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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. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. 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. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. 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. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. Homes shook in . 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. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. 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. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. 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. 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. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. Those calls for a ban remain. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion in Torrance, CA - Zehl & Associates Redondo Beach Local News. Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. 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. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. 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. 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. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. / KCAL News. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. Hutchings holds a B.A. 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 agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. 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 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. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. 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. 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. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. 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.. 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. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. 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 CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. 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. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. On a day when activists marked the two-year anniversary of an explosion that rocked the then-ExxonMobil refinery and showered neighborhoods with industrial debris, another fire erupted at the troubled Torrance plant early Saturday. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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). 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. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. She currently lives in Inglewood. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. 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.. Every one of our lawyers is a Houston personal injury attorney whos undefeated in the courtroom and has recovered some of the largest verdicts and settlements in history. 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. Lieu commended the AQMD for its proposal to phase out the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the plant, one of only two refineries in California to rely on MHF. 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. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 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. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. Another fire? Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. 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. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. 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. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. 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. 'Large fire explosion' rocks ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery in 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. 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. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. No further details were immediately available. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. 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. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. "It was like a loud sonic boom. Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California - NBC News It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. 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. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. 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. Please enter valid email address to continue. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. 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.. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. 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. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. 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. 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. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. 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. 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.. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. 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. 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. All rights reserved. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. 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. 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. 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. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally They have not yet completed their final investigation, and I will be asking the Chemical Safety Board to include todays fire and explosion as part of their investigation.. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. 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. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . 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. 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. Three were treated and released. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. All communications are private and confidential. 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 incident caused the refinery to be . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Three of them were taken to a nearby hospital, authorities said, after earlier indicating all four had been transported. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. 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.