Local News in Brief : Ruling to Be Sought on Refinery Acid
The Torrance City Council has voted unanimously to ask a Superior Court judge to decide whether the use of acutely hazardous hydrofluoric acid at the Mobil Oil refinery endangers nearby residents.
Along with authorizing its first court action against the giant oil corporation, the council also ordered city staff members to more closely scrutinize, and if necessary regulate, earthquake safety and the use of all hazardous materials at the refinery.
If it is successful in getting a judge to declare Mobil’s use of hydrofluoric acid a public nuisance, Torrance would have a sound legal basis on which to regulate the refinery’s use of the toxic chemical, said City Atty. Kenneth Nelson.
“We would not be seeking to shut down the operation or cause expensive modifications unless and until the court has determined that there is a public nuisance,” Nelson said.
Refinery Manager Wyman Robb said he expected any such challenge would find that Mobil is operating safely.
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