Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. The SCAQMD didnt comment on Hahns request for the organization to reexamine the viability of alternative technologies to MHF, some of which may be more commercially available than they were at the time of the vote. The ExxonMobil near-disaster you probably haven't heard of 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. 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 CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. 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. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Saturday's fire: Federal investigators in January said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast and that the aftermath could have been "catastrophic" had the equipment hit the unit housing 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. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon Neighborhood - Redondo Beach, CA - The blast at the Torrance refinery could be seen for miles and caused 1.7 magnitude ground-shaking. Please enter valid email address to continue. Hutchings holds a B.A. 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. 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.. Another fire? 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. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . God may not warn us again.. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery Sold Amid Report Of Potential Disaster Across California, CA | News | 15h. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in 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 wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment 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. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. Chairperson Sutherland said, There are valuable lessons to be learned and applied at this refinery, and to all refineries in the U.S. Keeping our refineries operating safely is critical to the well-being of the employees and surrounding communities, as well as to the economy.. ET), but there was no . A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. 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. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News 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. 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 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. My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 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. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. A smoke advisory was issued for areas near the ExxonMobil refinery due to Wednesday morning's explosion and fire. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. The additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. Final CSB Report of Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, CA Edited by Rachel Barnes. The machines are responsible for reducing ammonia and particulate emissions in a plant to comply with environmental regulations. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. But we had no idea about the danger.. 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. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 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. 4.3 earthquake strikes near LA, Internet asks 'why did it - MEAWW Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. 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 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. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. 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. Advocates renew call for MHF ban on 8th anniversary of Torrance Two others sustained minor injuries. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. 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. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobils refinery in Torrance, California. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. 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. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. The building has been undergoing renovations for some time, and the victims are believed to be remodelers working in one of the involved units, neighbors 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. Three were treated and released. 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. Just before 9 that morning, pent-up gases at ExxonMobil's Torrance refinery south of Los Angeles had triggered an explosion so massive it registered as a magnitude-1.7 tremor. 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. 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. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Trump speaks at CPAC after winning straw poll, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant to "take some time away" from the team after allegedly brandishing a gun in a club, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case. 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. The refinery previously said that the citys Fire Department has the sole responsibility to decide what tools to use, when to use them, and what area within the community to notify. At the bottom of a public notice explaining the Torrance Community Warning System, however, ExxonMobil has the ability to initiate the use of the Community Alert Sirens and Crenshaw Street Barriers if an incident at the refinery warrants immediate community notification., The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Environmental Quality Committee has planned a joint hearing to address the emergency response in the Torrance refinery explosion. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. 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. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) A New Jersey-based oil refining company announced Wednesday it is purchasing the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was badly damaged in a February explosion, with. 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. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. 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.. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. Redondo Beach News, Breaking News in Redondo Beach, CA Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. This is a breaking news story. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". 'Large fire explosion' rocks ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery in 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 TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. The rule would have required a gradual phase-out of MHF usage at both refineries, requiring an alternative catalyst, such as sulfuric acid. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four
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