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. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. God may not warn us again.. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. 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.. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. / KCAL News. This is a breaking news story. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. 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. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. The explosion, which happened . Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. 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. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. 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. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. 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. 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. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change, Process Safety Management for the 21st Century, Emergency Planning and Response (Preparedness), Website design & development by Americaneagle.com. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. 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(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. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. Refinery officials those from ExxonMobil, which owned the Torrance Refining Company during the explosion, and current owner PBF Energy have repeatedly pushed back on that conclusion, saying MHF doesnt pose a widespread threat. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Activists carried signs reading Congratulations PBF, zero days explosion free and All lives matter while chanting Hey, hey, ho, ho, MHF has got to go. Some said the turnout demonstrates the series of refinery disruptions has reached a crisis point. Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. 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. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. 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 fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plants crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. A buildup of natural gas caused the explosion that leveled a Torrance home, damaged scores of others and rained glass, stucco and other debris over a two-block area, investigators said. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. 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. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. Steve Deuel said. Other groups including the refinerys unions and local businesses feared the potential economic fallout if the refineries were forced to transition to a safer alternative. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization. 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. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. 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. 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. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. Advocates renew call for MHF ban on 8th anniversary of Torrance 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. 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. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". 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. 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. 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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. 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.. Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. Authorities said the incident happened around 6 a.m. and 36 firefighters responded to the refinery. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. 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 cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. 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. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries 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. Another fire? And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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. 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. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. 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. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. 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. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. That 2015 blast registered as a small earthquake that shook nearby houses, injured four of the facilitys workers and covered the area in dust and ash. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. 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. She currently lives in Inglewood. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. That failure ultimately allowed hydrocarbons to flow into the air side of the FCC, where they ignited in a piece of equipment called the electrostatic precipitator, or ESP, causing an explosion of the ESP. 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. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. 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. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. Explosion Rips Through Torrance Refinery, Shakes South Bay 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. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. 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. Three were treated and released. 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. 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. Had the tanks ruptured, the report said, it would have caused a massive release of MHF, which can be deadly to anyone who comes in contact with it. Homes shook in . 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. Let's get out of here. 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. 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 CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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. Those calls for a ban remain. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. 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. 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. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. In its final report, the CSB describes multiple gaps in the refinerys process safety management system, allowing for the operation of the FCC unit without pre-established safe operating limits and criteria for a shut down. torrance News Caught on video: Car-to-car shooting on 91 Freeway Video shows a shooting between people in two cars traveling on the freeway in the Long Beach area. Minor injuries were reported after the explosion ripped apart structures at the oil refinery and shook homes for miles around the blast site in southern Los Angeles County. 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. "It was like a loud sonic boom. Refinery spokeswoman Betsy Brien said the fire was quickly extinguished and the Del Amo Boulevard barriers were activated to close the road under an abundance of caution.. 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. 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. 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. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". I cant believe they dont have the guts to stand up and say, This is wrong and MHF needs to be out of our community, she said. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Best coffee city in the world? All Rights Reserved. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery Rocked by Large Explosion - KTLA The issues to be discussed include A decision not to use the ExxonMobil emergency siren to alert the community to the explosion and subsequent ash and dust fallout.. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. "I just appreciate that I'm here. The ExxonMobil Explosion That Nobody Is Talking About Fire, explosion reported at Torrance Refinery, police say TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times SUBSCRIBE Copyright 2022, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal. 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.
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