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. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. 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. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . 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. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. 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. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. "It was like a loud sonic boom. Those calls for a ban remain. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. Bontas office said it hadnt received a letter from the county. There was also minor damage to two adjoining apartments, according to Millea. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. I urge SCAQMD to act with urgency, said the South Bay Democrat. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. The Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday morning. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. 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. All communications are private and confidential. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . All rights reserved. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. 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. 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 blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. 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. 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. Three were treated and released. 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 . All communications are private and confidential. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 8:01 a.m. It's been eight years since a massive explosion at the Torrance Refinery shook the South Bay with the blast. Its been a few years now, and there has been very little progress.. All rights reserved. While the unit where the blast occurred was ordered shut down, the rest of the refinery is still in operation. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. 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. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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. 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 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. Kristy Hutchings covers all things Long Beach including local government, politics, and the environment. 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. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. 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. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. 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.. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. 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. 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. Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". Prior to joining the Press-Telegram, she served as the Daily Breeze's lead city hall reporter. Hahn who left the agencys board in December 2019 was one of two votes opposed to accepting the proffers. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. 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. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates 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. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. She currently lives in Inglewood. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. The couple was taking a stroll outside of North High Schools football field on the day of the 2015 explosion. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. Torrance fire Capt. Im absolutely appalled, said Torrance teacher Julie Stoll, referring to the lack of support from Torrance officials. Hutchings holds a B.A. The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. The Torrance refinery, however, also contributes significantly to the citys economy. 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. Principal Office: Houston Texas. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. The cause of the explosion was not known. 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. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . 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. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. The refinery has been under constant scrutiny since the explosion as small fires and flare ups have been reported since and raised concern among residents living nearby. Liz Odendahl, Hahns spokeswoman, said in an interview that the supervisor was furious at the AQMDs decision to accept the refineries proffers. 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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. 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 AQMDs own reports warned that the ability of MHF to prevent formation of a vapor/aerosol cloud is highly uncertain and that a release of MHF will result in exposure to HF with the same health effects.. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. Hours after an explosion ripped through a Torrance refinery, residents for miles around continue to grapple with ash, a gas odor and concerns over poor air quality while inspectors confirmed that a filtration device was the source of the blast. ET), but there was no . All Rights Reserved. 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. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. 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. 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. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. The explosion sent ash raining down on. 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.. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. The Heises, for their part, are still working to educate residents in Torrance and Wilmington about their MHF concerns and are grateful the issue is still being monitored. The incident caused the refinery to be . 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. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. 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.. They heard a loud explosion, kind of like a sonic boom, said Jason Davis, who lives near the complex. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. Torrance Refinery on April 22 reported an unplanned flaring event, induced by damaged equipment, that sent an additional 765 pounds of SOx and 143 pounds of volatile organic compounds into the. "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.". My first reaction was, this doesn't sound good, this doesn't look good. 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. PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. TORRANCE An explosion and fire in a gasoline processing unit rocked the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance today, injuring three workers and sending flames and ash into the sky. 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. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. Ryan Zehl is the lawyer responsible for this website. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. But HF is highly corrosive, posing a threat to nearby communities if it were dispersed as a gas during a fire, explosion or the like. Steve Deuel said. 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. The cause of the fire, which Millea said burned an unspecified amount of crude oil, is under scrutiny by investigators from Cal-OSHA, the states worker safety agency, while a county hazardous materials team also was on the scene. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. Homes shook in . We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. The respective responses were predictable: For years, both sides of this battle have zealously defended their positions. 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. 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. Across California, CA | News | 15h. 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. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. 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 cause of the explosion is under investigation. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. Many in the neighborhood reported being startled by a large blast. Torrance officials said there was no chemical release and a citywide shelter-in-place order is not necessary, but those near the site should keep windows closed. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. All rights reserved, Los Angeles County Holds Stable COVID-19 Hospitalization Rate, Tax Deadlines Extended to October for Most Californians Due to Storms, Check Your Pockets: These Coins Can Be Worth Up To $24,000, Glendale Neighborhood Frustrated After an Illegal Hostel Moves In, Road Rage Incident Kicks Off Pursuit, Carjacking, and Weapon Fired Out Window in Wild Chase, NASA Images Show Southern California Mountains Before and After Winter Storm. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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 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. Although there are alternative alkylation technologies under development, Lafayette said, they still need to be proven to be safe, mechanically reliable, and commercially viable at the scale of the Torrance Alkylation Unit.. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. There was no sign of an announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration so they could reflect upon the (2015) incident.. There have also been multiple safety enhancements to prevent leaks, they say. 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. Gavin Newsom to call for an investigation into the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the facility, now operated by Torrance Refining Co., as well as by Valeros Wilmington refinery. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. And so, the battle over MHFs future appears set to linger on with the Board of Supervisors call for a ban the latest volley. 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. God may not warn us again.. explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment, failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast. If you or a loved one were injured or burned in a plant or refinery fire, contact ourplant and refinery accident attorneysfor a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. 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. 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. in journalism from the University of Southern California. 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. 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. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. 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 cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. / KCAL News. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. 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. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. "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. 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. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. After protests and intensified public pressure from such activists as the Heises mounted in 2017, the AQMDs Proposed Rule 1410 became a key focus of the agencys Governing Board. Numerous nearby residents complained about the air quality following the blast. 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). Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. No further details were immediately available. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. There was a "large fire explosion" at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery in Southern California on Wednesday morning, according to the Torrance Police Department. The fiercest local opponent of MHF is the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance. MHF opponents have also expressed concerns that the refineries havent done enough to ensure the communities safety. The explosion, which happened . The work of the Safety Auditor was overseen by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and approved prior to use of MHF at the refinery.. 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. All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. This is a breaking news story. 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. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. 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.. Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. Various elected officials have periodically attempted to rein in its use at the Torrance refinery and another in Wilmington, the only two in the state that use the chemical. 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. Residents touted the move, introduced by Supervisor Janice Hahn and timed to the anniversary, while PBF, in a statement, criticized the county boards vote. Para obtener ms informacin sobre cmo utilizamos tus datos personales, consulta nuestra Poltica de privacidad y Poltica de cookies. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. No injuries were reported and there were no evacuations.
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