We're always on high alert for proposed policies and projects (even in their most preliminary stages) that threaten the business community and our BizFed members – even in the lead-up to a high stakes Super Bowl weekend. As part of a last-minute board agenda addition, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors inserted Item 41-F right before the weekend to consider asking the state to intervene in the operations of two refineries that power essential services and jobs.
The Torrance Refinery and the Valero Refinery in Wilmington use Modified Hydrofluoric Acid (MHF). The alkylation process is needed to meet the states required gasoline standard. These refineries produce cleaner-burning gasoline that powers the goods movement industry, people and our economy.
County supervisors are asking the state to intervene and require Torrance Refinery and Valero Refinery to abandon MHF and force unproven technology to process their fuel, which would cost hundreds of millions of dollars without any guarantee of a safe and effective transition. The refineries have spent millions of dollars on additional safety upgrades, when they were already safe!
Further, the Board of Supervisors is asking the county to work with the refineries on risk assessment and reporting requirements – which they already have! The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) worked with the refineries for 3 years and came to an agreement in September 2019 to enhance safety measures which requires the refineries to submit quarterly updates on installation progress.
Valero Wilmington Refinery is on track to complete all SCAQMD action items by March 31st, 2022. Torrance Refinery has already completed all SCAQMD action items.
The motion the county is considering is not only unnecessary, it undermines the SCAQMD process the refineries already have in place. We don't need more duplicative policies in the South Coast Basin. It drains resources, slows economic growth, kills good-paying jobs, and not necessary.
1. Call in to the LA County Supervisors Board Meeting
TODAY, February 15th at 9:30 a.m.
Public comment will be heard at the BEGINNING of this meeting
Call-in number: (877) 226-8163
Participant Code: 1336503
Starting at 9:00 a.m.
Press 1 then 0 to address the Board
2. Quickly and easily send a letter with one click to let the Board of Supervisors know your concerns.
3. Click "oppose" on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors agenda for the official record!
Fill out your name, organization, click on item 41-F, then click "oppose."
Thank you for speaking up to keep goods and people moving, and LA working. If you have any questions, please contact sarah.wiltong@bizfed.org.
In your corner,
Tracy Hernandez
BizFed Founding CEO
