Author: traa905

Federal oversight is disappearing as multiple refineries explode. Who’s in charge now?

An El Segundo refinery fire has renewed questions about who is investigating the state’s oil industry after serious accidents. With the U.S. Chemical Safety Board defunded, California has yet to fill the gap.

An excellent article from CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians.

As the Trump administration moves to weaken the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, California still hasn’t said whether any agency, department or authority will take charge of a comprehensive investigation when a refinery erupts — something that’s happened twice this year.

The lack of oversight and investigation is especially critical when it involves an HF-using refinery, where the threat to the entire community is a dire. While it does not specifically discuss HF or the Torrance Refinery, it does question who if anyone is still watching over the refineries and what it poses for our safety. A must read.

TRAA Response to the Explosion and Fire at the Chevron Refinery

On Thursday evening a huge explosion and fire engulfed the Chevron Refinery in El Segundo. (See reports in the Daily Breeze and the Los Angeles Times).

In response, TRAA has issued the following statement:

The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance (TRAA) is deeply concerned, yet not surprised, about the explosion and fire at the Chevron El Segundo Refinery. While we are glad to hear there have been no reported injuries or deaths, the incident reminds everyone in the South Bay of the inherent dangers of petroleum refining, especially in such proximity to densely populated areas. We are also deeply concerned for the safety of the refinery workers who are closest to danger.

While the El Segundo Refinery did not use Hydrofluoric Acid (HF), the incident nonetheless demonstrates why threatening chemicals such as HF should not be stored on refinery premises where they are subject to accidental release. Refineries in the South Bay must take immediate action to phase out hazardous chemicals, like HF, to ensure that their workers and the communities that surround them are safe from catastrophic releases. Ironically, Chevron has been a leader in this field having developed a commercially proven alternative, successfully converted their one HF unit in Utah and sold it to other HF refineries.

We also urge elected officials and regulatory agencies to take action. Today’s fire serves as a wake-up call for those in government to heed the warnings our organization has been making to them for ten years. We demand there be a serious effort to remove hazardous chemicals, like HF, from refineries that have consistently proven themselves to be unsafe to the people around them. 

In a related article, the Times reports on the history of safety and environmental violations at the Chevron Refinery, and how little is being done. And it was considered one of the better refineries in the area.

TRAA Cosponsors Opposition to State Bill SB 404


TRAA is joining with Earthjustice, California Communities Against Toxics and other groups in trying to stop a bad bill allowing metal shredders to avoid adequate regulation of their dangerous toxic air emissions.  This bill – SB 404 – is currently in the State Assembly, and we want to support any opposition in fighting against those toxic emissions.

Assembly Floor Alert – SB 404 (2)Download

Daily Breeze publishes excellent Article about NRDC Lawsuit


Groups sue to ban toxic chemical used at local refineries

The Daily Breeze published this article on July 20th covering the NRDC/CBE/CAC lawsuit against the EPA. It begins:

Efforts to more strictly regulate a toxic chemical used to make high-octane gasoline at refineries across the nation, including at PBF Energy’s Torrance Refinery and the Valero Refinery in Wilmington, are once again ramping up.

This time, several environmental organizations, including the National Resources Defense Council, Communities for a Better Environment and the Philadelphia Clean Air Council, have sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over its regulation of the chemical, hydrofluoric acid, and its modified counterpart.

To access it, follow the link and click on the article in the lower right – it should bring up the entire text is a readable window. If it doesn’t display the July 20 paper or if you have trouble accessing it here is a copy.

Daily Breeze.072025

NRDC and Others Sue EPA over HF

Community and environmental groups filed suit to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address the threat of an unnecessary and dangerous chemical used in dozens of American refineries despite its potential to form toxic acid clouds.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Clean Air Council (CAC) and Communities for a Better Environment (CBE) are filing the suit after the EPA rejected the groups’ petition to address the needless risks from use of hydrogen fluoride (HF)—an extremely corrosive chemical that, if released to the air, can form a lethal, ground-hugging plume that can travel for miles, causing severe injury or death to anyone in its path. More than forty oil refineries across the country—currently owned by companies including ExxonMobil, Marathon, Valero, and Delta Airlines, among others—use HF.

TRAA has been collaborating on this effort for over a year and a half. We are not a client but a collaborator and encouraged by the filing of this lawsuit.

Read more from the NRDC Press Release and the current status on the NRDC Website.

Dramatic Disaster Response Cuts Threaten All


The floods in Texas and recent tornadoes in Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri demonstrate that we NEED effective federal government capabilities to identify and warn about

impending natural disasters, and to help recovery after disasters (natural or not) occur. Yet, the Trump administration’s 2025 budget slashed FEMA’s funding by $646 million and eliminated over 2,000 staff positions, reducing its workforce by nearly a third. As Trump put it, “We want to wean off FEMA.” As Kristi Noem commented on the Texas floods: “I think what we’ve seen here is exactly what President Trump has envisioned for FEMA.” — Local News

What does this portend for a possible HF release at our, or any, HF refinery? Are we truly on our own in case of a local disaster?

Torrance finally responds to TRAA’s FOIA request – kinda

In a little-known regulation established in 2017, refineries that use hydrofluoric acid (HF), an exceptionally dangerous chemical that can cause mass casualties in a few minutes, “are required to conduct a Hierarchy of Hazard Control Analysis (HCA) of its units on a repeating 5-year cycle. A Hazard Control Analysis requires the refinery to enumerate the hazards of each process, and, to assess whether higher order safety measures are feasible” [like using a vastly safer chemical], – a letter from Torrance Refinery-PBF to TRAA, 2018.

The first 5-year cycle ended October 2022 and somebody has been playing “hide the football” ever since. (See this Article from June 2023 for background).

Finally we received a highly-redacted copy of the HCA report. In fact every word of every answer was redacted. This is the sort of stonewalling they (the City of Torrance and the refinery) have done since the beginning! Perhaps they thought FOIA meant “Freedom of Blank Document Act” as absolutely no information was provided. These are pages 1 and 7, but they ALL look the same.

Valero to pay $270,000 for chemical safety violations at Wilmington Refinery

According to an informative article by Kristy Hutchings in the Daily Breeze, Valero will pay more than $270,000 in fines as part of a settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, after the regulator found several chemical safety violations at the company’s Wilmington Refinery.

The violations are the result of a June 2022 inspection where the EPA found numerous violations, including underestimating how far dangerous concentrations of chemicals (like HF) could spread in a release. Several other serious issues were found, as listed in the article.

TRAA is mentioned and quoted in the article, which also discusses the dangers of HF and Valero’s handling of this dangerous chemical.

White House proposes shutting down chemical safety agency

Since 1998, the Chemical Safety Board has played a key role in probing the causes of major chemical accidents.
By Maxine Joselow, Washington Post

An independent agency that investigates chemical disasters — including fatal fires and explosions at chemical plants and oil refineries nationwide — would shutter by October 2026 under little-noticed language in White House budget documents released Friday.

The proposal to eliminate the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is almost certain to face pushback from lawmakers in both parties. President Donald Trump repeatedly called for zeroing out the agency’s funding during his first term, only for Congress to maintain or increase its budget.

This time, however, Trump is trying to seize greater control of independent agencies, testing the limits of presidential power. The Supreme Court last month refused to immediately reinstate a pair of independent regulators fired by the Trump administration, saying the president may have the authority to oust them.

Link to read for free: https://wapo.st/4dHupNU

We the People, South Bay: Building a Better South Bay Together

Join us for a gathering of more than a dozen of the South Bay’s most impactful social justice and pro-democracy organizations! This one-day event brings together dedicated groups working on the front lines of social justice, LGBTQ+ rights, workers’ rights, housing affordability, transit justice, and democratic engagement right here in our community.

Time: Sunday, June 8 1 – 5 pm PDT

Location: Pacific Unitarian Universalist Church
5621 Montemalaga Dr
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275

About this event

Discover meaningful ways to get involved as you connect directly with representatives from multiple organizations, including Democratic clubs, advocacy organizations, and activists making real change in the South Bay. Enjoy compelling speakers, live entertainment, and delicious food options.

Whether you’re a seasoned activist or simply curious about how to make a difference locally, this inclusive event welcomes everyone interested in building a more just, equitable, and vibrant South Bay.

Link to register: https://www.mobilize.us/indivisiblesouthbayla/event/782943/