Learn about dangerous releases from Torrance refinery -- and what you can do about it

Posted on 1 October 2015
By Al Sattler

The accidental release of modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF) at the recently sold ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance on Sept. 6 was a warning sign and wakeup call for South Bay communities.

Join the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance from 5:45 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, October 5, to learn, ask questions, share information, and discuss the case against MHF at ExxonMobil. The meeting will be held at 2761 W. 190th St. in Redondo Beach (the meeting room is in the back on the northwest corner of the building).

The meeting will also help attendees get the most out of the City of Torrance’s Community Workshop that will be held October 13.

The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance is a group of people who live and/or work in Torrance or neighboring communities, and are worried/concerned/anxious/angry about the refinery, especially the use of HF, hydrofluoric acid. The refinery is using "modified" HF, which is supposed to volatilize less but is still very hazardous. ExxonMobil's damaged Torrance plant was just bought by New Jersey-based PBF Energy for $537.5 million.

There have been claims that MHF falls to the ground harmlessly and poses no risk to the community. According to Exxon-Mobil and the Torrance-Mobil Safety Advisor’s report, that’s wrong. A significant fraction of leaked MHF will form a toxic ground-hugging cloud that can drift for miles into adjacent South Bay communities. In fact, former California Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office stated in 2008 that MHF is a risk to surrounding communities and eliminating it would be a substantial benefit.

Since an explosion February 18, just 150 feet from the MHF unit, the Alliance has helped alert the South Bay to MHF's dangers. The group already has more than 1,000 signatures on petitions against its use. Safe alternatives exist to replace MHF.

The alliance has done its homework and welcomes community members: residents, workers, and business owners, to come to this meeting to learn more about well documented findings and to share their thoughts.

RSVP to info@safetorrancerefinery.com by October 4.

The Community Workshop on October 13 will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in Torrance City Council Chambers.

See the maps below of communities endangered by the refinery's actions:

https://safetorrancerefinery.wordpress.com/technical-information-2/

https://safetorrancerefinery.wordpress.com/

Here's background about the issue from Daily Breeze news articles:

http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150930/video-report-says-exxonmobil-torrance-refinery-explosion-nearly-catastrophic
http://www.dailybreeze.com/general-news/20150923/ethics-expert-exxonmobils-behavior-since-torrance-refinery-blast-is-worse-than-volkswagens