Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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.. God may not warn us again.. 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. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. The proposal had plenty of support: Reps. Nanette Barragan, Ted Lieu and Maxine Waters wrote letters urging the AQMD to pass the rule and phase MHF out of Southern California. 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. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. 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.. 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. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. Steve Deuel said. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. Several contractors were injured in the Feb. 18, 2015, blast that shut down the refinery for more than a year, leading to soaring gas prices in Southern California. Explosion, fire at ExxonMobil refinery rocks Torrance All Rights Reserved. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. 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. 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. 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. 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. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. 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. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. 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. ET), but there was no . 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. Homes shook in . Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four Refinery Explosion Shakes Earth and Probably Gas Prices 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 . The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. Activists marking Torrance refinery explosion anniversary call for Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. 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. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. Final CSB Report of Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, CA Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. 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. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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 Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday morning. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. "I just appreciate that I'm here. Explosion reported in Torrance Fire department vehicles will patrol Los Angeles with vehicles and helicopters to identify the damage or emergency needs, it was reported. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". 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. Torrance firefighters . 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. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Three were treated and released. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. The ExxonMobil Explosion That Nobody Is Talking About We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. 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. PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 8:01 a.m. It's been eight years since a massive explosion at the Torrance Refinery shook the South Bay with the blast. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. The cause of the fire, which Millea said burned an unspecified amount of crude oil, is under scrutiny by investigators from Cal-OSHA, the states worker safety agency, while a county hazardous materials team also was on the scene. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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). Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers is a Houston Personal Injury Law Firm that represents accident victims across Texas, Louisiana and the United States. 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. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". 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. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". 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. 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. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon - Patch 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. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. By Nichola Groom 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 injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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 launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment within feet of a structure that housed a highly volatile and toxic substance, modified hydrofluoric acid. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. 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. in journalism from the University of Southern California. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. 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. U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. 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.
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