Author: traa905

From the California Attorney General’s Press Release on November 1st: “California Attorney General Rob Bonta, as part of a multistate coalition, announced the filing of a comment letter in support of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to strengthen chemical accident prevention regulations. . . .

“In the letter, the coalition expresses their support for the EPA’s proposal to strengthen the federal chemical accident prevention program, particularly the provisions addressing refineries that use hydrofluoric acid, commonly referred to as ‘HF,’ in their alkylation processes. HF is a uniquely hazardous chemical that when released can form a toxic, ground-hugging cloud that can travel far outside refinery boundaries that irritates the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract, and at high exposure levels can cause cell damage and even death. Two refineries in California use HF in their alkylation processes: the former ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, now owned by the Torrance Refining Company, and the former Ultramar refinery in Wilmington, now owned by Valero Energy Corporation. Both HF-using refineries are adjacent to disadvantaged communities. . . .”

Read more on the Attorney General website, and read the letter here.

As oil refineries reported their 3rd quarter profits, it became clear that there is no excuse for not converting their alkylation processes from HF to a much safer proven alternative.

PBF Energy, California’s third biggest oil refiner, made a whopping $2.26 billion off refining gasoline, tripling its profit in the third quarter. That indicates they could make us all much safer, and modernize their refinery, for about twelve days PROFIT.

And Valero’s third-quarter financial report showed that the San Antonio company made $2.82 billion from July to September. This caused Governor Newsom to renew his call for a price-gouging penalty “to put these profits back in the pockets of Californians.” per an LA Times Article.

Yet they continue to operate with “business as usual” despite general concerns about the environment and specific concerns about the safety of the surrounding community. And we wonder why gas prices are so high!

During the EPA’s public comment period for August 2022, three TRAA members participated by speaking on the rule. President Steve Goldsmith, Vice-President Jane Affonso, and member Zach Badaouie each spoke to the clear shortfalls of the revised rule. Each used the time to highlight the well known dangers of HF to public health and national security, while also calling on other environmentalists to organize around the issue. Even if our efforts fall upon deaf ears, it was certainly well worth the allotted three minutes to speak on such a critical issue. In addition to the live comments, TRAA is going to submit a written comment along with a deluge of files and videos on the need for action on HF. We hope that they fall on the right eyes and ears..

TRAA issued a Press Release on Sept. 29 about the EPA Hearings. It told that National Security experts led by Former Governor and EPA Administrator Christie Todd Whitman submitted their third letter, warning of terrorist attacks on refineries and chemical facilities using chemicals that can cause mass causalities and called for conversion to commercially proven safer alternative technology.

Joining scores of environmental and chemical disaster prevention organizations and over 100 speakers in the course of the three-day EPA Public Comment hearings ending Wednesday evening, the experts that included General Russel Honore of Katrina recovery fame stated ” as individuals with extensive experience in national security and environmental protection, we must tell you that the rule is not nearly strong enough to protect Americans from chemical disasters.”

TRAA member Laurie Armer has created a petition to require HF-using refineries to convert to a safer alternative. It is in conjunction with the EPA hearings to remove the most hazardous chemicals from the workplace. Follow this link:

https://sign.moveon.org/petitions/demand-42-refineries-convert-the-deadly-chemicals-hf-and-mhf-to-a-safer-alternative?source=rawlink&utm_source=rawlink&share=d9bb15a4-7eb8-46e3-9d42-8778c2474cdb