The Torrance refinery has completed all safety enhancements and Valero has begun installation of some elements of safety measures structures and additional implementation is ongoing, said SCAQMD spokesperson Nahal Mogharabi in an email. Two others sustained minor injuries. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. 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. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California Some community members do not believe that the company did not enough to respond to the emergency. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. 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.. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. 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. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. 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. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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.. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. Cliff and Donna Heise, for example, serve as secretary and treasurer of the TRAA, respectively. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. 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. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Let's get out of here. 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. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. 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. 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. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. 'Large fire explosion' rocks ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery in 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. 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. 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. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. 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. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. 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. 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. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. 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. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. It was unclear what caused the fire. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. The information you review on this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice.The verdicts and settlements that we have listed are simply intended to be representative of the cases that Zehl & Associates has handled for past clients; they are not a guarantee or prediction of the outcome in your or any other lawsuit. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Homes shook in . Feb . 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. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. 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. 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 . Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. 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. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 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.. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. 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. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News 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.. 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.. 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. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. God may not warn us again.. An explosion at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance today sent a plume of black smoke in the air and caused ash to cascade down on the area, but there were only two minor injuries. 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. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. Final CSB Report of Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, CA The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. 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. No further details were immediately available. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. 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. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. "I just appreciate that I'm here. That update was completed last year as well. 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. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. Hutchings holds a B.A. 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 Local News. 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. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. Torrance News - ABC7 Los Angeles 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. 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. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. The explosion, which happened . explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. "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.".
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