Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026

House Bill

H.R. 7384

119th Congress

Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 4, 2026

Primary Sponsor

Maxine Waters

D - CA

Cosponsors

0

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Summary

This bill aims to protect communities near oil refineries from catastrophic accidents involving hydrofluoric acid (HF), a highly toxic chemical used in gasoline production that can create deadly vapor clouds if released. The legislation would likely require refineries to either phase out HF use or implement enhanced safety measures to prevent mass casualty events that could endanger thousands of people living near these facilities.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Introduced2/4/2026

StatusReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

ChamberHouse

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026

This bill aims to protect communities near oil refineries from catastrophic accidents involving hydrofluoric acid (HF), a highly toxic chemical used in gasoline production that can create deadly vapor clouds if released. The legislation would likely require re

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill aims to protect communities near oil refineries from catastrophic accidents involving hydrofluoric acid (HF), a highly toxic chemical used in gasoline production that can create deadly vapor clouds if released. The legislation would likely require refineries to either phase out HF use or implement enhanced safety measures to prevent mass casualty events that could endanger thousands of people living near these facilities.

Bill Number: 7384
Introduced: 2/4/2026
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Policy Area: Environmental Protection

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026
Bill Number: 7384
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced: 2/4/2026
Summary: This bill aims to protect communities near oil refineries from catastrophic accidents involving hydrofluoric acid (HF), a highly toxic chemical used in gasoline production that can create deadly vapor clouds if released. The legislation would likely require refineries to either phase out HF use or i

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill aims to protect communities near oil refineries from catastrophic accidents involving hydrofluoric acid (HF), a highly toxic chemical used in gasoline production that can create deadly vapor clouds if released. The legislation would likely require refineries to either phase out HF use or implement enhanced safety measures to prevent mass casualty events that could endanger thousands of people living near these facilities.

Last updated: 3/1/2026

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Addresses the danger of hydrofluoric acid, a corrosive chemical used at petroleum refineries that can form toxic clouds traveling miles from the source if accidentally released
Aims to prevent potential disasters affecting the estimated 16 million Americans who live within vulnerable zones near refineries that use this chemical
Follows previous safety concerns raised by environmental groups and labor unions about HF's risks compared to safer alternatives like sulfuric acid
Would require refineries to adopt measures protecting workers and nearby residents from exposure to this extremely hazardous substance

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This bill would primarily affect communities living near the roughly 50 oil refineries across the U.S. that currently use hydrofluoric acid, particularly in California, Texas, and other refinery-heavy states. Refinery workers would benefit from enhanced workplace safety, while millions of nearby residents—often lower-income communities and communities of color—would face reduced risk of catastrophic chemical exposure. Petroleum companies may face costs associated with transitioning to safer alternatives or implementing additional safety infrastructure.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Environmental Protection

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

7384, 119th Congress (2026). "Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/119-hr-7384