US environmental regulators will not ban a dangerous chemical from oil refineries
What happened
US environmental regulators have denied a petition to ban hydrogen fluoride in oil refining. This means refineries can continue using the chemical, despite public health and environmental risks.
Why it matters
Environmental groups wanted to force oil refineries to stop using a chemical known to be highly toxic. Regulators have now officially said no. This decision means that the current risks to communities near refineries will continue, and the industry avoids a costly upgrade.
The signal
Watch for new legal challenges from environmental groups, or for states to pursue their own bans on hydrogen fluoride in refining.