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Kim Baldonado, Patrick Healy, Jason Kandel, and Tena Ezzeddine contributed to this report. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. 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. When you think about it, she said, it makes you not want to sleep at night.. 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. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. Caltech officials said the explosion created ground shaking that was equivalent to a magnitude-1.7 earthquake. Hire a Houston personal injury lawyer with a proven track record. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. 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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. Thousands of people could have been harmed if the MHF had dispersed beyond the Torrance refinery in 2015, the CSB report said. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. Cuando utilizas nuestros sitios y aplicaciones, usamos. A blast was reported at the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. In the past 5 years alone, our Plant Explosion Lawyers have Won over $1 Billion for workers who were seriously injured and burned in refinery and industrial accidents, represented workers in connection with every major plant and refinery explosion in recent history, and recovered record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oil and gas companies in the world, including ExxonMobil, Williams, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. Activists held an event Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the explosion at the Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance that injured four workers. Organizers estimated the crowd size at more than 400. Refinery spokeswoman Betsy Brien said the fire was quickly extinguished and the Del Amo Boulevard barriers were activated to close the road under an abundance of caution.. Had we known then what we know now, Cliff Heise said, we wouldve run, not walked home.. 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 . Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. The explosion on Feb. 18, 2015, was described by federal regulators as a serious near miss.. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries The CSBs report emphasizes that it is critical that hydrocarbons do not flow into the air side of the FCC unit, as this can create an explosive atmosphere. California workplace regulators fined ExxonMobil more than $500 million for the violations related to the explosion. 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. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Refinery officials those from ExxonMobil, which owned the Torrance Refining Company during the explosion, and current owner PBF Energy have repeatedly pushed back on that conclusion, saying MHF doesnt pose a widespread threat. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. 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. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. 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.. Manhattan Beach Crime & Safety News | Manhattan Beach, CA Patch More Stories Drone helps. Torrance Refinery cited for failing to properly maintain equipment The explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. 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. Notably absent from the event was any sign of Torrance elected officials, although police officers in several patrol cars discreetly kept their eye on the peaceful protesters from a distance. 6 Min Read. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion in Torrance, CA - Zehl & Associates 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. TORRANCE, Calif. -- An explosion rocked an Exxon Mobil refinery on Wednesday morning, triggering a huge smokestack flare, raining down ash and leaving four with minor injuries, company and. Explosion Rocks ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California - NBC News Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. ExxonMobil's Torrance Refinery Sold Amid Report Of Potential Disaster Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen, cell 202-446-8094 or email public@csb.gov. 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. Those improvements were completed in 2021 and are now in service, Lafayette said. Chevron, for example, successfully converted its Salt Lake City refinery from HF to a new alkylation technology last year. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four PBF also reached a separate agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to upgrade an additional water monitor in 2020, according to Lafayette. The refineries are the only two in the state that use the substance. Homes shook in . Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. 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. 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.. Chairperson Sutherland said, There are valuable lessons to be learned and applied at this refinery, and to all refineries in the U.S. Keeping our refineries operating safely is critical to the well-being of the employees and surrounding communities, as well as to the economy.. Activists marking Torrance refinery explosion anniversary call for California fire crews respond to ExxonMobil refinery explosion - CBS News ExxonMobil said in a statement early Wednesday afternoon that "no harmful emissions have been detected.". For a while, though, flames shot 40 feet into the air. mostrar anuncios y contenido personalizados basados en perfiles de inters; medir la efectividad de los anuncios y el contenido personalizados, y. desarrollar y mejorar nuestros productos y servicios. She currently lives in Inglewood. Had the tank ruptured, it would have caused a release of MHF, which is highly toxic. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. The remainder of the FCC unit is comprised of a portion of the reaction process and a series of pollution control equipment that uses air and is known as the air side of the unit. 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.. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . Every one of our lawyers is a Houston personal injury attorney whos undefeated in the courtroom and has recovered some of the largest verdicts and settlements in history. 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. 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. The shaking was felt primarily in the immediate vicinity of the refinery, according to Caltech. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. Fill Out the Form Below for a Free Case Review with our Undefeated Personal Injury Lawyers. The Torrance refinery, according to its website, has made several improvements, including a leak-detection system, upgraded water monitors, 24/7 automated, continuously monitored unit cameras and an expanded water mitigation system. Principal Office: Houston Texas. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. 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. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. Residents reported shaking normally associated with earthquakes throughout the South Bay area. Two others sustained minor injuries. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance plans on Tuesday to deliver a letter from its science advisory panel to Newsoms office urging him to request that Atty. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four The ExxonMobil Explosion That Nobody Is Talking About All communications are private and confidential. And the incident was avoidable, CSB said: Mismanagement and improper safety protocols put in place by then-owner ExxonMobil who sold the refinery to PBF Energy shortly after the incident made the explosion likely. TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) A New Jersey-based oil refining company announced Wednesday it is purchasing the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was badly damaged in a February explosion, with. The ExxonMobil near-disaster you probably haven't heard of "It was like a loud sonic boom. More than a day after the accident, no representative from ExxonMobil had directly contacted the Torrance fire chief and city officials still did not know what was in the substances that were released into the surrounding areas. 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. Investigators were trying to determine the cause of the blast, which occurred shortly before 9 a.m. PST . Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. All communications are private and confidential. But we had no idea about the danger.. The state could potentially lose thousands of jobs, and it could result in higher gasoline prices at the pump for California residents, businesses, and government, Californians for a Sustainable Economy an association representing hundreds of local businesses wrote in opposition to the ban. The new campaign comes several months after air quality regulators killed a years-long push for stronger regulation of hydrofluoric acid at the two refineries. ExxonMobil Refinery Explosion Injures Two, Rains Ash Upon - Patch Anza Avenue had been closed for a few hoursas emergency personnel responded. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. No further details were immediately available. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. Four were taken to hospitals. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. 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. PBF Energy, which now owns the Torrance Refining Co. refinery, denied that an explosion occurred. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. The investigation of the Torrance explosion by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board revealed that a piece of equipment nearly crashed into a tank holding tens of thousands of pounds of modified hydrofluoric acid a highly toxic chemical used to make high-octane gasoline. For more than seven years, members of small, local activist groups have been irresponsibly making claims against the Refinerys use of MHF, without any basis in fact, Lafayette wrote recently. 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. TORRANCE TODAY - FEBRUARY 16, 2023 - City of Torrance TorranceCitiCABLE 4.15K subscribers 113 views 1 day ago #184 1. The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. The latest salvo in the battle over MHF came last month, when the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors called for a ban on the highly toxic chemical. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. It provides 362 jobs around $30 million in wages in Torrance, according to its website. However, our staff is working remotely and can assist you via phone or email. Edited by Rachel Barnes. 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. And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. A reaction between hydrocarbons and catalyst takes place in what is known as the hydrocarbon side of the FCC unit. 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. Fire, explosion reported at Torrance Refinery, police say As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA Just before 9 a.m. on February 18, the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California exploded, shaking the surrounding community with the force of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake, and sending a quarter ton of sulfur oxide gas into the atmosphere. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. 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. / KCAL News. Torrance firefighters . The battle over a highly toxic chemical used in oil refining recently received a fresh jolt, seven years after the substance became a regional cause celebre in the wake of an explosion that rocked the Torrance Refinery. in communication and M.S. ExxonMobil was fined more than $500 million for workplace violations related to the blast. Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally We knew we were moving in next to a refinery it was here before we were, Cliff Heise said in an interview. And it directs L.A. County to support any new legislation that would help phase out MHF. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. The explosion was so severe that it caused residents in the area to experience a shock similar to the effects of a 1.7 magnitude earthquake. The fire was reported to the South Coast Air Quality Management District and California Office of Emergency Services, police said. Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times SUBSCRIBE Copyright 2022, Los Angeles Times | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | CA Notice of Collection | Do Not Sell My Personal. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. And then the people who were right by just felt a shake, like an earthquake.. Torrance school officials confirmed that staff and students sheltered in place due to possible air quality issues. So far though, it doesn't appear as if any serious damage or injuries have occurred, barring reported explosions in Torrance. Instead, if a leak occurred, a ground-hugging liquid cloud would form, according to a 2018 report from the Torrance refinery defending its use of the chemical. But the proposed ban on MHF is far from the first cost passed onto consumers: The 2015 explosion, according to the CSB, caused the refinery to run at limited capacity for more than a year and raised gas prices in California costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion. 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. 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. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. in journalism from the University of Southern California. Fill out the form below for a free case review with one of our experienced personal injury lawyers. Manhattan Beach, CA crime, fire and public safety news and events, police & fire department updates Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. 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. Si no quieres que nosotros ni nuestros socios utilicemos cookies y datos personales para estos propsitos adicionales, haz clic en Rechazar todo. Nosotros, Yahoo, somos parte de la familia de marcas de Yahoo. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. The refineries arent going to eat that cost, William Burke, former chairman of the SCAQMDs governing board said in a previous interview. Following the explosion, the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health shut down the part of the refinery where the accident occurred. Feb . We voluntarily enhanced the Alkylation Units robust, layered safety systems already considered by experts to be amongst the most advanced in the world, Lafayette wrote, by installing additional safety enhancements.. That update was completed last year as well. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. The refinery previously said that the citys Fire Department has the sole responsibility to decide what tools to use, when to use them, and what area within the community to notify. At the bottom of a public notice explaining the Torrance Community Warning System, however, ExxonMobil has the ability to initiate the use of the Community Alert Sirens and Crenshaw Street Barriers if an incident at the refinery warrants immediate community notification., The Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee and the Environmental Quality Committee has planned a joint hearing to address the emergency response in the Torrance refinery explosion. 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. 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. 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. If you're interested in joining our team, you can apply for a position here. 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.. For a breakdown of the fees and expenses associated with the verdicts and settlements listed on our site, please visit our Results page. The incident caused the refinery to be . 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. The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Refinery Explosion Shakes Earth and Probably Gas Prices "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.". It was unclear what caused the fire. Chairperson Sutherland said, Adoption of and adherence to a robust safety management process would have prevented these other incidents.