BAN MHFFebruary 18, 2015 there was an explosion in the Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP) unit at the Torrance ExxonMobil Refinery. During the explosion an 80,000 lb. duct was flung from the top of the ESP towards an “acid settler” tank with 50,000 lb. of volatile and toxic modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF). It missed striking the tank by 5 feet or less. At a January 2016 hearing, the federal Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigated and declared this a “near miss” on MHF. This information had not been made public by the refinery or the City of Torrance; it first came to light from a CBS Evening News expose in Sept. 2015.
Yet ExxonMobil has denied CSB’s requests for information on the alkylation unit, where MHF is used. This is what they have to hide: MHF was put in place by the 1990 Torrance-Mobil Consent Decree to “significantly reduce" the danger from hydrofluoric acid (HF). But MHF is actually 90% HF and almost exactly as deadly. The safety claims made for MHF are bogus, and the public has been fooled. |
Attend a TRAA Meeting!1st & 3rd Mondays, 6-7:45 pm, Sizzler, back room
2880 Sepulveda Blvd, Torrance |
What can be done to ban MHF?Politicians Ben Allen, David Hadley, Isadore Hall could sponsor a bill to ban MHF/HF in CA. The AQMD board could pass a new rule to ban MHF/HF.
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