Refinery Hearing Sought

The Torrance City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to request that a state Assembly committee hold a public hearing in Torrance to listen to residents’ concerns about safety at refineries and other petrochemical facilities.

At the request of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners Assn., the city will send a letter asking that the California State Assembly Committee on Hazardous Materials, Pipelines, Chemical Plants and Refinery Safety schedule a meeting with Torrance residents.

The committee, which includes South Bay Assemblymen Gerald N. Felando (R-San Pedro) and Richard E. Floyd (D-Carson), was formed in March by Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. It serves as an advisory body to the Assembly and studies ways to help ensure the safety of residents who live near petrochemical facilities.

The select committee is arranging to visit cities throughout California to get input from residents about safety at petrochemical facilities, said Brian Sunshine, a management assistant for the city.

He said it is still uncertain when such a meeting in Torrance would take place.

John Bailey, a member of the Southeast Torrance Homeowners Assn., said the homeowners are interested in meeting with the committee to share some of their concerns about safety at the Mobil Oil Corp. refinery. He said they also have concerns about an oil recovery project that the Torrance-based Kelt Oil Co. has proposed developing beneath a southeast Torrance neighborhood.