Hydrofluoric Acid Release from June 21st Explosion put PES Workers and Surrounding Community in Danger

October 16, 2019 Philadelphia, PA – The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board today released the results of the investigation requested by Clean Air Council into the explosion and fire at the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery on June 21, 2019. The report concluded that a degraded old pipe had thinned to the point of failure, triggering the release of hundreds of thousands of pounds of explosive substances. The investigation also confirmed the release included 5,200 pounds of hydrofluoric acid (HF), a deadly chemical that has been a central focus of community concern due to its devastating effects on humans.  It appears likely that the force of the explosion propelled the HF high into the air, sparing Philadelphia from a toxic acid vapor cloud. Had the vapor cloud hugged the ground, the 5,200 pounds of chemical could have killed tens of thousands of people in Philadelphia.  

Joseph Otis Minott, Esq., Executive Director and Chief Counsel of Clean Air Council, issued the following statement:

This investigation confirmed that Philadelphia narrowly escaped widespread catastrophe. Hydrofluoric acid poses a lethal threat to this city’s residents and workers. Clean Air Council calls on the City of Philadelphia to protect the public and ban the use and storage of this highly dangerous chemical.  

Contact: Alex Bomstein, 215-567-4004 x118, abomstein@cleanair.org