In February 2015, there was a massive explosion at the century-old ExxonMobil gas refinery in Torrance, Ca. Measuring 1.7 on the Richter scale, it caused small tremors and showered surrounding homes with ash and industrial debris.

However, it could have been much worse. Investigators found that a massive chunk of debris came within a few feet of puncturing a 50,000 pound tank of lethal modified hydroflouric acid(MHF). That catastrophic release would have unleashed a cloud of deadly, flesh-eating gas into the city of Torrance and surrounding neighborhoods, injuring or killing thousands in the Southern California area.

Two years later, the aging refinery is one of the last two holdouts in California still using MHF. Yet, despite the danger to residents, they refuse to get rid of the deadly fuel.  

It's time for the people's representatives to get involved. Tell Governor Brown and California regulators to shut down the refinery and ban the use of MHF.

Since the 2015 explosion, there have been a string of accidents, safety violations - and even one MHF leak, quickly covered up. A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the refinery, decrying the "corporate choice to place profits over public safety." Local residents and community activists are pressing the AQMD (a California air quality watchdog) to ban MHF as soon as possible.

Thousands of Californians were three feet away from disaster in 2015. Next time, they may not be so lucky.

In the past year, thousands of SumOfUs members have helped communities fight Big Oil. We've challenged ExxonMobil in Arkansas and faced down Shell in Nova Scotia. Now it's time to deploy people power once again. Let's stand with the people of Torrance and Southern California as they fight to prevent a catastrophe.

Sign the petition to tell Governor Brown and California regulators: Ban the use of MHF and shut down the Torrance refinery.

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