Areysee Borja, Carolyn Hollmann, Meagan Llaneras, Riel Stephenson
California State University Long Beach
December 2019: Torrance Refinery
Overview of Issue
This project focuses on the intensely dangerous air pollution that is caused by the Exxon-Mobil Refinery in Torrance, California. Through extensive research, our group has found that this refinery has been known to emit an outrageous amount of greenhouse gases and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) for years. Not only this, but the refinery is as well infamous for its use of Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF), which is abundantly dangerous and potentially life-threatening to not only the residents of Torrance, but also the residents of nearby cities, such as: Lawndale, El Segundo, Gardena, Carson, West Carson, Los Angeles, Lomita, Hawthorne, Long Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach. Our environmental case study will focus on the oil refinery in this community and how it is inherently racist to the community in which it is located. Our goal for this case study is to raise awareness for the types of contaminants that refineries, such as this one, produce and how these toxic chemicals affect the surrounding environment, both physically, as well as socially. We plan to go in depth about the potential health issues that can be caused by living in the vicinity of this refinery. Additionally, our group will discuss the grassroots organization that is vehemently opposed to the refinery, as well as what they do/are doing to protest this refinery.
We chose to study this refinery because though we may think that we are far away from it and that it does not affect us in our everyday lives, it does. The pollution that this refinery causes is extremely close to the communities that we live in and can affect the health and wellbeing of our friends, our families, and ourselves. Many of our lectures, reading, and learning activities this semester have gone on to discuss how big-profit companies are to blame for the destruction that they are ensue not only on our land, but onto us as individuals. To these big-profit companies, us, as individuals, are seen only as moneymakers for bigger companies’ corporate greed, not human beings.
Site Profile
As we delve into this paper and discuss how air pollution caused by the oil refinery in Torrance has and continues to actively impact and harm surrounding communities and residents by its use of dangerous chemicals such as Modified Hydrofluoric Acid, it is equally important to have an understanding and be informed about the communities being impacted, as well as learn about the history of the city itself.
The city of Torrance, California began as “a model city where planners hoped industrialists and laborers would find reprieve from the seemingly endless battle over the open shop in the Los Angeles Area,” and in “1912 a model factory town built for corporate developers and planned for a total population of 15,000 people” (Phelps 1995:503). The idea behind this “Modern Industrial City” was to provide a location where businesses could establish themselves without having to comply with city or government zoning laws that would prevent businesses from operating elsewhere, all while simultaneously “reviving the real estate market by assuring upper and middle class home seekers and their lending institutions that the city would remain a ‘residential paradise of spacious homes in quiet, clean surroundings” (Phelps 1995:504). Although this was the initial vision for the “Model Industrial City”, it failed, as there were only roughly 2,500 residents at the time.
We went on to learn that in cities where these “visions” were not in practice or incorporated into selling the “Modern Industrial City-Residential Paradise”, is exactly where oil companies began establishing themselves, such as with “the Union Tool Company, a subsidiary of Lyman Stewart’s Union Oil Company”, originally located in Ventura County become making the move to the Los Angeles Area. What is important to know is that the Union Tool Company, having grounded itself in the Los Angeles area, leading the oil industry, is what helped catapult the oil industry in Torrance, California, today. Additionally, this “Model Industrial City” that is now known as Torrance, California remained grounded in the oil industry through Jared S. Torrance’s efforts, “a prominent southern California subdivided and vice-president and major stockholder of the union and union tool companies,” whom removed “Robert Bard from the presidency of Union Oil in 1990, a move that secured the more aggressive Stewart’s hold on the company and assured Torrance’s own position in one of the few California oil companies beyond the reach of standard oil and the ubiquitous tentacles of the southern pacific” (Phelps 1995:509). Ultimately, this hold on the oil industry and the decision to expand in southern California is what led to the creation of what is now known as Torrance, California, home to several oil refineries that bring with it many forms of environmental racism and harms to its communities through the chemicals and pollutants released in the air.
Upon arriving to the Torrance Oil Refinery, shortly after exiting the 405 North, and even from a freeway view, you are met with massive machinery belonging to the refineries and can visibly see the black clouds of pollution that are being released into the air. To get a visual, we know that the refinery covers 700 acres of land, and employs “more than 570 employees, and another 300-500 contractors daily” (TORC Admin 2019). Immediately outside of the Torrance Refinery boundaries are homes, local shops, and parks, all of which are exposed to the daily chemicals and pollutants that are being released from the refinery.
As we look at the demographic makeup of Torrance, as reported by the Los Angeles County in July 2018, Torrance has a population of 146,686 individuals, and further divided by age, we learn that 19 percent of the population ranges from 0-17 years old, 64 percent of the population ranges from 18-64 years old, and lastly, 17 percent of the population range from 65 years and older. Looking at the population by race and ethnicity, 2.70 percent of the population is Black, 16.9 percent of the population is Latinx, 41.57 percent of the population is White, 38.21 percent of the population is Asian, 0.21 percent is American Indian, 0.19 percent is Alaska Native, 1.19 percent, 0.33 percent is Native Hawaiian, and 0.24 percent is other/Pacific Islander (Anon 2019). Although the largest population seems to be White, upon visiting the neighboring park, which was surprisingly big and mid-kept, and interviewing people, those we saw as a group and interacted with were predominantly Latinx. From this, it is possible to make the presumption that Latinx, in this case, as well as low-income individuals and families are more likely to live in the beginning streets/communities that are closest to the Torrance Refinery.
Why is this, though? Well, according to Robert Bullard, minorities do not have the power to prevent refineries from being built in their communities. As a result, minority groups are left facing many health issues due to the harmful pollutants being emitted into the air. Bullard states, “zip code is still the most potent predictor of an individual’s health and well-being. Individuals who physically live on the “wrong side of the tracks” are subjected to elevated environmental health threats and more than their fair share of preventable diseases. Still, too many people and communities have the “wrong complexion for protection” (Bullard 2018).
While capitalism comes at a cost, certain communities are being targeted, exploited, and used as waste dumps at the hands of big corporations. Just as the air and water of these individuals are being drastically polluted, so are their bodies, and these residents are disproportionately paying the price with their health and lives.
Now that there is background on the city and its demographics, we can move forward and begin discussing the harms that the refinery presents, not only for immediate community members, but for neighboring communities as well, with a focus on the harms of Modified Hydrofluoric Acid.
Health Effects
The Torrance Refinery’s use of Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF) impacts our environment in several ways, such as by contributing to greenhouse gases, as well as by impacting and compromising the health and well-being of neighboring communities. There are many harmful consequences that community members face as a result from being exposed to the chemical, particularly, pertaining to their health, which is what will be covered moving forward, demonstrating just how harmful and severe the consequences can be. However, we will first provide a brief background explaining what exactly MHF is.
In Emilija Bajraktarova-Valjakova’s, Vesna Korunoska-Stevkovska’s, Silvana Georgieva’s, Kiro Ivanovski’s, Cvetanka Bajraktarova-Misevska’s, Aneta Mijoska’s, and Anita Grozdano’s 2018 article titled, “Hydrofluoric Acid: Burns and Systemic Toxicity, Protective Measures, Immediate and Hospital Medical Treatment,” we learn about the chemical compounds of MHF, the harmful, health related impacts that result from exposure to the chemical, and extensively learn about medical treatment, however, what I was most focused was learning about the nature of the chemical and it’s harmful health-related effects.
In the article, it is stated that MHF “is a compound of hydrogen and fluorine atoms, white as a liquid, it is a polymeric compound with string hydrogen bonds between the chains . . . ” and it is “characterized by high reactivity with metals, glass, concrete, enamels, pottery, rubber, leather and many organic compounds” (Bajraktarova-Valjakova, et al 2018:2258). In simpler terms, we essentially learn that MHF is commonly found and used as a liquid or gas chemical, and is both colorless and is highly “corrosive [with] high local systemic toxicity” (Bajraktarova-Valjakova, et al 2018:2258).
We go on to learn about the three primary ways that one can be exposed to the chemical, and these are through skin and eye contact, inhalation, and digestion. These cause effects and symptoms that neighboring community residents of the Torrance Refinery are very well susceptible to. Looking at the effects of eye exposure to the chemical, we learn that a burning sensation, irritation, discomfort, and severe pain are some of the very basic signs of eye exposure. The exposure to the chemical can lead to “corneal opacification and non-visible iris complications…” which can contribute to vision loss (Bajraktarova-Valjakova, et al 2018:2260).
On the matter of ingestion, the symptoms and effects that are possible can burn one’s mouth and throat, cause lesions on the mouth, and can also lead to abdominal pain and nausea. On the matter if inhalation, we learn that some health effects consists nasal irritation, and that continued exposure can result in dryness and bleeding of the nose, coughing, laryngitis, chills, and more, which can prove to be fatal. All in all, this article provides a background on the chemical, to better understand what it is, and the article is very informative on the health effects from exposure to MHF can result in, which is imperative to know as we continue to learn about the overall harms of the chemical, as it impacts the surrounding communities of the Torrance Refinery.
In “Dangers of Hydrofluoric Acid,” an article published by The British Medical Journal, we continue to learn more about the harmful, health related problems that may arise from being exposed to MHF. As we began reading more on chemical, we learned that along with being used in glass works and in the pottery and china industries, it is also “becoming essential in the oil industry in the production of certain motor fuels, in the engineering industry as a rust and scale remover, in the development of new plastic materials, in silk dyeing, and for the manufacturers of refrigerants” (Anon 1951:750). Important here is learning that the chemical is used at refineries to produce motor fuel, a necessary product that helps to make car engines run. However, this should not outweigh the health of people. We continue to learn that some of the health effects and hazards that people can develop as a result of exposure consist of “bronchitis, pneumonitis, or pulmonary oedema, from inhalation of the vapor” (Özcan, Arezo, and Mine 2011:15). While many more health effects have been reported, this article outlines a very brief, though very important, set of developmental health problems that can result from being exposed to MHF, which is not safe, and can be lethal in some cases. All this to say, these articles provide important information, as it is relative to the environmental racism and inequalities, as well as among the health effects that many Torrance community inhabitants face, and they clarify the extensive damage that the use of this chemical can cause.
This environmental injustice issue has affected the surrounding community to the point of action. These people have had to change their lives, their daily routines, in regard to the site in question. The Torrance community lives in fear through the subordination of big companies disregarding their health and overall wellbeing. Fortunately, we were able to sit down with a few different members of the community; from strong, loud-voiced long-time residents, to worried family members awaiting health issues.
Action has been taken from group meetings at a local Sizzler, to simple acts of driving with the windows down through community members’ own town. The first interview we held was with a couple from the Torrance Refinery Action Alliance, or the TRAA for short. Every first and second Monday of the month, since 2015, a group of affected community members have been meeting in order to encourage their policy makers to make the right choice. The couple interviewed had been a part of the group since they first formed. However, having lived in Torrance for over forty years they were no strangers to the issues of MHF. When they first moved in, only a couple blocks from the refinery, they were assured that it was well run. They thought they were safe moving into that house, and fully believed that the industry meant no harm to its surrounding neighbors. They explained how even though the refinery was there before the community, the issues that they would come to face should have never happened.
The couple pointed out the fact that they drive cars, they understood then, and they understand now that a refinery in itself is necessary. It is the means in which it is run that they care about, and what they worry about. They are not advocating for shutting down the refinery, it is MHF that is their, and everyone else’s, problem. Something that they, and their neighbors didn’t find out about until after accidents started to happen. Accidents, they explained, that were removed from public record. They are now a strong voice in the fight towards a ban on MHF. Standing as two of the longest members of the TRAA.
The next interview was held with community members Jose Berganza and Ana Sanchez. Living in fear, as their friends and family attempt to grow up and thrive in a community that is tainted with the threat of death just around the corner. Having lived here for almost thirty years, they are aware of the city’s condition, and call it ‘unclean’. Saying that they can frequently see the release of black, smoggy smoke into the air as they navigate through their own neighborhood. A community that they are expected to live in and air they are expected to breathe in every day. Stating that “the air is as clean as these factories allow it to be,” and that there “is no off switch.” Their everyday lives have become affected to the point that their daily routines are forever changed in regard to the air quality. They pointed out that if they had the chance to move, they would. However, like many living under these horrible conditions, due to financial reasons they are stuck. The air smells so strong, and the community is beginning to change because of it. They spoke about how they saw that their neighbors were coughing more frequently and commonly; asthma has become a ramped issue among people living there. This is not just a coincidence. They drive with their windows up, accepting that the air surrounding their home and children’s schools is filled with harmful chemicals. This showcases how members are affected by the actions of the refinery even without massive explosions. These are issues that come before it is too late.
According to a recent TRAA meeting, discourse between the refinery and a company based out of China, with a location in Canada, about a new piping system had been in the works last spring. This system is supposed to be more sustainable in regard to corrosion. Which is a highly regarded cause towards the unattended exposure of this chemical. However, according to the Chinese-Canadian company, that discourse abruptly ended at the end of the summer due to new business deals more profitable to the ExxonMobil Company. Demonstrating the value of profit over an individual’s life. Neither neighbor nor worker is cared for when it comes to the industry of big oil.. Laura Pulido, among others, dove into the historical background of environmental racism that has occurred in the Los Angeles area. Her team spent time focusing on the city of Torrance, depicting it as one of the most polluted communities in the entire county. They point out how development of the city itself was based on racist practices. City planners attempt to control and dominate an entire racialized population of people in order to exploit them for dangerous labor (Pulido et al, 1996). This proves that the refinery, even though existing before the community, has always been more important than the residents who live around it. The city was built on the exploitation of working class people. In order for big companies to continue these practices, the community has to stay silent. However, you’ll come to read that that is not necessarily the case anymore.
Resistance
One of the strongest fights against the Refinery is the TRAA, a grassroots, community-based and volunteer-run group that was formed after the 2015 explosion at the Torrance Refinery. The explosion left the surrounding area under a blanket of grey, intoxicating dust. Prompting the community to stand up towards the Torrance Refinery as well as the Wilmington Refinery in their use of the toxic chemical MHF. The February explosion was just a glimpse into the possibilities that have the potential of happening on this site. February 18th, however, was not the beginning. Community members have had an issue with the use of MHF at the refinery ever since it came to their attention in the mid 80s. This chemical can leave those who encounter it with irreversible injuries, if not death, as mentioned above. And community members were expected to accept this as their new reality. However, that day of the explosion prompted the formation of a group that now is taking major actions towards the misuse of MHF. Working with each other as the residents and business owners of the neighborhoods that surround both refineries; they demand a ban on the use of MHF in order to protect their families and community.
The TRAA is currently fighting against the refinery through the use of local resources such as environmental lawyers, political affiliates, and their own voices. They are proposing a new and safer alternative to the use of, and ultimately a ban on, MHF and HF. The TRAA is not letting the city of Torrance stand by as this continues to happen, bringing their group to the forefront of all decision-making when it comes to the public’s health and safety. The section of a safe and secure community was being addressed at the Torrance city strategic planning meeting that was held at the beginning of this month. The group had a proposal letter, modeling legal standpoints, including action plans, and articles of inquiry to present to the public council. Arguments toward a positive future for their community’s safety and wellbeing were being addressed. The group hoped to gain grounds by entering into the strategic plan for the next ten years of Torrance. This would make their fight more powerful. Going as far to state that this is cause for legal action, begging for members of the councils, and any other political affiliate present, commitment and support on this issue. Asking for their approval, explaining that their group, along with the surrounding community, is begging them for them to do something where other politicians have failed.
Take Action
According to David Pellow, environmental justice is the “fair treatment of all people regardless of race, color, and national origin. It is also mentioned that environmental justice is a vision of a possible future” (Pellow 2018:5). As you drive by the Torrance Refinery, and look at all the pollution being released into the air, do you see any possible future? Have you noticed more communities getting sick? Community members are being exposed to these outrageous amounts of greenhouse gases and not all of them are even aware of the toxic air they are exposed to. According to revision 1 of the Torrance Refinery Rule 1180 Plan, “141,234 pounds of emissions of external combustion, 678,573 pounds of emissions of fugitive components, 32,312 pounds of emissions of internal combustion, 378,204 pounds of emissions of other process emissions, 139 pounds of emissions of spray coatings/booths, 18,973 pounds of emissions from startup/shutdown/turnaround and upsets, and 72,086 pounds of emissions from storage tanks” are emitted from the Torrance Refinery every year (Anon 2018:13). As well, it was found that the Torrance Refinery emits six times more sulfur oxide (SOx) into the air than what is required from air quality regulators. The pollution outstrips the annual target and therefore, the refinery owner (PBF Energy) has the possibility to face up to 13 million dollars in fees. SOx levels are to be below 55,000 pounds per year, but the Torrance Refinery had released 323,370 pounds in 2017. As well, we find that the Torrance Refinery is currently under an abatement order from the South Coast Air Quality Management (AQMD) hearing board to reduce flaring caused by power outages (Southern Radio and McNary 2017).
People inside and outside of the community must become involved and take action. One way it can be done is by creating informative brochures or pop-up stands onsite at the Torrance Refinery, to display all of the harmful doings that are being imposed onto the community. We can also place these brochures and pop-up stands in nearby parks, community centers, and around the city, we can involve the community by asking residents if they would allow us to put signs in front of their yards informing them about these life threatening toxins that are being exposed into the air, as many have already done. A pop-up booth will be efficient in order to hand out informative flyers about the unhealthy pollution that is being released by the Torrance Refinery. Of course, it would take away time from our busy schedules to inform the community and talk about ways to minimize exposure. However, this is an important topic that must be addressed and taken seriously to prevent serious illnesses. Forming a social media account addressing the harmful ways in which the refinery is affecting the community is also a great way to inform those living around the refinery, as well as other community members, since we can post pictures, including videos, and write what is happening in the pictures/videos.
Another way community members can get involved is by participating and attending a TRAA meeting. As stated before this community-based group meets the first and third Monday of every month. These meetings are full of useful information in regard to the issue. Be sure to check their website for further information. By taking a couple of hours out of your day, only twice a month, you have the capability to become informed on the refinery which can not only be life changing, but can help you take a stand towards this issue. Starting a campaign can have a great impact on the community and the refinery itself, the goal is to get community members informed and on board that the Torrance Refinery needs to cut down on, and ultimately end, their use of MHF. A chemical that is not only toxic but harmful to the surrounding communities health and way of life. Environmental activist groups such as the TRAA have the opportunity to put stress on their cities representatives so that they can enforce current environmental laws. As well as have the opportunity to promote new laws that will be able to discipline the Torrance Refinery, and hopefully others to follow.
References
“About TRAA.” Torrance Refinery Action Alliance, https://www.traasouthbay.com/traa-fights-mhf-oil-refineries/.
Admin, TORC. 2019. “About Us.” Torrance Refinery. Retrieved December 16, 2019 (https://torrancerefinery.com/about-us-2/).
Anon. 1951. “Dangers of Hydrofluoric Acid.” The British Medical Journal 1(4709):750.
Anon. 2018. VOLUME I- TORRANCE REFINERY RULE 1180 PLAN. Retrieved November 8, 2019 (http://www.aqmd.gov/docs/default-source/fenceline_monitroing/rule_1180_refinery_plans/torrance_refinery_draft_fenceline_plan.pdf?sfvrsn=8).
Anon. 2019. “Torrance, California Population 2019.” World Population Review. Retrieved December 16, 2019 (http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/torrance-ca-population/).
Bajraktarova-Valjakova E, Korunoska-Stevkovska V, Georgieva S. “Hydrofluoric Acid: Burns and Systemic Toxicity, Protective Measures, Immediate and Hospital Medical Treatment.” Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2018 6(11):2257–2269
Bullard. 2018. “LEARN ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.” Dr Robert Bullard. Retrieved December 17, 2019 (https://drrobertbullard.com/learn-about-environmental-justice/).
Özcan, Mutlu, Arezo Allahbeickaraghi, and Mine Dündar. 2011. “Possible Hazardous Effects of Hydrofluoric Acid and Recommendations for Treatment Approach: A Review.” Clinical Oral Investigations. 16(1):15-23.
Phelps, Robert. 1995. “The Search For A Modern Industrial City: Urban Planning, The Open Shop, And The Founding Of Torrance, California.” Pacific Historical Review 64(4):503-535.
Pulido, Laura, Steve Sidawi & Robert O. Vos. 1996. An Archaeology of Environmental Racism in Los Angeles. Urban Geography. 17(5): 419-439.
Radio, Southern, and Sharon McNary. 2017. “Pollution from Torrance Refinery Could Cost Owner Millions.” Southern California Public Radio. Retrieved November 12, 2019 (https://www.scpr.org/news/2017/09/29/76115/flaring-of-gases-at-torrance-refinery-could-cost-o/).
CSULB Environmental Sociology 