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. 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. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. 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. But we had no idea about the danger.. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. 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. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. The refinery relied on safeguards that could not be verified, and re-used a previous procedure deviation without a sufficient hazard analysis of the current process conditions. All rights reserved, Los Angeles County Holds Stable COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate, Tax Deadlines Extended to October for Most Californians Due to Storms, Check Your Pockets: These Coins Can Be Worth Up To $24,000, Glendale Neighborhood Frustrated After an Illegal Hostel Moves In, Road Rage Incident Kicks Off Pursuit, Carjacking, and Weapon Fired Out Window in Wild Chase, NASA Images Show Southern California Mountains Before and After Winter Storm. The PBF Energy facility has been plagued with a series of incidents since the massive blast two years ago that almost caused a catastrophic release of highly toxic hydrofluoric acid that could have killed and injured thousands. 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. Finally, the slide valve - a safety-critical safeguard within the system - was degraded significantly. 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. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. Edited by Rachel Barnes. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Hutchings holds a B.A. Environmentalists and concerned residents say MHF could prove catastrophic if the chemical were to escape, pointing to its corrosivity and studies that show its ability to travel beyond a refinerys footprint. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. The building has been undergoing renovations for some time, and the victims are believed to be remodelers working in one of the involved units, neighbors said. Principal Office: Houston Texas. Torrance fire Capt. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just north of the Pacific Coast Highway, Assistant Torrance Fire Chief Robert Millea said. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. Notably absent from the event was any sign of Torrance elected officials, although police officers in several patrol cars discreetly kept their eye on the peaceful protesters from a distance. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Refinery spokeswoman Betsy Brien said the fire was quickly extinguished and the Del Amo Boulevard barriers were activated to close the road under an abundance of caution.. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. That update was completed last year as well. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. 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. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. 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 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. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. We cant assume we will be so lucky next time, whether that is another refinery accident, an earthquake, or God-forbid, an attack., The passage of the Supervisors motion is disappointing, she said in an email, because many of the points they make are both misleading and the projects are already in place, following agreements with several government agencies to install additional safety measures.. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. 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. We are very proud of the many technical advances we have added to our Alkylation Unit over the years, the refinery says on its website, which is additional proof of our continuing commitment to safe, reliable operations.. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. 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. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. Across California, CA | News | 15h. A buildup of natural gas caused the explosion that leveled a Torrance home, damaged scores of others and rained glass, stucco and other debris over a two-block area, investigators said. 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 AQMD estimated that replacing the MHF alkylation units with a safer sulfuric acid unit would cost the Torrance refinery about $900 million, and could temporarily impact gasoline supply and cost. 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. 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 cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. 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. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. 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? Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. TORRANCE, Calif. (Reuters) - An explosion and fire ripped through a gasoline processing unit at an Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, near Los Angeles on Wednesday, slightly . Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. The cause of the explosion was not known. Various elected officials have periodically attempted to rein in its use at the Torrance refinery and another in Wilmington, the only two in the state that use the chemical. The crowd gathered at 10 a.m. at Columbia Park on 190th Street, cheering the remarks of Lieu, Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi and other speakers, before marching the short distance to the refinery. ET), but there was no . For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates The work of the Safety Auditor was overseen by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and approved prior to use of MHF at the refinery.. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. The decision by the board came one week after the two refineries sent letters offering to install improved safety systems in the coming years if regulators ended their pursuit of new rules for the chemical. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. / KCAL News. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. The modified HF catalyst reduces acid vapor pressure sufficiently to suppress the usual flash atomization process of hydrofluoric acid, that environmental impact report said, causing most of the acid to fall to the ground as an easily controlled liquid and reduces the potential for off-site consequences of an accidental HF release.. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. 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. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. 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 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. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's 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. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. Weekend clouds make way for sunshine by midweek, CA awaits key decisions from reparations task force, LAPD looking for autistic man last seen in downtown, Ducks assistant coach diagnosed with melanoma, Best athletic wear for kids joining baseball and, How to watch all the Oscar-nominated movies in style, Best smart home devices for older users, according, LAPD searching for driver in fatal San Pedro hit-and-run, 1 killed amid turbulence event on business jet, Grizzlies Morant to miss Clippers, Lakers games, Festival of Whales returns to Dana Point Harbor, AlienCon attracting space enthusiasts to Pasadena, Folks near Jack Daniels facility see whiskey fungus, Suspect arrested in overnight DTLA stabbing, Commission blasts former sheriff on alleged deputy, House where JonBent Ramsey was found dead up for, 3 arrested for nearly $1 million in stolen student, Carjacking suspect shot in wild chase in L.A. County, Over $38M stolen from low-income SoCal families, Newport Beach home dangling after cliffside collapse, High-speed rail from L.A. to Vegas: What we know, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Minor injuries were reported after the explosion ripped apart structures at the oil refinery and shook homes for miles around the blast site in southern Los Angeles County. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. Torrance firefighters . Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. Steve Deuel said. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. 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. After protests and intensified public pressure from such activists as the Heises mounted in 2017, the AQMDs Proposed Rule 1410 became a key focus of the agencys Governing Board. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. 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. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. All rights reserved. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. Three were treated and released. 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. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- 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. 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. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. The incident caused the refinery to be run at limited capacity for over a year, raising gas prices in California and costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion. The explosion sent ash raining down on. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. Chairperson Sutherland said, There are valuable lessons to be learned and applied at this refinery, and to all refineries in the U.S. Keeping our refineries operating safely is critical to the well-being of the employees and surrounding communities, as well as to the economy.. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. "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. 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 motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. And the incident was avoidable, CSB said: Mismanagement and improper safety protocols put in place by then-owner ExxonMobil who sold the refinery to PBF Energy shortly after the incident made the explosion likely. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. Feb . 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM 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. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. 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. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. Redondo Beach Local News. 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. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. 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 state could potentially lose thousands of jobs, and it could result in higher gasoline prices at the pump for California residents, businesses, and government, Californians for a Sustainable Economy an association representing hundreds of local businesses wrote in opposition to the ban. More Stories Drone helps. 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. 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. 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. Another fire? 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. All communications are private and confidential. Those safety enhancements, Lafayette said, include installing a new protective steel structure, water mitigation dome and curtain, an enhanced HF/MHF detection system, and additional water mitigation monitors. 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. She currently lives in Inglewood. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy.
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