Congress·In Committee·H.R. 7384

House Committee Reviews Bill to Ban Hydrofluoric Acid at U.S. Refineries, Protecting 14M Americans

To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the use of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) at petroleum refineries, and for other purposes.

Also known as: Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026

about 2 months ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

This bill would ban the use of hydrofluoric acid at all petroleum refineries in the United States. New refineries would be prohibited from using the chemical immediately, while existing refineries would have five years to switch to safer alternatives.
The policy aims to protect the 14 million Americans who live within 25 miles of the 40 refineries that still use this chemical. A major leak could cause mass casualties or permanent injuries to workers and nearby residents.
While this chemical is used to make high-octane gasoline, the bill notes that safer, commercially proven technologies already exist and are used by the majority of refineries in the country.
Refineries that fail to stop using the chemical within the five-year window would face civil penalties of $37,500 for each violation.
The bill specifically prevents the government from granting waivers or exceptions to this safety rule, ensuring all refineries must eventually transition to different methods.

Energy EnvironmentHealthcare

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Who is affectedScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Broader Impacts

DomainScoreShort-termLong-termReversibilityConfidence

Score

Scores: -5 (harmful) to +5 (beneficial)Short-term: 0-2 yearsLong-term: 10-30 years

State Impacts

StateScoreImpactCertaintyScopeDurationSentiment

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions

Feb 4, 2026House

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Feb 4, 2026

Introduced in House

Related News

3 articles

Politico Pro·about 1 month ago

Bill targets oil refineries' use of 'exceptionally hazardous chemical'

Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) is sponsoring the 'Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act,' H.R. 7384. The bill would ban refineries from using hydrofluoric acid, giving existing plants five years to find safer alternatives to the hazardous chemical.

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Hoodline·about 1 month ago

Torrance On Edge As Leaders Go After 'Flesh-Eating' Refinery Chemical

Lawmakers have floated federal proposals that would require refineries to convert away from HF and MHF. Advocates argue the chemical is a ground-hugging, flesh-eating vapor that can travel for miles, while refinery operators insist they have layered safety barriers in place.

Politico Pro·10 months ago

EPA rejects request to ban toxic chemical at oil refineries

The EPA denied a petition from environmental groups seeking a ban on hydrofluoric acid at oil refineries under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The agency called the petition 'deficient,' despite concerns over the 2019 Philadelphia refinery explosion that released 2.5 tons of the chemical.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the use of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) at petroleum refineries, and for other purposes.

Bill NumberHR 7384

Congress119th Congress

ChamberHouse of Representatives

Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(7)

D: 7

Data Sources

Congress.gov

Official legislative information

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.