explosion in torrance todayheart 1980 tour dates
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. That, the report said, would prevent the chemical from dispersing as widely as it would as an aerosol. Visit our website, www.csb.gov. 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. 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. The large turnout surprised even the diverse group of participants unaccustomed to seeing such political activism in a conservative community. "You could feel it," said refinery worker Jason Hernandez. Alex Wigglesworth is an environment reporter who covers wildfires for the Los Angeles Times. The refinery relied on safeguards that could not be verified, and re-used a previous procedure deviation without a sufficient hazard analysis of the current process conditions. But at the time, theyd never heard of MHF and didnt think much of it. Investigators are still looking into the cause of the explosion, wh. 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.. "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. 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. The fire, possibly triggered by an explosion that has not yet been confirmed, was reported at 6 a.m. Saturday in the plant's crude oil unit, said Torrance Assistant Fire Chief Steve Treskes. 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. The incident caused the refinery to be . "I was having my cup of coffee and all of the sudden the whole house shook, the windows vibrated," said Torrance resident John White. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. Gen. Xavier Becerras office investigate how the Torrance and Wilmington refineries are able to legally operate using hydrofluoric acid. Its unclear what effect these new calls to action will have on the refineries MHF usage. With the addition of these voluntary safety enhancements and other obligations completed and operating, we have fulfilled our obligation to further protect Refinery personnel and the community, Lafayette said. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, David Lindley, guitarist best known for work with Jackson Browne, dies at 78, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, Best coffee city in the world? Posted Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 5:20 pm PT. The 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery was bad, but it easily could have been catastrophic, Hahn said in a press release. 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. 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. Fire crews knocked down the blaze within 30 minutes. The four victims were found suffering varying degrees on injuries. For instance, the CSB found that during work leading up to the incident, workers violated corporate lock out tag out requirements. And those who run the Torrance facility also say its refinery hasnt experienced an off-site leak of either HF or MHF since it opened in 1966. Hahns February motion also asks the AQMDs refinery committee to provide an update on the status of safety improvements listed in the refineries proffers. Torrance firefighters responded to the 23500 block of Anza Avenue just before 1:20 p.m. Sunday. Local battle over toxic chemical at Torrance, Wilmington refineries As a result, unraveling the debates complexities remains challenging. Puedes cambiar tus opciones en cualquier momento haciendo clic en el enlace Panel de control de privacidad de nuestros sitios y aplicaciones. The LA County Department of Public Health and former California Attorney General Xavier Becerra followed suit. If your child will play baseball or softball this spring, youll need to stock up on appropriate clothing and equipment. 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. They claim nothing has been done, she added, without any proof, other than their beliefs, which are incorrect and misleading.. 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. Tests have shown that MHF, which Torrance has used since 1997, rapidly expands upon release and can travel at lethal concentrations up to two miles, according to a presentation from AQMD staff. He said the blast happened in a processing facility and the material involved was gasoline. Having affordable fuel that is readily available is a vital part of the California economy.. 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. It was unclear what caused the fire. Two others sustained minor injuries. She currently lives in Inglewood. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM All the while, officials at those facilities have defended the chemicals use as safe. A powerful blast at an ExxonMobil oil refinery rocked Torrance, California, on Wednesday. The governors office confirmed they received the request, but declined further comment. Member-Designated Transportation Projects, Fire erupts at Torrance refinery just hours before protest rally, announced safety rally at the refinery PBF had planned to hold for workers as a counterpoint to the demonstration, Manhattan Beach Office (By Appointment Only). 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. In working with inherently dangerous products, it is critical to conduct a robust risk management analysis with the intent of continually safety improvement.. For decades, hydrofluoric acid was a standard chemical in oil refining, serving as a catalyst during a process known as alkylation. The improvements, though, also came after sustained pressure from the community and watchdog agencies. / KCAL News. 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. Watch: Explosion reported at ExxonMobil refinery in California Four apartments have been damaged, two of which sustained "significant damage.". No further details were immediately available. In September, the South Coast Air Quality Management District governing board voted instead to accept a voluntary oil industry pledge to enhance safety measures. 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. The explosion also spurred a movement among residents to oppose MHF. 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, 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. Activists carried signs reading Congratulations PBF, zero days explosion free and All lives matter while chanting Hey, hey, ho, ho, MHF has got to go. Some said the turnout demonstrates the series of refinery disruptions has reached a crisis point. The Torrance Police Department issued an alert for the city, notifying them that the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery had an explosion and fire early Saturday morning. Explosion at Torrance refinery - Los Angeles Times Refineries are not supposed to have explosions. 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 cause of the accident was not immediately known, but it was believed to be caused by over pressurization in the plants electrostatic precipitators. The Heises, for their part, are still working to educate residents in Torrance and Wilmington about their MHF concerns and are grateful the issue is still being monitored. Get up to speed with our Essential California newsletter, sent six days a week. 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. Workers were seen boarded up the windows of the affected apartments later Sunday afternoon. 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 work of the Safety Auditor was overseen by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge and approved prior to use of MHF at the refinery.. April 8, 2018 / 2:50 PM / KCAL News. CSB Releases Final Report into 2015 Explosion at ExxonMobil Refinery in The CSB notes that it is vital to ensure that safety critical equipment can successfully carry out its intended function. The explosion, which happened . 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. TORRANCE (CBSLA) Firefighters say four people have been injured in a reported explosion at an apartment complex in Torrance. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. All rights reserved. Those safety advances, however, have come since the 2015 explosion and a harsh assessment by federal investigators. There were also questions asking why the emergency refinery sirens did not sound following the accident. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four 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. Three dozen firefighters knocked down the blaze within a half-hour. The explosion also launched an 80,000-pound piece of equipment within feet of a structure that housed a highly volatile and toxic substance, modified hydrofluoric acid. Let's get out of here. 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. Explosion at Exxon Mobil refinery in Torrance, California, injures four 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. 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. Those calls for a ban remain. (Credit: KTLA) The blast at the refinery, which is located in the 3700 block of West . In 2017, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published a 73-page report on the explosion. We cant assume we will be so lucky next time, whether that is another refinery accident, an earthquake, or God-forbid, an attack., The passage of the Supervisors motion is disappointing, she said in an email, because many of the points they make are both misleading and the projects are already in place, following agreements with several government agencies to install additional safety measures.. Theyre going to pass it on to the consumer.. 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 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 explosion occurred in the refinerys fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) unit, where a variety of products, mainly gasoline, are produced. PBF, for its part, has repeatedly said concerns from local groups against MHF were unwarranted. More information will be added as soon as it becomes available. Economic factors, such as job creation and the regional and global importance of oil, further complicate the issue, at least for elected officials. Si quieres personalizar tus opciones, haz clic en Gestionar configuracin de privacidad. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. Our Manhattan Beach office is physically closed at this time. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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.. 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. Four contractors at the plant suffered injuries and required medical treatment and eight workers had to be decontaminated. Valero, owner of the Wilmington refinery, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Three were treated and released. Cal/OSHA has shut down the fluid catalytic cracker and will only allow operations to resume once it can be exhibited that the unit can operate safely.
Donald Smith Obituary Michigan,
4 Agreed Ways Of Working For Reporting Any Confrontations,
Euro Garages Maghull,
Bliss Chocolate Bar 1960s,
Valencia College East Campus Hours,
Articles E
