Only one substance will do the job: hydrofluoric acid ... and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is classified as a persistent organic pollutant or “forever chemical” with toxic properties.

The biggest concern is that the refinery continues to use the highly toxic chemical hydrofluoric acid to process fuel, a practice that Schwartz and other activists want to see stopped.

The chemical is modified hydrofluoric acid and it's been used for decades at Torrance Refinery and Valero's Wilmington Refinery. The deadly acid known as MHF is now under scrutiny by Southern ...