Overview
Torrance Refining Company LLC is an operational refinery in Torrance, California, processing crude oil into fuels and petrochemicals. It is one of the largest refineries on the U.S. West Coast.
Torrance Refining Company LLC is a major petroleum refinery located at 3700 W 190th St, Torrance, California, in Los Angeles County. The facility operates under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resources Board (CARB), adhering to the Clean Air Act (CAA) Refinery MACT standards and other federal and state regulations. As a large-scale refinery, it plays a critical role in supplying gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum products to the Southern California market. The refinery's technical operations include fluid catalytic cracking, alkylation, and hydrotreating units, typical of a complex refinery with a high Nelson complexity index. It processes crude oil delivered via pipeline and marine terminals, with a capacity of approximately 150,000 barrels per day. The facility is subject to stringent emissions controls under the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) rules, including requirements for vapor recovery, sulfur recovery, and leak detection and repair programs. Located in a densely populated urban area near the Port of Los Angeles, the refinery operates within a region with significant air quality challenges. Its environmental significance includes contributions to local greenhouse gas emissions and criteria pollutants, though it has implemented modern pollution control technologies. The facility's economic importance is substantial, providing jobs and energy security for the region, while its coastal siting necessitates robust spill prevention and response measures under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
Environmental context
The refinery is situated in the South Coast Air Basin, a region with some of the strictest air quality regulations in the United States due to persistent ozone and particulate matter issues. Its coastal location near the Port of Los Angeles increases spill risk to marine environments, requiring compliance with the California Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act. The facility's refining complexity and product mix (including gasoline and jet fuel) contribute to its emissions profile, with ongoing regulatory pressure to reduce greenhouse gases under California's cap-and-trade program.
Frequently asked questions
Torrance Refining Company LLC is located at 3700 W 190th St, Torrance, California, in Los Angeles County, United States.
The refinery produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, and other petroleum products, serving the Southern California market.
The Torrance refinery has a processing capacity of approximately 150,000 barrels per day, making it one of the largest refineries on the U.S. West Coast.
The refinery operates under the U.S. EPA's Clean Air Act Refinery MACT standards, California's stringent air quality rules (CARB/SCAQMD), and the Oil Pollution Act for spill prevention.
As a large industrial source in the South Coast Air Basin, the refinery emits criteria pollutants and greenhouse gases, but it is subject to strict emissions limits and has implemented advanced pollution control technologies.
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