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Fueling Fears

The Sunoco refinery in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Fourth fire this year strikes refinery that relies on toxic acid

By Chris Hamby

In another sign of ongoing risks facing the refining industry and people who live nearby, a fire broke out Wednesday morning at Sunoco Inc.’s Philadelphia oil refinery. It was at least the fourth blaze this year at the plant, which uses a highly toxic acid that threatens more than 1.3 million people in the Philadelphia area.

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082511 Philly refinery fire

Chris Hamby@ChrisDHamby
Fire today at Sunoco #oil refinery in Philly - at least its 4th this yr. Plant uses toxic acid that places 1.3M at risk: http://ow.ly/6bPBR
6:41 pm, August 24, 2011
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Fueling Fears

Tesoro Corp. refinery in Anacortes, Wash. The gas flare is part of normal plant operations. Ted S. Warren / The Associated Press

IMPACT: Reform boosts workplace safety even while companies appeal inspectors' conclusions

By Jim Morris and Emma Schwartz

Washington is poised to become only the second state to require employers to correct workplace hazards even while challenging alleged safety violations identified by regulators, a move advocates for workers say is badly needed in the rest of the country.

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Fueling Fears

A massive fire roared through a mostly residential neighborhood in San Bruno, Calif. in September 2010, triggered by a ruptured line that had sprung a gas leak in a spot nearby only a few years before. Paul Sakuma / The Associated Press

Gas pipeline operators shape and pay for regulators' safety studies

By Eric Nalder

Pipeline operators and their trade organizations shaped, managed and provided sizable funding for numerous safety studies conducted by the federal agency that regulates the industry.

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Fueling Fears

Suzie Canales, advocate for residents in Corpus Christi's Hillcrest neighborhood, wonders how criminal violations of the Clean Air Act can be a victimless crime. Behind her is a refinery operated by Citgo, convicted in 2007 in connection with pollution that afflicted the community. Citgo still hasn't been sentenced.  Jim Morris / iWatch News

Four years after oil company's criminal conviction for pollution, still no sentencing

By Jim Morris

For a decade, a Citgo refinery's toxic emissions into the air swept into a mostly poor, minority neighborhood in Texas, resulting in a 2007 conviction for criminal violations of the Clean Air Act. Now, four years later, the company still hasn't been sentenced - a delay legal scholars say is unusual.

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Fueling Fears

Do you live near an oil refinery? Tell us your experience

An ongoing series by iWatch News reporters, Fueling Fears, is investigating hidden hazards at oil refineries across the U.S. Our first story exposed how the use of a toxic chemical — hydrofluoric acid — at 50 refineries puts at least 16 million Americans in the path of the acid in the event of an accidental release. To see if your community might be at risk, check out our interactive map.

Another piece revealed how regulatory flaws allow the refining industry to delay safety fixes, putting workers in harm's way.

Reporters Jim Morris and Chris Hamby are interested in hearing more about how oil refineries affect workers and surrounding communities. If you live near or work in a refinery, or know someone who does, please take a minute to tell us your experience.

Interested in learning more about the Public Insight Network? Read about how you can assist award-winning investigative journalists by sharing your expertise. 

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Fueling Fears

The Sunoco refinery in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/Associated Press

IMPACT: In Philadelphia, plea for safer alternative at refinery

By Jim Morris

Refinery manager finds little sympathy at hearing on use of an extremely toxic, cloud-forming acid that poses a risk to 16 million Americans, as reported by iWatch News and ABC News. Pleads state lawmaker: "Look to safer alternatives."

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Fueling Fears

The Sunoco refinery in Philadelphia. Matt Rourke/Associated Press

IMPACT: Refinery's use of toxic chemical spurs hearing

By Jim Morris

A Pennsylvania lawmaker will convene a hearing Thursday on risks posed by toxic releases from oil refineries, notably hydrofluoric acid, a deadly compound featured in a joint investigation by the Center for Public Integrity and ABC News in February.

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Fueling Fears

This piece of equipment, known as a heat exchanger, blew apart on April 2, 2010, at Tesoro Corp.’s oil refinery in Anacortes, Wash., killing seven workers.   U.S. Chemical Safety Board

One year after tragedy, agency urges oil refineries to invest in safety

By Chris Hamby

Government calls on industry to take more aggressive action on refinery safety.

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Fueling Fears

New oil refinery in South Dakota says it will use alternative to toxic acid

By Chris Hamby

The company planning to build the nation’s first new major oil refinery in 35 years will use a safer technology as a substitute for a highly toxic acid that can travel great distances and threaten nearby communities.

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Writers and editors

Jim Morris

Senior Reporter The Center for Public Integrity
jmorris@publicintegrity.org

Jim Morris has been a journalist since 1978, specializing in coverage of the environment and public health.... More about Jim Morris

Chris Hamby

Staff Writer The Center for Public Integrity
chamby@publicintegrity.org

Chris Hamby’s reporting on the environment and workplace safety has been recognized with the James Aronson Award for Social Justice Journ... More about Chris Hamby