Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm - Executive Summary

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             Risk Management Plan (RMP) - Propane 
                      Executive Summary 
       Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm 
                     Prinsburg, Minnesota 
 
 
 
 1. Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies 
We at Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm in Prinsburg, MN are strongly committed 
to employee, public, and environmental safety.  This commitment is an inherent part of our 
comprehensive accidental release prevention program that covers areas such as design, installation, 
operating procedures, maintenance, and employee training associated with the processes at our 
facility.  It is our policy to implement appropriate controls to prevent possible releases of regulated 
substances.  If such a release does occur, our trained emergency response personnel are at hand to 
control and mitigate the effects of the release.  We also c 
oordinate our response efforts with the 
Prinsburg Fire Department, which provides additional emergency response expertise. 
 
 2. Stationary Source and Regulated Substances Handled 
Our facility's primary activities include turkey production.  We have propane  stored in a 12,000- 
gallon tank located at our brooding facility in Prinsburg (Figure 1).  The maximum amount stored 
is 10,800 gallons (45,608.4 pounds) at the maximum fill capacity of 90 %. 
 
 3. Worst Case Release and Alternative Release Scenarios 
We utilized RMP PRO for the worst case and alternate case scenarios of the required offsite 
consequence analysis for our facility.  The following details these scenarios. 
 
The worst case release scenario involves a catastrophic release of the entire contents of the propane 
storage tank (45.608.4 lbs.) in gaseous form over a 10-minute period.  At Class F atmospheric 
stability and 1.5 m/s wind speed, the maximum distance to an endpoint of 1 psi overpressure is 0.29 
miles (Figure 2).  This 
amount of overpressure can cause partial demolition of houses and can result 
in serious injury to people within this distance. 
 
The alternative release scenario involves a 30-minute release of propane from a product line that 
contacts an ignition source and detonates, resulting in a vapor cloud explosion.  Under neutral 
weather conditions, the maximum distance to an endpoint of 1 psi overpressure is 0.13 miles(Figure 
3). 
 
    4. General Accidental Release Prevention Program 
Our facility has taken all the necessary steps to comply with the EPA's accidental release prevention 
requirements as set forth in 40 CFR part 68.  The following sections briefly describe the elements 
of the release prevention program that is in place at our stationary source. 
 
 
Process Safety Information 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm maintains a detailed record of safety 
information that describes the chemical hazards, operating parameters, and equipment designs 
associated with all processes (A 
ppendix E). 
 
Process Hazard Analysis 
Our facility conducts comprehensive studies to ensure that hazards associated with our processes are 
identified and controlled effectively.  Any findings from the hazard analysis are addressed in a 
timely manner. 
 
Operating Procedures 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm maintains written operating procedures to 
ensure that activities within our covered processes are conducted safely.  These procedures address 
various modes of operation; the information is regularly reviewed and is readily accessible to 
operators involved in the processes (Appendix B). 
 
Training 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm has a comprehensive training program in place 
to ensure that employees who are operating processes are competent in the operating procedures 
associated with these processes (Appendix C). 
 
Mechanical Integrity 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm conducts documented maintenance checks on 
process equipment to ensure prope 
r operation.  Maintenance checks are performed by qualified 
personnel with previous training in maintenance practices.  Examples of process equipment that 
would receive maintenance checks include:  pressure vessels, storage tanks, piping systems, relief 
and vent systems, emergency shutdown systems, controls, and pumps.  Any equipment deficiencies 
identified by the maintenance checks are corrected in a safe and timely manner (Appendix D). 
 
Management of Change 
Written procedures are in place at Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm to manage 
changes in process chemicals, technology, equipment, and procedures.  Process operators, 
maintenance personnel or other employees whose job tasks are affected by a modification in process 
conditions are promptly notified of the modification and offered training to deal with it. 
 
Pre-startup Reviews 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm routinely conducts pre-startup safety reviews 
related to new processes and modifications in e 
stablished processes.  These reviews are conducted 
to confirm that construction, equipment, and operating and maintenance procedures are suitable for 
safe startup prior to placing equipment into operation. 
 
Compliance Audits 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm conducts compliance audits on a regular basis 
to determine whether the provisions of the plan, as set out under 40 CFR part 68, are being 
implemented.  Any non-compliance issue discovered during the audit is promptly corrected. 
 
Employee Participation 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm truly believes that process safety management 
and accident prevention is a team effort.  Company employees are strongly encouraged to express 
their views concerning accident prevention issues and to recommend improvements.  In addition, 
our employees have access to all information created as part of the facility's implementation of the 
RMP particularly information resulting from process hazard analyses. 
 
 5. Five-year Ac 
cident History 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm has had an excellent record of preventing 
accidental releases over the last 5 years.  Due to our stringent release prevention policies, no 
accidental release has occurred during this period. 
 
 6. Emergency Response Plan 
Prinsburg Farmers Coop - Prinsburg Brooding Farm maintains a written emergency response plan 
to deal with accidental releases of hazardous materials.  The plan addresses all aspects of emergency 
response including first aid and medical treatment, evacuations, and notification of local emergency 
response agencies and the public (Appendix A).
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