Marathon Oil Corp. (MRO) shut a unit at its Catlettsburg refinery in Kentucky after a leak of hydrogen fluoride late yesterday, according to a filing with the National Response Center. Hydrogen fluoride was released from a pinhole leak in piping, according to the filing. The unit was shut and workers were isolating it and planning […]
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.
Marathon leak prompts brief shelter-in-place order
TEXAS CITY — The east side of the city was under a shelter-in-place order because of a leak of butane that contains small amounts of hydrofluoric acid at Marathon’s Texas City refinery, emergency management officials confirmed. The shelter-in-place order was lifted at 6 p.m. about an hour after it was issued. The isolated order covered […]
Hydrofluoric acid: Millions living near refineries at risk
See the Center for Public Integrity’s investigative report, Use of Toxic Acid Puts Millions at Risk, by Jim Morris and Chris Hanby Oil industry documents filed with the federal government reveal that an accidental release of a lethal chemical used in 50 aging refineries across the country could prove devastating, with 16 million Americans living […]
Hydrofluoric acid use in oil refineries: Investigative report by The Center for Public Integrity
Title of Report: Use of Toxic Acid Puts Millions at Risk This in-depth report on the use of hydrofluoric acid (HF) in 50 of the nation’s 148 refineries has an interactive map of communities at risk. HF is used as a catalyst to make high-octane gasoline. Excerpts: “Over the past five years, authorities have cited […]
$303,294 Fine for Citgo related to 2009 fire
CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has handed down more than 303-thousand dollars against Citgo Refining in Nueces County for a fire in July of 2009. The TCEQ investigation found Citgo improperly handled the release of chemicals that sparked a flash fire that injured one worker. The company was also cited for […]
Valero in trial over refinery worker’s acid burn
A Jefferson County jury has been tasked to decide if Valero Energy is responsible for a refinery worker’s acid burn. Last January, Orange County resident Allan Gaspard, who burned his hand with acid, filed suit against Valero. On Tuesday, Sept. 28 jury selection for the trial of Gaspard vs. Valero began in Judge Bob Wortham’s […]
OSHA cited Citgo for violations
Federal regulators cited Citgo Refining and Chemicals LP in Corpus Christi for allegedly exposing workers to the release of toxic chemicals. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed Citgo pay $236,500 in penalties for allegedly committing workplace violations resulting from a “catastrophic” release of hydrocarbon and hydrofluoric acid from the facility. OSHA began its investigation […]
United Steelworkers Union Calls for Industry-Wide Phase-Out of Hydrogen Fluoride in Oil Refinery Alkylation Units
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PITTSBURGH, Aug. 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that it is calling for the nationwide phase-out of hydrogen fluoride alkylation units. “Hydrogen fluoride is such a deadly component, and there are new and safer technologies available,” said USW Vice President Gary Beevers, who is in charge of the union’s oil sector. “It’s […]
Citgo Toxic Release Termed ‘Significant’ by Federal Agency
Aug. 21 (Bloomberg) — Citgo Petroleum Corp.’s plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, had a “significant” release of a potentially lethal chemical from an alkylation unit July 19, seriously injuring a worker, a federal agency said. Nearly 4,000 pounds of hydrogen fluoride was discharged during the July 19 incident after a fire broke out in the […]
Citgo plant fire spurs new look at hydrogen fluoride
Article Title: Refining chemical cause of concern Article Sub-title: Citgo plant fire spurs new look at hydrogen fluoride CORPUS CHRISTI — A fire last month at a local Citgo refinery has focused attention on what is likely the most dangerous chemical used in the refining process. Hydrogen fluoride, an acid, is used as a catalyst […]