This bill bans the use of hydrofluoric acid (a highly toxic chemical) at petroleum refineries across the United States. Right now, about 40 refineries use this dangerous chemical to produce high-octane gasoline, but safer alternatives already exist and are used by most refineries in the country. The bill recognizes that hydrofluoric acid poses an extreme risk—if released in an accident, natural disaster, or attack, it could kill or permanently injure thousands of people living within a 25-mile radius of a refinery. More than 14 million Americans currently live in communities near refineries using this chemical, and many of these neighborhoods already face other environmental health burdens. The law takes effect immediately for any new refineries, meaning they cannot use hydrofluoric acid from the moment they start operating. For the roughly 40 existing refineries currently using it, they have 5 years to switch to a safer alternative technology. The EPA will enforce this ban, and companies that violate it face steep penalties of $37,500 per violation. The EPA cannot grant exceptions or waivers to this prohibition, meaning every refinery must comply.