Tell the AQMD Board: Ban Use Of MHF in Local Refineries!

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has the opportunity to adopt Rule 1410 and completely phase out dangerous MHF from our local refineries. They need to hear from the public, to support this resolution for a complete ban, but it is facing strong opposition from the Torrance Refinery and Valero (Wilmington) Refinery.

The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance (TRAA) is inviting environmental groups and the general public, to have a show of force supporting a ban of MHF, by attending this upcoming meeting with the AQMD Governing Board, on Friday February 1st at 9am. We are asking for a complete ban of this dangerous, volatile chemical, not an 8-year long process just to "mitigate" the danger, as the Refineries are proposing. The “modified” hydrofluoric (MHF) acid, if accidentally released into the atmosphere, essentially behaves the same as un-modified HF, forming a deadly, ground-hugging toxic cloud. MHF is actually 90% HF, and the safety claims made for MHF are bogus, fooling the public into a false sense of safety. 

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO THE SCAQMD HERE.

The Torrance Refinery (formerly Exxon-Mobil Torrance) and Wilmington Refinery, are the only two oil refineries in California which store MHF, which is used in their alkylation process. If another accidental explosion were to occur, like the one in Torrance on February 18, 2015, we may not be so lucky in avoiding the dreaded release of this deadly chemical. Falling debris barely missed crushing the storage tanks containing 50,000 lbs. of MHF, and if released, would have formed a toxic, ground-hugging cloud that could travel several miles over neighboring South Bay cities.

There are much safer alternatives used now by other refineries, such as sulfuric acid, for their alkylation process. We are calling for these alternatives to be used instead of MHF, in a planned, phase-in over 3-4 years.

On February 1, the Refinery Committee Staff will brief the AQMD board members on the progress of the Rule 1410 Workshops. We are hoping to win over the remaining board members. There will be an agenda for the meeting, and an opportunity for 3 minutes of public comment immediately following our agenda item.

Free transportation to the AQMD Headquartersin Torrance and Wilmington will be provided. Here is a link for further information.