New Committee to Fight Ban on Refinery Chemical

A second campaign committee has been created to oppose a March 6 ballot measure aimed at banning the use of hydrofluoric acid at Mobil Oil Corp.’s Torrance refinery.

The group, “Citizens for a Safe Torrance Environment--No on Measure A,” filed papers last Friday. It will be independent of one formed by Mobil and will solicit support from the business community, organized labor and Torrance residents, a spokesman said.

The group plans to raise about $10,000 to send out a mailer and coordinate a door-to-door campaign against Measure A, which would limit storage of hydrofluoric acid at any place in Torrance to no more than 250 gallons, effectively forcing Mobil to stop using the chemical at its refinery there.