The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance (“TRAA”) is a grassroots organization dedicated to the phase out of Hydrofluoric/Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (“HF/MHF”). HF/MHF is an extremely dangerous chemical that, if released, could cause permanent injury and even death to hundreds-of-thousands of South Bay residents, workers, and visitors in Los Angeles County.

This is a silent crisis and catastrophe waiting to happen in Southern California. More than a million people live with the threat of a large HF/MHF release from two outdated and negligent petroleum refineries located in high density communities with high environmental justice burdens.  These two refineries in our state refuse to put public safety before corporate profits. There are multiple commercially-available, vastly safer alternatives that do not pose the same airborne risk to the surrounding communities as HF/MHF. 

The Torrance Refinery Action Alliance and community members urge you to direct Environmental Protection Agency Administrator, Michael S. Regan to formulate a rule requiring the speedy conversion process of HF/MHF refineries to one of the commercially-proven, vastly safer alternatives that most U.S. refineries utilize.

As you may be aware, your home office is approximately 11 miles from the tank at the Trainer refinery containing over 200,000 lbs. of HF. According to the Trainer refinery, the endpoint for death or permanent injury from a release of this chemical is 17 miles; so you and your wife Jill, when home, are well within that “Circle of Risk.” 

The volunteers of the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance, along with over 1.1 million Angelinos, also live within the “Circle of Risk” near our own HF/MHF refineries: PBF Energy, Inc.’s Torrance refinery and Valero Energy Corp.’s Wilmington refinery. There have been many near misses for mass casualties at HF/MHF refineries, most notably in our community of Torrance, California; Superior, Wisconsin; and also near your home at the now destroyed Philadelphia refinery. 

A large release, as nearly happened nine years ago at the Torrance refinery, could cause mass casualties, extreme disruption of the U.S. energy supply, and possibly impact the national security as large critical workforces live and work within the circles of risk near the 41 refineries still using HF/MHF in our country. Refineries are vulnerable to accidents, natural disasters, and terrorist attacks. 

Most of the communities living near HF/MHF refineries score high on the EPA environmental justice burden index. Only by requiring these refineries to transition to a safer alternative can your family and those in our community be protected against this preventable catastrophe.

Please direct the EPA to take urgent action.