About five gallons of modified hydrofluoric acid leaked at the Torrance Refinery Saturday, prompting a Los Angeles County supervisor’s call for the material to be phased out.
The leak was reported about 8:20 a.m. at the refinery at 3700 West 190th Street, the Daily Breeze reported. The MHF was being transferred through a one-inch line from a tanker truck to a tank, Torrance firefighters said, adding there was no threat to the public.
“This is alarming news and I will continue to monitor the situation and work to get answers for the local community about any threat to health and safety,” Supervisor Janice Hahn said. “Some disagree but I still believe that the last two refineries in California still using MHF (Torrance and Valero in Wilmington) should begin to move away from using this dangerous and potentially deadly chemical.”
A handout published by parent company PBF Energy on southbaycities.org states that: “Eliminating Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) would require the Torrance Refinery — which supplies 20 percent of Southern California’s gasoline and 10 percent statewide — to initiate a project that would take several years to complete.
“That threatens the viability of the plant and over 600 jobs, including USW, IBEW and Building Trades contractors, without any benefit or reduction in risk to the community and is expected to cost in excess of $500 million, Hahn said.”
The chemical is used in the refining process to meet California clean burning fuel requirements, according to refinery officials, who said modified hydrofluoric acid contains an additive that reduces the risk of the material.