Torrance: Developments in the debate over hydrofluoric acid

In this Feb. 17 photo, nearly 300 Torrance residents march in support of a ban on a toxic chemical used at the Torrance refinery. (Photo by Scott Varley, Contributor) When the Torrance refinery exploded in February 2015, showering residential neighborhoods with industrial ash, the event ignited a three-year public debate over hydrofluoric acid that continues […]

Water in Worcester. A Campaign for Public Fluoridation.

Executive Summary Water in Worcester: A Campaign for Public Fluoridation arose as a project from our sponsors, Chris Philbin, Vice President of Government Relations at UMass Memorial Health Care, and Joe O’Brien, former Worcester Mayor, Executive Director of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, and Clark University Adjunct Professor. Our goal has been to produce resources […]

Superior Oil Refinery Fire: Focus shifts for fire cleanup

Superior’s evacuation order has been lifted, but the mop-up continues on the scene of Thursday’s massive fire at the Husky Energy oil refinery. The Superior Fire Department cleared the scene at 8:15 a.m. Friday, as Duluth firefighters stepped in to provide some relief, Fire Chief Steve Panger said. “The area is still very hot. There’s […]

UPDATE: Superior oil refinery rocked by explosions, fire

A series of explosions and fires rocked the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior Thursday, sending a black plume of acrid smoke across the city, forcing massive evacuations and sending several people to local hospitals. Essentia Health and St. Luke’s hospital officials said a combined 11 refinery victims were confirmed treated in Duluth and Superior […]

New Hanover County: CFPUA says mechanical failure caused dangerous fluoride levels, ‘recommending’ $5 credit for affected residents

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — After 30,000 residents were told not to drink their water earlier this week, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority has isolated the cause of high fluoride levels and is hoping to offer some compensation. According to a release from CFPUA, “there was a mechanical failure at the Michael E. Richardson Nanofiltration […]

Chemical used at two South Bay refineries could be banned in five years, new rule proposal suggests

The local pollution watchdog has for the first time proposed phasing out a potentially deadly chemical used in refineries in Torrance and Wilmington and dropped another option altogether that would have allowed the plants to keep using it by installing additional safety systems. The new proposal was outlined in a online presentation released by the […]

Thousands Evacuated After Superior Oil Refinery Explosion

Superior’s Evacuation Order Is Expected To Stay In Effect Through Early Friday MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Thousands of people are still waiting to be allowed back into their homes after an oil refinery explosion in the Duluth-Superior area Thursday morning. Fire officials said the explosion of an asphalt tank at Husky Energy refinery in Superior happened […]