Bakersfield Citizens Against Hydrofluoric Acid


	What to do right now!
		Find Your Supervisor Call your county supervisor today at (661) 868-3601 Jon McQuiston District 1 Don Maben District 2 Mike Maggard District 3 Ray Watson District 4 Michael J. Rubio District 5 Join the Coalition

The Big West Project

Big West Oil is proposing a $600 million expansion of its refinery, located on 625 acres at the intersection of the Rosedale Highway and Coffee Road. This project, ironically referred to as the “Clean Fuels Project,” is designed to increase the refinery’s production of higher octane gasoline and diesel fuels.

The Big West project would use hydrofluoric acid despite the fact that most refineries in the country are moving away from using this chemical due to the danger to refinery workers and residents in the nearby areas.

Hydrofluoric acid is a highly toxic chemical that has been labeled as one of the most corrosive and deadly acids in existence. Big West has proposed to store tens of thousands of pounds of free hydrofluoric acid at their facility.

An environmental document submitted to the Kern County Planning Department for the expansion in February 2007 was withdrawn due to the County’s concern over Big West’s plans to use hydrofluoric acid. The company is now applying to use modified Hydrofluoric Acid, a slightly safer but still deadly version of the chemical that carries most of the same risks as the unmodified version.

FACTS
Bakersfield Could Become a Terrorist Target
Department of Homeland Security identified hydrofluoric acid as a target for terrorism

Most Refineries in the US use Safer Chemicals
Two-thirds of US refineries have switched to safer alternatives

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NEWS
Hydrofluoric Acid In the News
Deadly accidents from the use of Hydrofluoric Acid have occurred around the country

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