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. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. 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. 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 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 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. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. 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. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. 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. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. 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. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. 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. 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.. 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 explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. All rights reserved. Additional locations: Dallas, TX | Midland, TX | Odessa, TX | Louisiana, Plant Explosion Lawyer Refinery & Pipeline, Railroad Crossing Accidents and Train Accidents, Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. 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. 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. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon Neighborhood - Redondo Beach, CA - The blast at the Torrance refinery could be seen for miles and caused 1.7 magnitude ground-shaking. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. God may not warn us again.. Two others sustained minor injuries. Thick smoke rose from a mangled, multiple-story portion of the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery, located south of the 405 Freeway, after the 8:50 a.m. blast. 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. People gathered in protest at the refinery later in the afternoon on the 2-year anniversary of an explosion at the plant that left two people injured. 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. 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 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. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. 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. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. But we had no idea about the danger.. 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. The cause of the explosion was not known. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Redondo Beach Local News. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. Los Angeles, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids, Calmes: Heres what we should do about Marjorie Taylor Greene, ICE detainees allege retaliation for speaking about medical conditions at Otay Mesa center, Downtown L.A stabbing sends six to hospital; suspect arrested, San Diego Roman Catholic diocese facing yet another lawsuit from its insurance company, K-Pop isnt the only hot ticket in Koreatown how trot is captivating immigrants, Los Angeles is suddenly awash in waterfalls. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. 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 CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. 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. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. 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. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. 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. 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. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. 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. 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. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. 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. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. 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. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. It was unclear what caused the fire. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. 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. 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. 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. This is a breaking news story. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. ET), but there was no . Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change, Process Safety Management for the 21st Century, Emergency Planning and Response (Preparedness), Website design & development by Americaneagle.com. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. 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. 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. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. 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.. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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. Those calls for a ban remain. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. Torrance firefighters . 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. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. Since then, at least one leak of hydrofluoric acid and several fires have prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to propose a ban on hydrofluoric acid. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. 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. 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. 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. The refinery, where about 155,000 barrels of crude oil are processed each day, has been part of the South Bay landscape since the 1920s. Torrance fire Capt. 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. 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. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. Let's get out of here. Steve Deuel said. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. 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 officials said there was no chemical release and a citywide shelter-in-place order is not necessary, but those near the site should keep windows closed. Three were treated and released. 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. "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.". With the addition of these voluntary safety enhancements and other obligations completed and operating, we have fulfilled our obligation to further protect Refinery personnel and the community, Lafayette said. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. 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. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. 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. The SCAQMD didnt comment on Hahns request for the organization to reexamine the viability of alternative technologies to MHF, some of which may be more commercially available than they were at the time of the vote. When released, the chemical can form a deadly, ground-hugging cloud that, in the event of a major leak, could have caused serious injury or death to many community members, according to the agency. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. I cant believe they dont have the guts to stand up and say, This is wrong and MHF needs to be out of our community, she said. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. Member-Designated Transportation Projects, Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally, announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration, Manhattan Beach Office (By Appointment Only). 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Principal Office: Houston Texas. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. 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. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. "I just appreciate that I'm here. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. And those who run the Torrance facility also say its refinery hasnt experienced an off-site leak of either HF or MHF since it opened in 1966. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. 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. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. The remainder of the FCC unit is comprised of a portion of the reaction process and a series of pollution control equipment that uses air and is known as the air side of the unit. 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. 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. Four were taken to hospitals. in communication and M.S. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. 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. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. 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. mostrar anuncios y contenido personalizados basados en perfiles de inters; medir la efectividad de los anuncios y el contenido personalizados, y. desarrollar y mejorar nuestros productos y servicios. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. 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. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. 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. 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.
When Will An Airplane Fly On Takeoff,
John Sullivan Obituary March 2021,
Beazer Homes Upgrade Costs,
Articles E