Saturday’s teach‑in at North High School’s Performing Arts Center drew residents and advocates who called for a ban on the chemical used at the Torrine oil refinery, warning that it could trigger a mass‑casualty disaster.
What happened
Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is employed in roughly 40 gasoline refineries nationwide, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. The council notes that contact with as little as 1 % of a person’s skin—about the size of a hand—can be fatal, and inhalation can cause deadly lung damage and heart‑rhythm disturbances.
The Torrance Refinery uses a “modified hydrofluoric acid” (MHF), which the refinery claims is a safer alternative (refinery fact sheet). Steven Goldsmith, president of the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance, warned that a release of MHF could cause irreversible health effects within a 6.2‑mile radius, spreading across Los Angeles County.
Goldsmith recalled a near‑miss in 2015. On Feb. 18, 2015, an explosion at the then‑ExxonMobil‑operated refinery was triggered by the rupture of an eroded valve (valve rupture report). The blast released flammable hydrocarbons, injured four workers and forced 14 schools into lockdown (school lockdown story). The recent event marked the 11th anniversary of that explosion.
Why it matters
Residents such as Christopher Truman, whose parents live near the refinery, argue that replacing MHF with an alternative is the minimum safety step. MHF also serves in semiconductor cleaning and in producing pesticides and herbicides, extending its industrial footprint.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn cautioned that “only two refineries in California use MHF” – Torrance and the Valero refinery in Wilmington – and described it as a “flesh‑eating, low‑crawling, toxic vapor cloud,” emphasizing that community safety hinges on eliminating the chemical.
Goldsmith cited Chevron’s Salt Lake City refinery, which adopted an ionic‑liquid alkylation process as an MHF alternative, and noted that the 2025 Chevron refinery explosion in El Segundo might have been avoided without MHF.
What may happen next
U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D‑Los Angeles), representing Torrance, delivered a prerecorded message reintroducing the “Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act” (bill text). The legislation, first introduced in December 2024, proposes a five‑year deadline for refineries to replace MHF, with penalties of up to $37,000 per violation.
Stakeholders anticipate several possible pathways: refineries might adopt alternative alkylation processes, such as the ionic‑liquid method demonstrated by Chevron; legislative pressure could compel EPA action; or continued community advocacy could lead to further legal challenges demanding transparency, especially regarding the withheld 2015 investigation report (CSB statement).
Frequently Asked Questions
What chemical are residents demanding to ban?
Residents are calling for a ban on modified hydrofluoric acid (MHF), the chemical currently used at the Torrance Refinery.
What incident in 2015 is referenced by protest organizers?
On Feb. 18, 2015, an explosion caused by a ruptured eroded valve at the refinery injured four workers and forced 14 schools into lockdown.
What legislation is being promoted to address the issue?
Rep. Maxine Waters has reintroduced the “Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act,” which would supply refineries five years to find an alternative to MHF and impose fines up to $37,000 per infraction.
How do you think the community’s push for safer chemicals will influence refinery operations in the coming years?
