Does that corporate-organized labor synergy explain why a potential mass casualty matter related to a chemical used by only two refineries in all of CA -- one of them the Valero Wilmington refinery on LB's western border, the other the site of a 2015 "near miss" in an explosion at the ToRC refinery in Torrance -- has led thousands of southbay area residents (petition signatures), the L.A. County Board of Supervisors and the office of state Attorney General Beccera (among others) to urge AQMD to order a phase-out of that chemical,

The two refineries and politically active unions oppose a phase-out/ban of the chemical, preferring a "Memorandum of Understanding" (agreement) to be negotiated between the refineries and AQMD, promising additional "mitigation"/safety measures while allowing the refineries continued use of the chemical.

To date, the issue hasn't received a moment of public discussion or voted action in L.A. County's second largest city from LB's Mayor and City Council...with Council incumbent Gonzalez now seeking Sacramento office.

A political campaign committee self-titled the "Coalition to Restore California's Middle Class, Including Energy Companies Who Produce Gas, Oil, Jobs and Pay Taxes," has for more than a year amassed a multi-million dollar warchest from big oil companies and related firms. To see the extent of the money and from where it came, click here. To see to whom the committee gave sums from its warchest in 2017-2018, click here

To see how much the committee has spent (for an independent campaign it runs separate from Gonzalez's campaign) to support her election to Sacramento, click here.

Among multiple issues on which the next LB-S.E. L.A. County state Senator may vote is SB 246 that would create a CA oil severance tax, a proposal likely an anathema to big oil. On Feb. 27, LBREPORT.com submitted a question about SB 246 at the Beer and Politics candidate forum (their audio responses in LBREPORT.com (begins at 12:25) coverage here) and, when we later learned candidate Gonzalez had been on City-related business, we offered her an opportunity to respond after the event (response pending.)

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LBREPORT.com has previously reported on an approaching decision by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) regarding a locally impacting oil company/big union matter.

The Valero Wilmington refinery (Ultramar at 2402 E. Anaheim St./Wilmington) and the ToRC (former Exxon-Mobil) refinery (PBF Holding Co., 3700 W. 190th St.) are the only two refineries in CA that use Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF), a highly corrosive chemical that if accidentally released (in an industrial accident, equipment malfunction, earthquake or other event) might create mass casualties. Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) is the primary component of Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF). MHF as used at the two refineries consists of roughly 93%-94% HF with a modifier added.

In February 2015, an explosion at the then-Exxon Mobil (now ToRC) Torrance plant launched an 80,000 pound piece of metal that landed within a few feet of a container holding thousands of gallons of MHF. If that "near miss" had punctured that container, it might have caused a mass casualty event.

AQMD staff has indicated that Valero's Wilmington refinery can store up to 55,000 gallons of MHF; the Torrance (ToRC) refinery can store 25,000 gallons [Source: Feb. 1, 2019 AQMD agenda item #25, PPT slide 1] MHF is delivered to both refineries via tanker trucks traveling area freeways.

A 1986 Dept. of Energy experiment (at the Nevada test site) released 1,000 gallons of HF (MHF hadn't been invented yet) through a golf-ball sized hole. It nearly instantly formed a rapidly expanding HF cloud roughly eight feet high that hugged the ground. It didn't dissipate upward and traveled at breathing height with the prevailing wind, producing measured HF concentrations capable within 10 minutes of acute exposure of causing human deaths within roughly three miles with health damages (some permanent) for some distances beyond.

The slides below, presented by AQMD staff at a Feb. 1, 2019 AQMD public hearing, were previously reported in detail by LBREPORT.com.

AQMD staff PPT, agenda item 25, Feb. 1, 2019

AQMD staff PPT, agenda item 25, Feb. 1, 2019

AQMD staff PPT, agenda item 25, Feb. 1, 2019

AQMD staff PPT, agenda item 25, Feb. 1, 2019

AQMD staff PPT, agenda item 25, Feb. 1, 2019

AQMD staff PPT, agenda item 25, Feb. 1, 2019

(To view AQMD's accompanying Feb. 1 PPT presentation in full, click here.)

AQMD staff acknowledges that MHF hasn't been tested under the same conditions as HF. AQMD staff has indicated that it continues to be stymied in obtaining data regarding MHF for public release because its technology developer hasn't consented to publicly release such information (citing trade secret and confidential business information grounds.) However AQMD staff has indicated it believes HF and MHF both create similar concerns, calling the "ability of MHF to prevent formation of a vapor/aerosol cloud "highly uncertain"; noting the release of MHF will result in exposure to HF with same health effects; any "rainout" from MHF will be HF in liquid droplets; an HF vapor cloud will still form; and HF and MHF have the same hazards and require similar medical treatment [and would strain the capability of area hospitals to respond.] [Source: AQMD Feb. 1, 2019 board meeting, staff PPT slide 22]

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The Torrance "near miss" created an outcry among south bay residents and AQMD is now considering whether to adopt a formal rule requiring the two refineries to phase out their use of MHF. An alternative AQMD procedure would let the two refineries continue using MHF under the terms of a "Memorandum of Understanding" to be negotiated in which the refineries would agree to implement additional "mitigation" and safety measures.

A number of area elected officials have urged AQMD to phase-out/ban MHF. They include the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, Congressmembers Ted Lieu, Nanette Barragan and Maxine Waters, the office of CA Attorney General Xavier Becerra, Assemblyman Al Maratsuchi and the City Councils of Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Both refineries have indicated they're amenable to an MOU with added "mitigation" and safety measures that would allow their continued use of MHF. Supporting the companies' position are their unionized workers plus supportive regional unions, along with business groups and non-profits (the latter acknowledging the refineries' financial support for their work.) At a Sept. 22 Wilmington hearing, a Valero management representative cited multiple mitigation measures he said were already in place -- including "water curtains," battery backups, and other containment and mitigation measures -- and said the company is willing to undertake further mitigation measures under an MOU.

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AQMD staff has indicated it's possible to convert the two refineries to use less dangerous sulfuric acid although this would entail more truck trips. In 2017, a firm hired by the ToRC refinery estimated conversion would cost $600 million plus $300 million for post-processing equipment; AQMD staff has said it considers those cost estimates higher than necessary. The LB-adjacent Valero Wilmington refinery didn't offer an estimated conversion cost estimate but indicated it would face space constraints.

State Senate candidate Gonzalez has stated (in recent Facebook text) that "As a candidate for State Senate, I will not accept oil company contributions." That carefully worded statement is accurate because the large oil company sums didn't go to her state Senate campaign but to the "Coalition to restore California's Middle Class." That committee spent $1 million in an independent effort (separate from Gonzalez's campaign) to support her election and state law forbids the two political committees from coordinating or cooperating in their actions.

But public records also show that Councilwoman Gonzalez and some other Council incumbents and Mayor Garcia received sums from Valero. The contributions below are from "Valero, San Antonio, TX" unless otherwise indicated

Garcia for Mayor 2018