latest news: in California, United States
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Torrance officials and residents call for ban of refinery chemical
The use of a hazardous chemical at the Torrance Refining Co. should be eliminated in the wake of repeated fires and explosions that have occurred at the facility in recent years, elected officials and community activists said at a news conference Saturday morning. The news conference took place outside the Torrance Marriott shortly before the […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
California Bill Would Prohibit Fluorinated Chemicals in Fast Food Packaging
Following on the heels of a study by the Silent Spring Institute suggesting that fast food paper and paperboard may contain poly or perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and that PFAS may pose safety or environmental concerns, California Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) has introduced a bill, AB-958, that would “prohibit a food provider from serving, selling, offering for sale, […]
United States, California Perfluorinated chemicals -
Torrance council called ‘spineless’ for tepid stand on oil refinery safety
The Torrance City Council sidestepped passionate pleas for a hard-line stand against the city’s problem-plagued refinery early Wednesday, adopting a resolution that supports safety improvements at the plant but does not endorse a phase-out of dangerous hydrofluoric acid. The unanimous vote came after hours of testimony in the packed council chambers from residents, many who […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
Torrance City Council votes against phasing out hydrofluoric acid at refinery
TORRANCE, Calif. (KABC) — Lawmakers have voted against a resolution to phase out the use of a chemical at the Torrance Refinery. The Torrance City Council voted 5-2 against phasing out the use of hydrofluoric acid and voted 7-0 in favor of adopting safety measures at the refinery. The meeting stretched well beyond midnight, with […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
Dangers discovered by feds at Torrance oil refinery
The owners of the oil refinery in Torrance considered Wednesday their response to an EPA report that found numerous safety violations at the facility. Among the findings, EPA inspectors last fall found broken equipment that remained disabled for weeks even though its purpose is to help contain any accidental release of toxic hydrofluoric acid. The […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
‘Damning’ EPA report on Torrance refinery uncovers more serious safety issues
An investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has uncovered more safety and operational deficiencies at the Torrance refinery, including a “superficial” management structure and broken equipment designed to help contain any accidental release of toxic hydrofluoric acid that remained unfixed for “weeks.” • DOCUMENT: Read the EPA report just made public In addition, the […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
Showdown: Torrance decides Tuesday whether to take a stand against refinery
Banning highly toxic hydrofluoric acid from the Torrance refinery is the focus of City Council discussion Tuesday at the first of two public meetings scheduled within a week to tackle environmental and safety issues at the problem-plagued plant. An overflow crowd is expected to listen and participate in a lengthy discussion that begins at 7 […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
Trump budget would dismantle agency investigating Torrance refinery blast
The Trump administration’s budget blueprint calls for eliminating the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, a small independent agency that has conducted investigations into California’s worst refinery disasters, including the 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery. Environmental activists say the Safety Board plays a critical role in ferreting out the causes of major chemical accidents. A government […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
Is Torrance changing its tune on refinery safety?
With each passing Torrance refinery blast, fire, hydrofluoric acid leak, crane collapse, power outage or smoke-belching emergency flare, calls have grown for measures to make the plant safer. Local activists have pleaded for a ban on highly toxic hydrofluoric acid used at refineries in Torrance and Wilmington — the only two in the state to […]
United States, California Oil Refineries -
County joins political efforts to ban toxic chemical from refineries in Torrance and Wilmington
The county Board of Supervisors, prodded by increasing political and regulatory efforts to protect public health and safety, endorsed proposals Wednesday to ban highly toxic hydrofluoric acid from the two South Bay refineries that use the chemical. A massive explosion in February 2015 at the then-ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance almost caused a catastrophic release of […]
United States, California Oil Refineries