South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Open Meeting on Flaring
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Meeting to discuss proposals to be funded using ExxonMobil fines SCAQMD staff will present the Committee with a summary of proposals received in response to request for proposal 2017-06 — ExxonMobil Supplemental Environmental Protection (SEP) Funds. Thursday, June 8, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
Torrance Marriott Redondo Beach Grand Ballroom (Salons A – D) 3635 Fashion Way Torrance, CA 90503
The proposals submitted to the SCAQMD have been scored and preliminary recommendations will be for discussion. Staff will seek the Committee’s input and direction as to recommendations for the full SCAQMD Governing Board consideration.
This is an open meeting and *the public will have an opportunity to speak and provide comments*. Please note that full Governing Board consideration on the proposals could be as early as the regularly scheduled Governing Board meeting on July 7, 2017, but could be later depending on direction from the Administrative Committee.
Background: Torrance Refining Company, LLC is one of six large refineries in the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s jurisdiction. It is subject to numerous SCAQMD rules and regulations pertaining to refining operations and equipment.
The facility is located at 3700 W. 190th St. in Torrance and covers 750 acres. It refines gasoline, diesel fuel, aviation fuels, liquefied petroleum gases, coke and sulfur.
In February 2015, a large explosion in an air pollution control device ejected heavy metal parts, narrowly missing a unit that contains highly toxic modified hydrofluoric acid. As a result of air pollution violations during the explosion and subsequent restart of the refinery, then-owner ExxonMobil paid a $5.5 million penalty to SCAQMD, of which $2.77 million has been committed to fund community benefit projects.
In 2016, SCAQMD released an RFP and hosted a community meeting on the use of the settlement monies for projects that provide public health and quality of life improvements. PBF Energy, based in Parsippany, N.J., purchased the refinery and took over operation of the facility on July 1, 2016. In 2016, the refinery experienced several power cuts and as a result conducted unplanned flaring.
In February 2017, PBF agreed to an administrative order by the independent SCAQMD Hearing Board requiring the facility to improve power reliability and reduce air pollution from power-related flaring incidents. The Hearing Board will maintain jurisdiction over the order until all its requirements are completed.
While the refinery must meet specific milestones and deadlines under the order, the overall effort will take several years to complete. As a result of the series of incidents at the refinery, SCAQMD’s Refinery Committee held an investigative hearing in April 2017 to gather information about refinery safety and operations from experts and regulators as well as feedback from community groups and residents.
Flaring is a safety measure used at refineries to prevent explosions or accidents that could result from gases building up excess pressure. When flared, the combusted gas typically causes large flames, and can result in black smoke when power losses impact steam generation.