Learn What You Can Do on July 26

By Steve Dillow, Conservation Co-Chair

Accidents and explosions continue to plague the Torrance Refinery. Because that refinery and the Valero facility in Wilmington use the highly toxic and volatile chemical MHF, a large region is under threat.

Are you in the risk zone? What can you do about it? Find out at the PVSB general meeting on Wednesday, July 26, 7 p.m. at the P.V. Peninsula Center Library.

Scientist Sally Hayati, PhD, a founder and current president of The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance (TRAA) will explain the facts and the strategy.

On May 3, the federal Chemical Safety Board issued its final report about the February 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery. It blames ExxonMobil for not “conforming to industry standards” and claims, “ExxonMobil continues to refuse to provide the CSB with information detailing safeguards to prevent or mitigate a release of HF.”

The actions were reported in Esquire magazine:

http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a55169/epa-regulation-corporations-poison/

Al Muratsuchi introduced a set of bills on the issue to the State Assembly, but the primary bill banning MHF was extended to a two-year bill, as the Assembly waits for action by the South Coast AQMD.

The AQMD is set to allocate funds to monitor the air quality around the Torrance Refinery and to work on an alarm system to notify neighbors when an “event” occurs. But as far as the permanent solution of banning MHF, they seem inclined to postpone any requirements in hopes that new technologies may emerge in a few years. We cannot afford to live under this threat for ten or more years.

No need to wait for the PVSB meeting to take action. Send letters or emails of support, both to the AQMD (http://www.aqmd.gov/home/regulations/compliance/torrance) and to Assemblyman Muratsuchi (https://a66.asmdc.org/ ). Please tell them to enact new regulations to be effective as soon as possible.

For more information visit the AQMD website, or the TRAA Web page (https://safetorrancerefinery.wordpress.com/) and sign the petition there.