Community Corner

Lieu Asks for Investigation Into Tank Farm Near RPV

The Rancho LPG tank farm in San Pedro stores more than 25 million gallons of hazardous material, according to state Sen. Ted Lieu.

State Sen. Ted Lieu has asked the Office of the State Fire Marshal to conduct an investigation and risk analysis of a liquid bulk storage facility owned and operated by Rancho LPG Holdings LLC in San Pedro.

According to a letter from Lieu to Chief Tonya Hoover, the facility stores more than 25 million gallons of hazardous material, including butane, in what are described as "two large 40-year-old tanks" and propane in other tanks. 

In his letter, Lieu, who represents the Palos Verdes Peninsula as part of his senate district, cites the explosions at the Blue Rhino propane plant in Tavares, Florida on July 29 and states that after the Rancho LPG facility was permitted, a Los Angeles Times article stated that an adequate safety and risk analysis was not conducted.

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Lieu asks for an investigation into whether "massive butane and propane tanks" should be located near homes, businesses and schools and for the worst case scenario if the tanks at Rancho LPG explode. He also wants an assessment of the facility's vulnerability to earthquakes and terrorist attacks, and he asks what would happen if the tanks started leaking. Other questions concern insurance, safety recommendations and possible relocation.

According to Rancho LPG's website, the facility includes two 12.5 million gallon refrigerated tanks constructed in 1973/1974 by a "leading refrigerated tank manufacturer which is still in business today" as well as five 60,000 gallon horizontal storage tanks. 

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The technology used to construct storage tanks has changed very little from when the tanks are constructed, and it has "maintained robust mechanical integrity programs to ensure these standards are maintained," according to the company.

—City News Service.


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