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In 2004, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said much the same in an environmental analysis the agency did when Valero introduced MHF at its Wilmington refinery. The CSB investigation also discovered that a large piece of debris from the explosion narrowly missed hitting a tank containing tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF. 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. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. 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. If you or a loved one were injured or burned in a plant or refinery fire, contact ourplant and refinery accident attorneysfor a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. But the consequences, according to federal investigators, could have been far worse: The explosion, investigators wrote in a report two years later, nearly released tons of modified hydrofluoric acid, potentially putting thousands in the South Bay at risk. The refinery has been under constant scrutiny since the explosion as small fires and flare ups have been reported since and raised concern among residents living nearby. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. Unfortunately, ExxonMobil, the owner-operator of the refinery at the time of the accident, did not respond to the CSBs requests for information detailing safeguards to prevent or mitigate a release of MHF, and therefore the agency was unable to fully explore this topic in its final report. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. The investigation of the Torrance explosion by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board revealed that a piece of equipment nearly crashed into a tank holding tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid a highly toxic chemical used to make high-octane gasoline. But the proposed ban on MHF is far from the first cost passed onto consumers: 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 billion. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plant's crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. 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 firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. 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. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. "I kind of figured we had an earthquake, then I realized, living by the factory for all those years, they had a problem with the factory.". Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. 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. Tests have shown that MHF, which Torrance has used since 1997, rapidly expands upon release and can travel at lethal concentrations up to two miles, according to a presentation from AQMD staff. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. The issues to be discussed include A decision not to use the ExxonMobil emergency siren to alert the community to the explosion and subsequent ash and dust fallout.. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. 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, then-CSB Chairwoman Vanessa Allen Sutherland said in a statement at the time. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) A New Jersey-based oil refining company announced Wednesday it is purchasing the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was badly damaged in a February explosion, with. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Hours after an explosion ripped through a Torrance refinery, residents for miles around continue to grapple with ash, a gas odor and concerns over poor air quality while inspectors confirmed that a filtration device was the source of the blast. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Still, the explosion led to further safety measures, some the refineries put in voluntarily and others they did so essentially at the behest of government agencies. The Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday morning. She currently lives in Inglewood. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures., MHF was the subject of a thorough technology review by a court-appointed Safety Advisor with input from the City of Torrance, Gesuina Lafayette, PBFs community relations advisor said in a recent email. That failure ultimately allowed hydrocarbons to flow into the air side of the FCC, where they ignited in a piece of equipment called the electrostatic precipitator, or ESP, causing an explosion of the ESP. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance plans on Tuesday to deliver a letter from its science advisory panel to Newsoms office urging him to request that Atty. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. All communications are private and confidential. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. Steve Deuel 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. Redondo Beach Local News. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. Feb . 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. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. Refinery officials those from ExxonMobil, which owned the Torrance Refining Company during the explosion, and current owner PBF Energy have repeatedly pushed back on that conclusion, saying MHF doesnt pose a widespread threat. 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. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times SUBSCRIBE Copyright 2022, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. 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. In its final report, the CSB describes multiple gaps in the refinerys process safety management system, allowing for the operation of the FCC unit without pre-established safe operating limits and criteria for a shut down. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. The explosion sent ash raining down on. Lieu commended the AQMD for its proposal to phase out the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the plant, one of only two refineries in California to rely on MHF. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Although there are alternative alkylation technologies under development, Lafayette said, they still need to be proven to be safe, mechanically reliable, and commercially viable at the scale of the Torrance Alkylation Unit.. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. Really? read one of the signs carried by chanting marchers who endured a steady downpour to protest the use of toxic hydrofluoric acid at the refinery. No further details were immediately available. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. 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. A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. Other groups including the refinerys unions and local businesses feared the potential economic fallout if the refineries were forced to transition to a safer alternative.