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

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7384 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7384 To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the use of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) at petroleum refineries, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 4, 2026 Ms. Waters (for herself, Mr. Lieu, Ms. Barragan, Mr. Garcia of California, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Cohen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the use of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) at petroleum refineries, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Preventing Mass Casualties from Release of Hydrofluoric Acid at Refineries Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) Hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) is an exceptionally hazardous chemical, which is used in large quantities in approximately 40 petroleum refineries in the United States to refine petroleum in order to produce high octane gasoline. (2) Petroleum refineries are vulnerable to accidents, natural disasters, and intentional subversive acts, which could result in the release of a large quantity of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid). (3) The release of a sufficient quantity of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) from a petroleum refinery has in the past, and could in the future, caused immediate injuries or deaths to refinery workers who are exposed. (4) The release of a sufficient quantity of hydrogen fluoride (hydrofluoric acid) from a petroleum refinery could cause a mass casualty event in the surrounding