PBF Energy, Inc., Moves Back from Danger

by Melinda Pillsbury-Foster, EcoAlert

It is important to know exactly what you are dealing with when facing off with a petroleum company. While you are not yet familiar with Torrance Refining Company you should understand pains were taken to limit their liabilities. They did not use their full name, which is, “TORRANCE REFINING COMPANY LLC. You can read about what 'limited liability' more fully HERE.

But this is probably the most important part of the definition for you to contemplate.

“Like a corporation, a limited liability company or "LLC," is a separate and distinct legal entity. This means that an LLC can get a tax identification number, open a bank account and do business, all under its own name.

How Does an LLC Protect You?
One of the primary advantages of an LLC is that its owners, called members, have "limited liability," meaning that, under most circumstances, they are not personally liable for the debts and liabilities of the LLC.”

Yes sir, they are not liable for the damages – and PBF Energy, Inc., likely owns your new neighbor entirely as a subsidiary.

From: Secretary of State, Business California, linking is not possible but you can search it yourself. I tried 'corporation,' first. No result. Ah Ha! I thought. They are an LLC.

It is likely the only asset this separate entity, Torrance Refining Company, LLC owns is the refinery. 

The article, "PBF Energy assumes ownership of Torrance refinery" published on July 5th, has been widely read.  It  begins, "PBF Energy on Friday assumed ownership of the former ExxonMobil refinery in Torrance, California. Via the Daily Breeze, company and local officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony at the newly christened Torrance Refining Co.

The refinery experienced a number of setbacks in the wake of a February 2015 explosion that damaged key pollution control equipment. An acid leak in September delayed ramp up activity and last month three workers suffered minor injuries when a crane tipped over."

“It may not happen today or tomorrow, but one day a town or a city is going to get wiped out.”

-Larry Mann, rail safety expert and principal author of the Federal Railroad Safety Act.

 See how cleanly and cleverly PBF Energy, Inc., and its owners and stockholders have protected themselves in case (gasp) something untoward takes place? This could be an explosion which takes out homes around the area and it could be a toxic cloud of death that spreads out with prevailing winds, or maybe you will be lucky and nothing will happen. But PBF is not being straight with you. They have moved back from the facility legally, silently, and in steps invisible to the public.  

EcoAlert warned you, and this is the last time we will do so.

Entity Name:	TORRANCE REFINING COMPANY LLC
Entity Number:	201529910459
Date Filed:	10/15/2015
Status:	ACTIVE
Jurisdiction:	DELAWARE
Entity Address:	1 SYLVAN WAY 2ND FL
Entity City, State, Zip:	PARSIPPANY NJ 07054
Agent for Service of Process:	C T CORPORATION SYSTEM (C0168406)
Agent Address:	*
Agent City, State, Zip:	*

There is no mention of Torrance Refining Company through the Connecticut Secretary of State's Office. It is registered from Delaware, as shown below:

THIS IS NOT A STATEMENT OF GOOD STANDING
File Number:	5840673	Incorporation Date / Formation Date:	10/2/2015 (mm/dd/yyyy)
Entity Name:	TORRANCE REFINING COMPANY LLC
Entity Kind:	Limited Liability Company	Entity Type:	General
Residency:	Domestic	State:	DELAWARE
REGISTERED AGENT INFORMATION
Name:	THE CORPORATION TRUST COMPANY
Address:	CORPORATION TRUST CENTER 1209 ORANGE ST
City:	WILMINGTON	County:	New Castle
State:	DE	Postal Code:	19801
Phone:	302-658-7581