NEEDLESS RISK: OIL REFINERIES AND HAZARD REDUCTION

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Environment California Research and Policy Center

2003

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 2

TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 5

CHEMICAL INSECURITY: HAZARDS LEAVE COMMUNITIES EXPOSED 7

HYDROFLUORIC ACID AND THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY 9

HYDROFLUORIC ACID: A THREAT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY 9

USE OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID IN THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY 9

CHEMICAL ACCIDENTS INVOLVING HYDROFLUORIC ACID 10

HYDROFLUORIC ACID: A TERRORIST TARGET 11

REPORT FINDINGS: COMMUNITIES AT RISK 13

Table 1. Quantity of Hydrofluoric Acid at Petroleum Refineries 13

Table 2. Number of Refineries Using Hydrofluoric Acid and Range of Population At

Risk 14

Table 3. Ten Facilities with Most People In Vulnerability Zone 14

Table 4. Number of People Endangered by Refineries Using Hydrofluoric Acid 14

HOW POLICYMAKERS AND INDUSTRY SHOULD PROTECT COMMUNITIES 15

A PREVENTIVE APPROACH 15

INHERENT SAFETY AT REFINERIES: ALTERNATIVES TO HYDROFLUORIC ACID

16

PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY: SOLID ACID CATALYST 16

PREVENT THE SEVERITY: SULFURIC ACID AS AN OPTION 16

REDUCE THE PROBABILITY: HYDROFLUORIC ACID MODIFIERS 17

Table 5. Comparison of Inherently Safer Technologies for Petroleum Refineries Using

Hydrofluoric Acid 19

REDUCING CHEMICAL HAZARDS THROUGH POLICY MEASURES 20

INADEQUACIES OF EXISTING POLICIES 20

Gap in Security Policy, Industry Cannot Be Left to Voluntary Measures 20

The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 20

The Clean Air Act and Risk Management Program 21

EPCRA and RMP Too Specific to Address Threat 21

THE RIGHT TO KNOW AS A SAFETY TOOL 21

PROTECTING COMMUNITIES THROUGH INHERENTLY SAFER TECHNOLOGY 22

METHODOLOGY 23

NOTES 24