Ag Co-op Services, Incorporated - Executive Summary

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
Ag Co-op Services, Incorporated 
Booneville, Missouri 
 
 
ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE POLICIES: 
 
Passive release prevention efforts include placement of storage tanks, and the odorants put into these products by the manufacturers.  All bulk storage tanks are located at the rear of the property, where they are unlikely to be struck by vehicles. 
 
Active prevention measures include inspection of all tanks annually, at the end of the season.  All required repairs are completed prior to further use.  Further inspections are preformed semi-annually by the Missouri Department of Agriculture. 
 
Emergency response policies are as described below. 
 
FACILITY DESCRIPTION AND REGULATED SUBSTANCES HANDLED: 
 
This facility is located on the southeast edge of Booneville, Missouri, and supplies fertilizers, propane and other materials to farmers.  The facility has two bulk anhydrous ammonia tanks with capacities of 26,000 gallons and 12,000 gallons.  There is also  
a Liquefied Petroleum Gas tank, with a capacity of 30,000 gallons.  The facility also stores dry fertilizer.   
 
WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIOS AND ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIOS: 
 
The worst-case release scenario for the ammonia operation envisions a catastrophic failure of the storage tank, possibly preceded by failure of the safety relief valve.  Regulatory and procedural controls limit the amount of anhydrous ammonia in the tank to approximately 85% to 88% of capacity.  Using RMP*COMP, the toxic endpoint was calculated to be at 4.0 miles.  This would include virtually the entire town of Booneville.  The same type of failure could occur with the LP tanks.  In the presence of an ignition source, this could lead to a vapor cloud explosion.  The endpoint for this event was calculated to be 0.4 miles. 
 
Alternative release scenarios for both products involve hose being broken or damaged, allowing product release.  The release of the LPG in the presence of an ignition source would also result  
in a vapor cloud explosion.  Both of these events could occur only in conjunction with failure of the excess flow valves.  The toxic endpoint for an anhydrous ammonia release is 0.5 miles, and for the propane release is 0.2 miles. 
 
GENERAL ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM AND CHEMICAL-SPECIFIC PREVENTION STEPS: 
 
The facility complies with both 29 CFR 1910.111 (Anhydrous Ammonia) and NFPA 58 (Propane). 
 
FIVE-YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY: 
 
There have no accidents involving releases of anhydrous ammonia or LP gas in the last five years. 
 
EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM: 
 
This facility is located just outside the city limits of Booneville, Missouri.  Employees will notify the fire department in the event of a major release.  The location Manager and other designated employees are authorized to take appropriate actions to stop small releases by shutting off valves, etc.  Other employees will notify the fire department, and evacuate the area as necessary.  There is a written emergency response plan 
in place that is for the use of, and applies only to, company employees.  This plan includes evacuation procedures, who is authorized to take emergency actions to control a release, notification and alarm procedures, and other necessary information. 
 
PLANNED CHANGES TO IMPROVE SAFETY: 
 
There are currently no changes to the safety/release prevention programs planned.
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