Torrance refinery

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Monday announced a settlement agreement with the Torrance Refining Co., which agreed to pay $125,000 in penalties for chemical safety and risk management violations. The refinery has corrected the violations and will spend $219,000 to enhance chemical safety features, the EPA announced. “It is critical for the refinery to maintain an up-to-date and accurate Risk…

A new probe into the Torrance refinery uncovered more serious safety issues.

Air quality regulators issued a violation notice Thursday to the operators of the Torrance Refining Co. refinery in response to what they called repeated and excessive flaring at the facility, including a flare-off that occurred during a massive power outage earlier this week.

The ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance was expected to resume operations Monday after an explosion last year caused extensive damage to the facility.

Some residents were concerned while others were suspicious as ExxonMobil delayed Saturday’s reopening of a Torrance refinery, which was damaged by an explosion last year, until Monday night, citing unexpected operational delays.

A divided South Coast Air Quality Management District hearing board has approved an agreement that will authorize a restart of the ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance that was damaged by an explosion, hampering Southland fuel production and contributing to gas price increases. The vote was 3 to 2.

A major boulevard in Torrance was closed after a “flaring event” at the ExxonMobil Refinery was producing a large amount of heat, police said.