AQMD to Propose Ban on Use of Chemical
South Coast Air Quality Management District staff members said this week they will propose a ban on refinery use of the highly toxic chemical hydrogen fluoride.
The staff decision was contained in a brief memo to members of a hydrogen fluoride task force, created two years ago by the AQMD to study the dangers that use of the chemical poses to the public. Hydrogen fluoride is used at four Los Angeles area refineries, including the Mobil Oil refinery in Torrance in the production of unleaded gasoline.
The staff recommendation follows an AQMD draft report prepared for the task force that had recommended additional safety measures instead of a ban. The full AQMD will receive the separate recommendations of the staff and the task force in March.
A digest item in The Times on Friday erroneously said the new proposal represented an about-face, when in fact it was separate from the earlier draft report.
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