City of TorranceCandidate for City Council

Above all, Safety, at the ExxonMobil Refinery

By Milton Herring

Milton Herring is a member of the ExxonMobil Community Advisory Panel

I strongly recommend contracting with a skilled expert on refinery safety to act as an Independent Safety Monitor at the ExxonMobil refinery. That person should report directly to the community. Perhaps, some of the $5 million settlement to the AQMD could be used to cover the expense and that person would only be responsible to the general public.

On February 18, 2015, a blast tore apart a portion of the refinery and raised serious questions about overdue improvements to some of the equipment. Investigations that ensued led to even more safety concerns.

Cal/OSHA has issued 19 health and safety violations against ExxonMobil, contending it deliberately failed to fix a piece of equipment that led to the explosion. (Torrance Daily Breeze).

“It could have been much more catastrophic,” U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chairwoman Vanessa Sutherland to CBS News. “If I were in the community, I absolutely would be concerned.”

On April 2, 2016, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) held a hearing at Torrance City Hall. After a lengthy meeting, the board voted 3-2 to allow for the Torrance Refinery to begin their start-up procedures as called for in the preliminary agreement with PBF Energy.

The community is rightly concerned and expressed doubts about the city and refinery’s perceived lack of openness. Because of this, an Independent Safety Monitor is a reasonable response.

ExxonMobil is an important employer, and Torrance residents has benefited from tax revenues and community involvement over the years. However, the refinery must find ways to operate in a densely populated community. Above all, keep us safe.

The Independent Safety Monitor should be in place for the transition to PBF Energy and perhaps 12 to 18 months afterwards.

Yes, there is a cost, but what is the price tag for Public Safety?

ON HISTORICAL PRESERVATION

By Milton Herring

Historical preservation in the Torrance Historical District is an emotional issue with many residents. The City has been struggling with the issue for years.  On the one side there is those who feel it is an infringement on their property rights and their ability to do as they please with their own homes.

On the other side there is passionate arguments for preserving what little heritage is left from the original Torrance tracts.

I believe that both interests can be accommodated.

At a recent Council meeting where a proposed ordinance was being discussed, one Council Member asked the question “How do we maintain the quality and character of our neighborhoods. That is accomplished with development standards”.

The Council voted to continue working on an Urgency Ordinance. Several changes were recommended and this issue will be coming back to Council The Council chose that for one year the Planning Commission will hear requests for alterations and demolitions of contributing and altered contributing residential structures, this affects about half of the homes in the area

At this time we are in a wait and see period as this issue, and Historical Preservation in general, are under review. I support the hiring of a Historical Preservation expert to assist in the ongoing process but completely understand that we need to allow for everyone’s property rights to be honored…….we do it in the Hillside area so there is no reason why we can’t do it here. The most important thing is that everyone in Downtown is involved in the process and that we take the time to get it right.

 The quality of life, cumminity culture and the living standards of Torrance are paramount.