to MHF including emergency precautions in case of an accidental leak. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. For more than seven years, members of small, local activist groups have been irresponsibly making claims against the Refinerys use of MHF, without any basis in fact, Lafayette wrote recently. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. The CSBs report emphasizes that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA Just before 9 a.m. on February 18, the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California exploded, shaking the surrounding community with the force of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, and sending a quarter ton of sulfur oxide gas into the atmosphere. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bontas offices to take all possible actions to require refineries in California to convert from MHF to safer alternatives.. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. The Heises, for their part, are still working to educate residents in Torrance and Wilmington about their MHF concerns and are grateful the issue is still being monitored. Several contractors were injured in the Feb. 18, 2015, blast that shut down the refinery for more than a year, leading to soaring gas prices in Southern California. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance,, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries continues, Baby girl Winter of Lake Arrowhead is born amid raging blizzard, Texas congressman who broke with GOP is censured, Biden expected to tighten rules on US investment in China, More Iranian schoolgirls sickened in suspected poisoning wave, explosion that rocked the Torrance Refinery, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical, protests and intensified public pressure from such activists, Heres why AQMD committee chose enhanced safety measures over a ban on MHF at refineries in Wilmington and Torrance, LA public health official urges phasing out MHF chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries, Activists call for state investigation into use of toxic chemical at two South Bay refineries, Court rules ExxonMobil must give feds crucial data on 2015 Torrance refinery explosion, Explosion at Torrance ExxonMobil refinery injures 4; spike in gas prices expected, Alpine Village shopkeepers get confirmation: theyre being evicted, San Pedro Fish Market bids a sad goodbye to legacy location, Alpine Village, for decades a German American hub, faces unknown future, Appeals court ruling in Lunada Bay Boys case could make cities liable for surf localism, Gracie Abrams behind Good Riddance message in Los Angeles sky, Tax filing deadline moves to mid-October for most Californians, 6 suspects wanted for holding up armored cars for $550,000-plus in Hawthorne, LA and Inglewood, California weighs $360,000 in reparations to eligible Black residents, Hermosa Beach Police arrest 2 men suspected in shooting attempt, As Adderall shortage continues, DEA plans to limit some telemedicine prescriptions, House where JonBenet Ramsey was found dead listed for sale for almost $7M, Columbia University permanently drops SAT, ACT admissions requirement, The Waterbed Doctor: California retailer lays claim to retro bed with nearly 40 years of service, sales, Felonious Florida podcast: Missing teenage girl leads to several cases of child sex trafficking, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. More Stories Drone helps. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. The latest salvo in the battle over MHF came last month, when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors called for a ban on the highly toxic chemical. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report into the February 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. Gavin Newsom to call for an investigation into the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the facility, now operated by Torrance Refining Co., as well as by Valeros Wilmington refinery. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. She currently lives in Inglewood. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. "I just appreciate that I'm here. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". in communication and M.S. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Saturday's fire: Federal investigators in January said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast and that the aftermath could have been "catastrophic" had the equipment hit the unit housing MHF. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. Let's get out of here. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. In the late 1980s, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 jointly created modified hydrofluoric acid, which boasts a chemical additive that, when used in high enough concentrations, can prevent the poisonous chemical from dispersing. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. May 3, 2017, Torrance, CA, -- Today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report into the February 18, 2015, explosion at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. TORRANCE, Calif.- An explosion and fire ripped through a gasoline processing unit at an Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, near Los Angeles on Wednesday, slightly injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said.Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST (12 p.m. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Best coffee city in the world? 4 Injured In Reported Explosion At Torrance Apartment Complex The new campaign comes several months after air quality regulators killed a years-long push for stronger regulation of hydrofluoric acid at the two refineries. torrance News Caught on video: Car-to-car shooting on 91 Freeway Video shows a shooting between people in two cars traveling on the freeway in the Long Beach area. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, This explosion and near miss should not have happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place. The refinery previously said that the citys Fire Department has the sole responsibility to decide what tools to use, when to use them, and what area within the community to notify. At the bottom of a public notice explaining the Torrance Community Warning System, however, ExxonMobil has the ability to initiate the use of the Community Alert Sirens and Crenshaw Street Barriers if an incident at the refinery warrants immediate community notification., The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Environmental Quality Committee has planned a joint hearing to address the emergency response in the Torrance refinery explosion.
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