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 governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu said in a statement Saturday that he plans to ask the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to include Saturdays incident as part of an ongoing investigation into the problems at the trouble-plagued refinery that began two years ago. 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. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California. 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. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. 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. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. The explosion, the report said, launched a 40-ton piece of debris that nearly struck tanks carrying tens of thousands of pounds of MHF. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. In the past 5 years alone, our Plant Explosion Lawyers have Won over $1 Billion for workers who were seriously injured and burned in refinery and industrial accidents, represented workers in connection with every major plant and refinery explosion in recent history, and recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas companies in the world, including ExxonMobil, Williams, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. God may not warn us again.. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. That update was completed last year as well. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. But we had no idea about the danger.. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. 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. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. All communications are private and confidential. Paige Austin, Patch Staff. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. 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. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. But the consequences, according to federal investigators, could have been far worse: The explosion, investigators wrote in a report two years later, nearly released tons of modified hydrofluoric acid, potentially putting thousands in the South Bay at risk. Four were taken to hospitals. Cal/OSHA has shut down the fluid catalytic cracker and will only allow operations to resume once it can be exhibited that the unit can operate safely. 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). "I kind of figured we had an earthquake, then I realized, living by the factory for all those years, they had a problem with the factory.". Steve Deuel said. All rights reserved. More Stories Drone helps. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. 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. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. Notably absent from the event was any sign of Torrance elected officials, although police officers in several patrol cars discreetly kept their eye on the peaceful protesters from a distance. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. I wish the Torrance City Council had the courage to say that.. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. No further details were immediately available. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. On Saturday, the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance announced a campaign urging Gov. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents. We are very proud of the many technical advances we have added to our Alkylation Unit over the years, the refinery says on its website, which is additional proof of our continuing commitment to safe, reliable operations.. 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 additive does this by ensuring the chemical used as a liquid during refining doesnt turn into a gas. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. proporcionarte nuestros sitios y aplicaciones; autenticar usuarios, aplicar medidas de seguridad y evitar el spam y los abusos, y. medir el uso que haces de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. 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. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bontas offices to take all possible actions to require refineries in California to convert from MHF to safer alternatives.. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. 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 explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. 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. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. Three were treated and released. 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. 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. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. 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.. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. Principal Office: Houston Texas. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. 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County, Over $38M stolen from low-income SoCal families, Newport Beach home dangling after cliffside collapse, High-speed rail from L.A. to Vegas: What we know, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Supervisor knew the proffers were toothless, Odendahl said. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. ET), but there was no . 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. 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. 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. 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20006. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. 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. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. 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 CSB investigation also discovered that a large piece of debris from the explosion narrowly missed hitting a tank containing tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates All rights reserved. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. 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 . I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. Feb . 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. 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. 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. The refinery relied on safeguards that could not be verified, and re-used a previous procedure deviation without a sufficient hazard analysis of the current process conditions. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email public@csb.gov. Additional locations: Dallas, TX | Midland, TX | Odessa, TX | Louisiana, Plant Explosion Lawyer Refinery & Pipeline, Railroad Crossing Accidents and Train Accidents, Longshore & Harbor Workers Compensation Act. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. 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. "Emergency procedures have been activated to address the incident, and employees are working with the appropriate agencies," a statement by the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery said. 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 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. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. 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. This is a breaking news story. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. 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. Electrostatic precipitators are large machines that stand12 stories high and weigh more than 1,000 tons. 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. in journalism from the University of Southern California. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 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. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA Just before 9 a.m. on February 18, the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California exploded, shaking the surrounding community with the force of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, and sending a quarter ton of sulfur oxide gas into the atmosphere. The explosion sent ash raining down on. TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) -- The Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. / KCAL News. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. 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. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. 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 South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for any areas where residents can see or smell smoke. 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. 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. 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. Officials were investigating the cause of the over-pressurization.
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