Northern Cooperative Services - Executive Summary

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            Risk Management Plan (RMP) - Combined 
                      Executive Summary 
                Northern Cooperative Services 
                      Wadena, Minnesota 
 
 
 1. Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies 
We at Northern Cooperative Services in Wadena 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 coordinate our response efforts with the Wadena Fire Department, which 

rovides additional emergency response expertise. 
 
 2. Stationary Source and Regulated Substances Handled 
Our facility's primary activities include support services for crop production.  We have anhydrous 
ammonia stored in a 30,000-gallon tank  at our facility in Wadena (Figure 1, ammonia).  The 
maximum amount stored is 25,500 gallons ( 131,223 pounds) at the maximum fill capacity of  85%. 
 
We also have propane stored in a 30,000-gallon tank located at our facility in Wadena (Figure 1, 
propane).  The maximum amount stored is 25,500 gallons (107,686.5 pounds) at the maximum fill 
capacity of 85%. 
 
 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 ammonia and propane facility.  The following details these scenarios. 
 
           3.1     Ammonia 
 
The worst case release scenario involves a catastrophic release of the entire contents of the  
anhydrous ammonia stora 
ge tank ( 131,223 pounds) in gaseous form over a 10-minute period.  At 
Class F atmospheric stability, 1.5 m/s wind speed, and a urban topography, the maximum distance 
to a toxic endpoint of 0.14 mg/L is 5.2 miles (Figure 2).  The estimated population within a 5.2 -mile 
radius of this facility is 6,000. 
 
The alternative release scenario involves a release from an anhydrous ammonia product line.  The 
scenario involves the release of 7616.42  pounds of ammonia in a gaseous form over a period of 30 
minutes.  Under neutral weather conditions, the maximum distance to the toxic endpoint of 0.14 
mg/L of ammonia is 0.31 mile (Figure 3).  The estimated population within a 0.31-mile radius of the 
facility is 50. 
 
           3.2     Propane 
 
The worst case release scenario involves a catastrophic release of the entire contents of the   propane 
storage tank (107,686.5 pounds) 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  0.38 
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 estimated population within a 0.38 -mile radius 
of this facility is 50. 
 
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 0.12  mile (Figure 
3).  The estimated population within a 0.12 -mile radius of this facility is  30. 
 
 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 Inform 
ation 
Northern Coop Services maintains a detailed record of safety information that describes the chemical 
hazards, operating parameters, and equipment designs associated with all processes. 
 
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 
Northern Coop Services 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. 
 
Training 
Northern Coop Services  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. 
 
Mechanical Integrity 
Northern Coop Services 
conducts documented maintenance checks on process equipment to ensure 
proper operation.  Maintenance checks are conducted 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. 
 
Management of Change 
Written procedures are in place at Northern Coop Services 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 
Northern Coop Services routinely conducts pre-startup safety reviews related to new processes and 
modific 
ations in established 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 
Northern Coop Services conducts compliance audits on a regular basis to determine whether the 
plan's provisions, set out under the 40 CFR part 68, are being implemented.  Any non-compliance 
issue discovered during the audit is promptly corrected. 
 
Employee Participation 
Northern Coop Services 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 Accident History 
Northern Coop Services has ha 
d 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 
Northern Coop Services 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.
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