In a milestone for the industrialization of ionic liquids, Chevron has started up an alkylation unit at its Salt Lake City refinery that uses an ionic liquid catalyst instead of the traditional hydrofluoric or sulfuric acid. Alkylation reacts isobutane with olefins such as butene and propylene to create octane and other fuels. The Salt Lake […]
News Archive
Welcome to the Fluoride Action Network News Archive. The FAN News Archive serves as an historical repository for fluoride news stories, positive or negative. Since FAN catalogs all news stories on fluoride, our news section remains a reliable database of all published fluoride news.
Our news database is categorized by country, state/province, and industry. This collection of articles is constantly being updated with the most recent global news on fluoride-related issues and events.
Philadelphia refinery fire report languishes in federal safety agency depleted by Trump
The Chemical Safety Board’s final report on the 2019 release of a potentially lethal chemical at PES is among 19 awaiting approval. The Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery fire in June 2019 took 24 hours to extinguish. A final report on the accident is languishing at the U.S. Chemical Safety Board.Jessica Griffin / File Photograph Before […]
Residents Lose Bid for Gas Restrictions at Site of Refinery Fire
Neighbors can’t show ongoing threats, so injunction denied But may proceed as class to determine liability from 2018 incident A federal district court judge allowed a Wisconsin refinery to continue using a hazardous chemical despite nearby residents’ concerns about the potential for an accidental release. The residents, who had been evacuated from their homes after […]
Groundwater near Panipat refinery unfit for drinking
Fluoride, uranium above prescribed limit Panipat, January 9 The groundwater in villages adjoining Indian Oil Corporation Limited refinery here has been found unfit for drinking, according to a survey by the Central Ground Water Board. The pH value of water was not found up to the mark at certain places while heavy metals — iron, […]
Cenovus closes on nearly $5B deal to combine with Husky, which owns Superior refinery
Canadian oil and gas company Cenovus Energy has closed on its nearly $5 billion deal to buy Calgary-based Husky Energy, the company that owns and operates Wisconsin’s only oil refinery. The $4.78 billion deal makes the combined company the second-largest Canadian-based refiner and third-largest oil and gas producer there. The deal was first announced in […]
Philadelphia’s Bid to Ban Refinery Chemical Could Hit OSHA Wall
Federal law may preempt city’s move, industry attorneys say EPA, OSHA regulations cover hydrogen fluoride Federal occupational safety and health law may preempt Philadelphia from implementing a ban on hydrogen fluoride for use in oil refinery processes, say industry attorneys watching the city’s attempt to ban the chemical. The Philadelphia City Council’s proposal, which was […]
Oil Industry Watching Philadelphia’s Move to Ban Toxic Chemical
5,000 pounds of hydrogen fluoride released in June 2019 incident Philadelphia proposal could trigger other regulatory efforts Philadelphia leaders hope their attempt to ban hydrogen fluoride from oil refinery processes within city limits will spark other regulation of the chemical compound across the country. The city’s proposal comes after a fire and explosion at Philadelphia […]
Superior refinery settlement would offset explosion, fire emissions
The April 2018 explosion and fire released an estimated 165 tons of emissions. An enormous plume of smoke from a second fire at the Husky Energy refinery in Superior billows to the south April 27, 2018. Residents within 10 miles in the direction of the smoke were evacuated. (File / News Tribune) Husky […]
Activists call for state investigation into use of toxic chemical at two South Bay refineries
Torrance activists seeking to ban a highly-toxic chemical from two South Bay refineries will announce Saturday, Feb. 15, a “call to action” in an effort to pressure the state to investigate what the legal analyses used to justify its continued use. The announcement — which the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance is scheduled to make during […]
Mayor Kenney proposes ban on hydrogen fluoride use
HF is believed to have been a major contributor to the June 2019 refinery fires. Mayor Jim Kenney recently announced that he is planning on proposing legislation to prohibit the future use of hydrogen fluoride (HF) at refineries. A release reports that the legislation will be introduced on Thursday by Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson. The plan […]