Four people were injured in an explosion at an apartment building in Torrance Sunday afternoon, officials said. 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. The refineries are required to provide quarterly updates to the agency.. 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. Eight workers were decontaminated at the scene. The refinery completed those improvements in 2020. The explosion was mostly contained to two of the buildings units, with each sustaining significant damage. 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. 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 also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. 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. 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. 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. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California - CBS News State of the Union CBS News App Ukraine Crisis COVID Pandemic CBS News Live Managing Your Money Essentials Shopping. The refinery has been under constant scrutiny since the explosion as small fires and flare ups have been reported since and raised concern among residents living nearby. Two others sustained minor injuries. 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.. The explosion sent ash raining down on vehicles parked near the sprawling 750-acre site and caused what one worker described as intense shaking. Since the February 2015 explosion, the refinery has experienced multiple incidents. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. Were also the only law firm in the country thats currently representing over 65 of the workers who were injured in the Williams Geismar explosion, as well as 3 of the 4 workers who were tragically killed in the October 2015 Williams explosion in Gibson, Louisiana. First published on April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM. Torrance Refinery on April 22 reported an unplanned flaring event, induced by damaged equipment, that sent an additional 765 pounds of SOx and 143 pounds of volatile organic compounds into the. 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. Community members who may have been impacted by the explosion can call the ExxonMobil claims hotline at 844-631-2539. in communication and M.S. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. The CSB also found that in multiple instances leading up to the incident, the refinery directly violated ExxonMobils corporate safety standards. California Occupational Safety and Health officials were at the site investigating. 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. Other groups including the refinerys unions and local businesses feared the potential economic fallout if the refineries were forced to transition to a safer alternative. But in the years since the 2015 explosion, residents have continued decrying MHF. Some said they heard one of the workers may have turned on the gas inside one of the apartments before it was completely ready. A buildup of natural gas caused the explosion that leveled a Torrance home, damaged scores of others and rained glass, stucco and other debris over a two-block area, investigators said. Deuel told The Associated Press the flare system was triggered to burn off fuel that could add to the fire. 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. Steve Deuel said. We need to ban MHF as soon as possible. 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. 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.. Of the injured, two were said to have sustained significant injuries. Officials were not aware of their exact conditions, but witnesses said some were seriously hurt. "Our main concern is for the safety of our employees and our neighbors.". 46,739 visits in the last 30 days. It appeared it was a gas explosion, but a hazardous materials team was on scene Sunday afternoon working to determine exactly what occurred. In the late 1980s, ExxonMobil and Phillips 66 jointly created modified hydrofluoric acid, which boasts a chemical additive that, when used in high enough concentrations, can prevent the poisonous chemical from dispersing. But at least for now, environmentalists and the refineries remain entrenched in their positions. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM As a result, when the valve was needed during an emergency, it did not work as intended, and hydrocarbons were able to reach an ignition source. In July 2016, the Torrance refinery was sold by ExxonMobil to PBF Holdings Company, LLC, which now operates as the Torrance Refining Company. Please enter valid email address to continue. 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. 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. "It was like a loud sonic boom. Both the PBF and Valero refineries are situated in densely populated areas of the South Bay: About 245,000 people live within three miles of the Torrance refinery and another 153,000 live within that same distance of Valeros refinery, AQMD said. First thing I thought was to call my wife, my kids, and let them know I'm safe.". The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures.. The incident caused the refinery to be run at limited capacity for over a year, raising gas prices in California and costing drivers in the state an estimated $2.4 billion. proporcionarte nuestros sitios y aplicaciones; autenticar usuarios, aplicar medidas de seguridad y evitar el spam y los abusos, y. medir el uso que haces de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. Robert Millea said he couldnt immediately confirm whether an explosion actually occurred, only that one was reported. 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. 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. 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. "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.". This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Congresswoman Maxine Waters and I requested the U.S. Chemical Safety Board to investigate the explosion two years ago, Lieu said in the statement. 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. On a day when activists marked the two-year anniversary of an explosion that rocked the then-ExxonMobil refinery and showered neighborhoods with industrial debris, another fire erupted at the troubled Torrance plant early Saturday. 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. "I have second thoughts about being out here right now," said resident Anthony Scales. The motion the LA County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed in mid-February asks Gov. The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Its unacceptable we were put in harms way, said Daphne Wong, who added that she does not believe the official line that Torrance is a safe community. 2022 Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. Posted Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 5:20 pm PT. TORRANCE TODAY is a 15-minute live news broadcast airing Monday. 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 . Thick smoke rose from a mangled, multiple-story portion of the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery, located south of the 405 Freeway, after the 8:50 a.m. blast. Just before 9 that morning, pent-up gases at ExxonMobil's Torrance refinery south of Los Angeles had triggered an explosion so massive it registered as a magnitude-1.7 tremor. 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. In 2004, the South Coast Air Quality Management District said much the same in an environmental analysis the agency did when Valero introduced MHF at its Wilmington refinery. With the capacity to refine more than 150,000 barrels of gasoline a day, the . And Torrance receives about $7.5 million annually in utility user taxes from the refinerys operation. No injuries were reported, and the fire did not impact anything offsite. I cant believe they dont have the guts to stand up and say, This is wrong and MHF needs to be out of our community, she said. Overturned gas tanker explodes, killing 1 person, Texas mom in custody after 5 of her kids were stabbed, leaving 3 dead, Ja Morant says he'll get help after video shows apparent gun. Environmentalists and activists, though, argue that the additives levels in MHF have significantly decreased since the modified versions creation. Hours after an explosion ripped through a Torrance refinery, residents for miles around continue to grapple with ash, a gas odor and concerns over poor air quality while inspectors confirmed that a filtration device was the source of the blast. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. 6 Min Read. They have not yet completed their final investigation, and I will be asking the Chemical Safety Board to include todays fire and explosion as part of their investigation.. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. The CSB is an independent, non-regulatory federal agency charged with investigating serious chemical incidents. The blast caused serious property damage to the refinery and scattered catalyst dust up to a mile away from the facility into the nearby community. Zehl & Associates is always looking for smart, hardworking and talented personal injury attorneys and staff to join our team. The explosion, which happened . By Nichola Groom 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 injuring four workers and shattering windows of surrounding buildings, authorities said. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. 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. Times staff writer Tony Barboza contributed to this report. CSB Chairperson Vanessa Allen Sutherland said, This explosion and near miss should not have happened, and likely would not have happened, had a more robust process safety management system been in place. Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on Saturday's fire: Federal investigators in January said a failure to follow safety guidelines was partly to blame for the blast and that the aftermath could have been "catastrophic" had the equipment hit the unit housing MHF. Other than the affected crude unit, the refinery continues to operate, Brien said. Several residents noticed what they described as a larger-than-usual flame from the plant's towering flare stack. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. A Redondo Beach resident told NBC4 windows rattled at his house, about five miles from the refinery. Gavin Newsom to call for an investigation into the use of modified hydrofluoric acid at the facility, now operated by Torrance Refining Co., as well as by Valeros Wilmington refinery. 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That failure ultimately allowed hydrocarbons to flow into the air side of the FCC, where they ignited in a piece of equipment called the electrostatic precipitator, or ESP, causing an explosion of the ESP. In February, a large explosion occurred at ExxonMobil's refinery in Torrance, California. By then, the husband said, theyd been living in the city long enough to know exactly what the sound was. The incident was reported around 1:15 p.m. on the 23500 block of Anza Avenue, just . An ExxonMobil refinery explosion in Torrance injured two, caused a 1.7 magnitude shake and portends pain at the pumps. The explosion filled surrounding neighborhoods with ash, fiberglass, and glass wool. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. 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. Environmentalists and concerned residents say MHF could prove catastrophic if the chemical were to escape, pointing to its corrosivity and studies that show its ability to travel beyond a refinerys footprint. 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. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in Torrance, California, Drivers of Critical Chemical Safety Change, Process Safety Management for the 21st Century, Emergency Planning and Response (Preparedness), Website design & development by Americaneagle.com. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. Meantime, the Torrance Refining Company hosted a safety rally for employees. 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.. 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 building has been undergoing renovations for some time, and the victims are believed to be remodelers working in one of the involved units, neighbors said. All Rights Reserved. Living in such close proximity to the refinery, Donna Heise said, makes it hard for the couple to ignore the chemicals potential dangers. "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. ET), but there was no . The cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Torrance Fire Department responded to an explosion at the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery on Feb. 18, 2015. The CSBs report concludes that the unit was operating without proper procedures., MHF was the subject of a thorough technology review by a court-appointed Safety Advisor with input from the City of Torrance, Gesuina Lafayette, PBFs community relations advisor said in a recent email. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. Fortunately, the explosion did not release asbestos, but the material released contained fiberglass and glass wool which can cause respiratory issues. Passing motorists supplied supportive honks. But we had no idea about the danger.. PUBLISHED: February 18, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. | UPDATED: February 18, 2023 at 8:01 a.m. It's been eight years since a massive explosion at the Torrance Refinery shook the South Bay with the blast. Firefighters found gasoline flowing on the ground as a result of the explosion, Torrance Fire Department Capt. Refinery officials, though, say MHF was specifically designed to be safer than its non-modified original hydrofluoric acid and has been reviewed by experts and deemed the best catalyst for the refining process. Investigators are trying to determine what caused the explosion at a Torrance oil refinery that sent four workers to the hospital. All rights reserved. They have lived in a neighborhood directly adjacent to the Torrance refinery for 48 years. 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. Tammy Khan, of the Torrance Unified School District, said the shetler-in-place order was lifted early Wednesday afternoon. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. At the center of that debate is the modified part of MHF. One person remained hospitalized with a knee injury. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. The Torrance refinery has completed all safety enhancements and Valero has begun installation of some elements of safety measures structures and additional implementation is ongoing, said SCAQMD spokesperson Nahal Mogharabi in an email. Across California, CA | News | 15h. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. Before joining the newsroom in 2016, she was a general assignment reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. There, too, the Torrance refinery has disagreed. All safety systems at the refinery operated correctly and personnel were safe, police said. Inside the refinery, the explosion blew off parts of an electrostatic precipitator and damaged other equipment at the plant. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bontas offices to take all possible actions to require refineries in California to convert from MHF to safer alternatives.. "Emergency procedures have been activated to address the incident, and employees are working with the appropriate agencies," a statement by the ExxonMobil Torrance Refinery said. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. 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.. The CSB determined that on the day of the incident a slide valve that acted as a barrier failed. A Philadelphia native, she graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in medical anthropology and global health. Several contractors were injured in the Feb. 18, 2015, blast that shut down the refinery for more than a year, leading to soaring gas prices in Southern California. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. 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. If that was the case, we wouldnt have seen another explosion today, she added. 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 CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. Flares from the stack, part of a safety relief valve system, are part of normal operations that occasionally produce a rumbling sound, like distant thunder, caused by turbulent mixing of vapors. Copyright 2023 KABC Television, LLC. 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. 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