Beaumont Chemical Plant - Executive Summary |
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1.Accidental release prevention and emergency response policies The Beaumont Chemical Plant (the plant, stationary source) has a RMP policy to assure adherence to all applicable Federal and state rules and regulations. The Plant complies with the PSM Standard 29CFR1910.119 and thus it falls under Program 3 of RMP compliance. The plant's emergency response program is developed and outlined in standards, procedures and training. The Emergency Response Plan includes procedures for notificaction of the local fire authority and notification of any potentially affected neighbors. 2.The stationary source and regulated substances handled This chemical processing facility (plant, stationary source) produces the following: high purity isoprene, polyisoprene rubber, polybutadiene rubber, hydrocarbon resins, rubber antioxidants The plant consists of the following covered processes: 1.Wing Chemicals 2.Natsyn 3.Refrigeration 4.Isoprene 5.General Tank Farm 6.Budene 7.Utilities (Fresh Water Treatment) 8.Specialty Polymers Plant (Beaumont-East) These processes handle, above the threshold, the following highly hazardous chemicals listed by EPA RMP Rule: Boron trifluoride 13,860 lbs (5,000) Chlorine 4,000 lbs (2,500) Titanium tetrachloride 99,360 lbs (2,500) Isobutylene 49,970 lbs (10,000) Isoprene 3,432,000 lbs (10,000) Butadiene-1,3 125,496 lbs (10,000) Propane 28,347 lbs (10,000) Pentane (mixture of isomers)85,984 lbs (10,000) 3. The worst-case scenarios and alternative release scenarios. Worst case toxic releases are listed for each toxic chemical. Worst case flammable cases are listed for each covered process. Alternative release scenarios are listed for each toxic chemical and for several flammable releases. Flammable chemiclas are in the range of LPG and thus their releases may result in unco nfined vapor cloud explosion (UVCE), boiling liquid evaporated vapor explosion (BLEVE), jet fire or pool fire. The worst of toxic releases is chlorine release from 1 tom container. The worst of flammable releases is the expolsion of isoprene vapor from the storage tank. 4. Chemical accident prevention The facility complies with the PSM Standard. Hazard assessment (Process Hazard Analyses) have been conducted on the original processes, on expansions and improvement as well as the changes that trigger Management of Change. Original PHA have been revalidated on a 5 year cycle. The facility is designed according with the recognized good engineering practices and standards such as: ANSI, API, NFPA, ISA, ASTM and other. PSM audits are conducted on a 3 year schedule. 5. Five year accident history No process accidents happened in last 5 years that would affect any external public or environmental receptors. 6. Emergency Response Program The facility has the Emergency Response Team trained monthly in theory and practice of responding to emergencies. A system for communicating catastrophic releases (that affect outside of the facility) to the public, is under implementation. |