L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn’s Motion – Asking Governor Newsom & Attorney General Rob Bonta to Take Actions to Require HF Refineries to Convert to Safer Alternatives – Unanimously Passes!

Janice Hahn has been a leader in the efforts to safeguard the community from a catastrophic release of HF from the two South Bay refineries that use it. Many thanks to supporters of Supervisor Hahn’s motion who spoke at the virtual L.A. County Board Meeting on Tuesday, February 15, 2022.

Breaking News: At Tuesday’s February 15 Board Meeting, Supervisor Janice Hahn’s motion passes to “Direct the Chief Executive Officer, through the Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations Division, to write a five-signature letter to Governor Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta asking that the State take all possible actions to require refineries in California to convert from MHF to safer alternatives”

Supervisor Janice Hahn

Supervisor Hahn begins her motion:

As we approach the seventh anniversary of the Torrance refinery explosion, we are reminded of the life-threatening, catastrophic risk that Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF) continues to pose to Los Angeles County residents. MHF is a highly toxic chemical that is used to make high-octane gasoline. Even a small accidental release of MHF from refinery operations could be catastrophic, resulting in severe health effects and mass casualties according to a South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) briefing. There are currently only two refineries in the state of California that continue to use hydrofluoric alkylation, and both are in Los Angeles County.

Supervisor Hahn’s action aligns with TRAA’s own initiative, kicked off two years ago on the 5th anniversary of the Torrance refinery explosion, urging Governor Newsom and then-Attorney General Xavier Becerra to take action.

Read the full text of Supervisor Hahn’s motion by clicking here.
Read the letter to Governor Newsom (also sent to AG Bonta) by clicking here.