Federal authorities are suing Exxon Mobil to force them to provide documents concerning the explosion and fire at their Torrance, California refinery in 2015. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board blamed Exxon for lax compliance with safety rules that resulted in worker injuries, property damage and the spewing of ash into surrounding neighborhoods. A vat of hydrofluoric acid was nearly damaged which could have released a toxic cloud into the environment damaging residents’ lungs and turning them blind. (Courthouse News Service, May 4, 2017, by Jonny Bonner)
The urgency in the request was highlighted when on February 18, 2017, the two-year anniversary of the 2015 explosion, another explosion and fire erupted. No one was injured in this fire which was extinguished in 30 minutes. (Industrial Equipment News, February 20, 2017, by the Associated Press)