Recent & Upcoming Activity
The South Coast AQMD Hearing Board held a public hearing on March 22, 2018 at South Coast AQMD on the status of compliance with conditions in the Stipulated Order for Abatement, Case No. 6060-5, issued by the Board against Torrance Refining Company LLC.
Prior Hearing Board Proceedings
On Wednesday, April 26, 2017 the South Coast AQMD Hearing board denied in part, and granted in part, a petition for variance (PDF) by Torrance Refining Company for a short variance to perform maintenance and repairs of equipment at the refinery. The Hearing Board approved on a 4-1 vote, with Senator Holden voting no. The Hearing Board:
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Granted variance to allow Torrance refinery to take the fourth stage separator cyclone out of service to replace cracked piping. Variance is for 10 non-consecutive days from May 1 through May 30.
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Granted variance to allow Torrance refinery to isolate Flare 65F-4 to perform maintenance. Variance is for 30 non-consecutive days from April 29 through July 1.
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Variance granted does not allow venting of hydrogen to the atmosphere.
Background
Hearing on Petition for Order for Abatement, Regarding Torrance Refinery
On Oct. 21, 2016, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (South Coast AQMD) filed a stipulated petition for an administrative order, known as an Order for Abatement, against the Torrance Refining Company, LLC (“TORC”). South Coast AQMD alleges that TORC’s flaring event at its Torrance refinery after an Oct. 11, 2016 power outage, and the resulting impact to the surrounding community, caused a public nuisance. South Coast AQMD seeks to require TORC to take certain measures to minimize the potential for future public nuisance events associated with power supply interruptions. These measures include evaluation of TORC’s critical safety and utility systems, improvements based on those evaluations, and evaluation of proposed upgrades to TORC’s electrical distribution network design.
On Feb. 15 and 16, 2017, the Hearing Board of the South Coast AQMD held public hearings on the proposed Stipulated Order for Abatement. The Stipulated Order for Abatement was approved by the Hearing Board on Feb. 16, 2017. On Sept. 28, 2017, the Hearing Board held a status hearing. The Board did not modify the stipulated order and set the next status hearing for March 22, 2018.
These legal proceedings are open to the public. Information on the Hearing Board is located at: www.aqmd.gov/nav/about/hearing-board.
For more information, please contact the Public Advisor at 909-396-2432 or by email at publicadvisor@aqmd.gov.