All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. The latest fire in an ongoing series of mishaps including leaks, excessive flaring and power outages that have plagued the refinery in recent months added fuel to the arguments of opponents that the plant is a safety and environmental hazard. 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.. Principal Office: Houston Texas. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. TORRANCE, Calif. -- An explosion rocked an Exxon Mobil refinery on Wednesday morning, triggering a huge smokestack flare, raining down ash and leaving four with minor injuries, company and. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. Blast Blamed on Gas Buildup - Los Angeles Times 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. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon - Patch The explosion, which happened . TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. 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. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. 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. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. 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. Three were treated and released. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. 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. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. California oil refinery blast sends flames shooting into sky The cause of the explosion is under investigation. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. 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.. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. 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.. 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. 'Large fire explosion' rocks ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery in For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. Were also the only law firm in the country thats currently representing over 65 of the workers who were injured in the Williams Geismar explosion, as well as 3 of the 4 workers who were tragically killed in the October 2015 Williams explosion in Gibson, Louisiana. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. 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. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California - CBS News State of the Union CBS News App Ukraine Crisis COVID Pandemic CBS News Live Managing Your Money Essentials Shopping. "I just appreciate that I'm here. 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. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. The incident caused the refinery to be . The ExxonMobil Explosion That Nobody Is Talking About "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four The bottom line is Torrance Refinery now has the most advanced safety systems of any HF Alkylation Unit in California, the U.S., and the world.. 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. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". 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. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. People, Donna Heise said, are becoming more aware if nothing else over the last seven years.. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. The cause of the explosion was not known. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. There was no sign of an announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration so they could reflect upon the (2015) incident.. The AQMDs own reports warned that the ability of MHF to prevent formation of a vapor/aerosol cloud is highly uncertain and that a release of MHF will result in exposure to HF with the same health effects.. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. "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.". Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . 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. TORRANCE An explosion and fire in a gasoline processing unit rocked the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance today, injuring three workers and sending flames and ash into the sky. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. 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. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. 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. 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. 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. Redondo Beach News, Breaking News in Redondo Beach, CA Paige Austin, Patch Staff. The explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment within feet of a structure that housed a highly volatile and toxic substance, modified hydrofluoric acid. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". 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. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. 6 Min Read. Torrance Refinery on April 22 reported an unplanned flaring event, induced by damaged equipment, that sent an additional 765 pounds of SOx and 143 pounds of volatile organic compounds into the. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion in Torrance, CA - Zehl & Associates A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. 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 . Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. 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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. 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. 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.
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