Citizens and advocates rallied Saturday to demand a ban on a chemical being used at a Torrance oil refinery that they say has the potential to cause a mass disaster.
Hydrofluoric acid is used in about 40 gasoline refineries across the United States, according to Gasoline. the National Resources Defense Council. The defense council says “exposing a small area of human skin to HF (about the size of a human hand) can lead to death.” When inhaled, HF can seriously damage the lungs, disrupt heart rhythms, and cause other adverse health effects.”
The Torrance Refinery uses modified hydrofluoric acid, or MHF, which the refining company considers a safer alternative to HF, although the claim is disputed by lawyers. Steve Goldsmith, president of Torrance Refinery Action Alliance, who hosted Saturday’s event, said that if MHF were to be released into the air, it would cause irreversible health effects within 6.2 miles of the refinery, and into other parts of Los Angeles County.
And in 2015, he said, this almost happened.
On Feb. 18, 2015, there was an explosion at the refinery, then operated by ExxonMobil, caused by the rupture of an eroded valve. The incident, which released flammable hydrocarbons, injured four workers and they were forced to leave 14 schools are closed.
Saturday’s event, held at North High School’s Performing Arts Center in Torrance, marked the 11th anniversary of the blast.
The goldsmith described the chemical as “killing.”
Audience members participated in a “silent clap” at North Torrance High as they listened to speakers against the use of hydrofluoric acid in Los Angeles County and across the country.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
“The Torrance Refinery had a huge explosion, and a piece of machinery the size of a bus came within five feet of the hydrofluoric acid, which caused the near miss,” Goldsmith said. “We were working to finish it.”
Citizens like Christopher Truman say removing the MHF as an alternative is the least that can be done. His parents live near the refinery.
“I was born and raised in the South Bay, and my family lives in, well, what would be an explosive zone if another accident happened,” Truman said. “So just in that aspect, I’m very concerned about it.”
MHF is also used to clean semiconductor substrates and produce pesticides and herbicides in the agricultural and pharmaceutical industries, according to the Torrance Refinery.
County Supervisor Janice Hahn said residents shouldn’t think they’ll be “lucky” if another refinery accident happens.
“There are only two refineries in California that use MHF, the Torrance Refinery and the Valero Refinery in Wilmington,” Hahn said. “MHF is too dangerous to use. It is a carnivorous, highly toxic and toxic vapor. Our communities will not be safe until this chemical is gone.”
The goldsmith said a Chevron Refinery in Salt Lake City discovered the ionic-liquid alkylation process as an alternative to MHF. He added that i 2025 Chevron refinery explosion in El Segundo “it would have been different if they had used MHF.”
“They used another chemical that does not pose a risk to the public,” said Goldsmith. “That’s about the refineries, they have explosives, but that’s why you can’t [MHF] with things that can explode.”
Representative of the US
US Representative Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) appears in a video message explaining her legislation, which she says will have a positive impact on communities in the Los Angeles region.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
US Rep. Maxine Waters, (D-Los Angeles), representing the city of Torrance, greeted attendees in a recorded message, where she also introduced her bill, the “Preventing Mass Injuries from the Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act,” targeting plants that use MHF.
“I first introduced this bill in December of 2024,” Waters said in the video. “I faced a lot of opposition, especially from the United Steel Workers Union, [who were] is concerned that if the refineries are not converted to safer technologies, some of the refineries may be shut down, leaving workers without jobs. They agree with me that hydrofluoric acid is dangerous. But they would not support my bill. So I decided to go ahead and re-introduce this bill, [without] union support.”
The bill would give refiners five years to find a replacement for the dangerous chemical. Violators may be fined up to $37,000 for each violation.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn speaks out against the use of hydrofluoric acid.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Some residents emphasized the need for transparency with local officials.
Ian Patton, a Long Beach resident, said many parts of the investigation into the 2015 explosion have been withheld.
“Why can’t they make this report public? [Torrance Refinery Action Alliance] he’s been asking for it for years,” Patton said. “The next step was to look into the proceedings under the California Public Records Act. It’s not something we want to do, but the public needs to know if these plants are safe.”
