Plant McIntosh - Executive Summary |
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Savannah Electric serves approximately 125,000 customers in an ecologically diverse area rich in natural resources - from beaches, low-country rivers and marshes to farmlands and forests. Since the company was founded in 1882, we have provided clean, safe electric power, earning a reputation for sensitive environmental stewardship in the communities we serve. Our success comes from a set of strategic priorities that we use to develop and implement plans that ensure Savannah Electric's continued role as a recognized community leader in protecting and preserving the environment. Savannah Electric's impressive record of compliance with air and water quality regulation exemplifies our dedication to the environment. We devote considerable time and resources to make sure that we meet, and in most cases exceed, the requirements of federal clean air laws and other regulations. Natural gas (methane) at Plant McIntosh is used as a primary fuel for the 8 combustion turbines on site. The natu ral gas is delivered via a nine (9) mile 24 inch diameter underground pipeline. At the plant site the pipeline comes above ground at the distribution (pressure reduction) yard (line pressure is reduced from 1200 to 325 psi). There are 48 employees located at the Plant site with the majority of the employees working during the day shift. During the evening hours there are 3 employees normally on site. There have been no accidental releases of Natural gas (methane) at Savannah Electric's Plant McIntosh. METHANE - CAS # 74-82-8 Atlanta Gas and Light is under contract to Savannah Electric to furnish all Operations and Maintenace for the gas system including the pressure reduction yard. An emergency condition exists when extraordinary procedures, equipment, manpower and supplies must be employed to protect the public from existing or potential hazards due to : 1. Gas detected inside or near a building. 2. Facility failures. 3. Fire or explosion at or near a facility. 4. Natural disas ter. 5. Civil disturbances. Each office in the Company's operating area has an after-hours emergency telephone number listed in addition to its regular office number, or has 24 - hr emergency reporting capability by the use of call-fowarding with its regular office number. Each employee that might be involved in emergency situations should be aware of the Company's Dispatch Center 24 hr. answered number, 1-800-533-0389. The severity of an emergency and the procedures needed to control and correct the situation can only be determined by investigation by experienced personnel. Therefore, employees receiving a report of an emergency need to obtain accurate information regarding location details, severity of the situation, name, address, and telephone number of the person making the report. That employee shall then immediately notify the person or persons indicated in this plan. The first employee arriving at the scene of an emergency shall do whatever he can with reasonable personal safety to provide for the safety of the public and to establish communications by telephon or radio, if possible, with the Savannah Electric Dispatch Center. The Savannah Dispatch Center will immediately alert other persons according to this plan. If gas is escaping, the employee on location should not attempt to control the gas at the point of discharge without help unless the gas is blowing freely int the atmosphere and work can be safely performed without breathing oxygen-deficient air, or the excape of gas can be safely controlled by a method such as closing a valve or using a sealing compound, clamp, tape or plug. Equipment, tools, and materials normally required to restore service, but not necessarily present on Company vehicles responding to an emergency, are available at the AGL main office. Emergencies shall be classified as follows to facilitate calling the proper persons for the emergency: a. A leak or failure resulting in: 1. Death or injury requi ring hospitalization whether an employee or someone else. 2. Gas ignition. 3. Estimated total damage to ourselves and others of $5,000 or more. b. Pressure drops on any system to the extent that pilot lights have gone off. c. Pressure telemtry or gauges indicate an abnormal pressure drop that could be the result of a leak or failure. d. If for any reason, whether it be a line failure or other cause, it is not possible to get desired presure on the system. Insofar as good communications allow, the Savannah Electric Dispatch Center will become the control center to coordinate the response to an emergency. In order to assist the Savannh Electric Dispatch Center, the Main Office may be used as necessary to help handle communications both incoming and outgoing during certain emergencies. Therefore, in case of emergency, immediately notify the Savannah Electric Dispatch Center, then the appropriate Oper ating Manager and/or District Superintendent. The Savannah Electric Dispatch Center will directly notify: 1. The local Operating Manager (if not previously notified) 2. General Manager 3. Vice President - Gas Supply and Transmission 4. Vice President - Construction and Maintenance 5. Construction Staff Manager 6. Division Operating Manager 7. Manager of Measurement & Environmental Affairs 8. Supervisor - Engineering and Planning Those notified above will then have the following general calling assignments. Local Operating Managers to notify: Police and Fire Assistant Manager on duty Service Personnel as needed President Vice President - Treasurer and Secretary Other local Operating Managers as needed General Superintendent or Construction Staff Manager to notify: Construction personnel as needed Vice President - Treasurer and Secretary to notify: Switchboard Operator Computer personnel as needed Supervisor - Engineering Services & Planning to notify: Engineering personnel as needed Specific reporting assignments are as follows: Operation Center Construction personnel as needed Savannah Electric Main Office, Dispatch & Service Center Switchboard Operator Service Dispatchers Service personnel as needed Computer personnel as needed Accident Site There may be situations or incidents that could be classified as emergencies that would not require as extensive a response in personnel notified to report as outlined in the foregoing assignments. Those first notified are in the best position to determine the extent of the response of personnel and departmental functions. They would also deter mine the coordination required between departments and to what extent the normal chain of command might be bypassed. The Savananh Electric Dispatch Center shall maintain current maps of the entire Savannah Pipeline System. These maps will be of sufficient detail to show the approximate location of mains and transmission lines. The maps shall also identify key valves which may be necessary for the safe operation of the sytem. The location of these valves shall be designated on appropriate records, drawings or maps. There are at least four areas of responsibility that normally require attention during a major emergency. This suggets that no one person should attempt to direct all of these functions. These areas of responsibility and those assigned to these areas are as follows: Evaluation and Repair Will go to the accident site and establish communications. These persons will determine the extent of the damage and the requirements of materials and personnel to make repairs. These actions will be coordinated with who will be responsible for overall system operation. System Operation Will take all actions required to isolate the section of line such as opening and closign designated valves, or other operational changes in the system such as compressor station, operations, regulation of gas supplies and all other such adjustments or changes necessary to meet the emergency. Accident Scene Relations & Public Safety Will be responsible for the communications and actions necessary to protect persons and property adjacent to the accident site. This will involve coordination with police and fire officials and such decisions as evacution, crowd control, on-the-scene news media, etc. This will be done in coordination with repair activity. Public and Intercompany Relations In most situations, the general public becomes aware of an emergency and makes telephone inquiries regarding details of the emergency. In these same situations, the pr ess, TV and radio media also desire information. This public information activity needs to be isolated from the Dispatch Center and handled through the switchboard at the Main Office. And because of the importance of having accurate information as quickly as possible, this effort should be coordinated with the Accident Scene Relations Supervisor. In most pipeline emergency situations, certain areas of the system may be affected which require the local manager to take actions such as curtailment, valve operation, or other system adjustments. There might also be a need for service assistance. Public and Intercompany Relations will handle these responsibilities. Other functions include the notification of state and/or federal agencies and consideration of customer service requirements such as shutting off and turning on affected service areas. This could require coordination with the local manager and with engineering for map requirements. Those involved in the emergency shall take immediate steps to protect people first, then property. Injured persons shall receive medical attention as soon as possible. Because police, fire and other public officials will be called if needed, each local Operating Manager shall cooperate with and maintain working relations with law enforcement, fire protection and public communication officials in his town or area. Whenever large amounts of gas are escaping, smoking and any form of fire shall be prohibited in the area. Persons not actually working on the failure shall not be permitted within the area that could be affected should gas ignite. When repairs cannot be safely made, all persons are to be kept at a safe distance until the affected section of line can be isolated and the gas blown down. If the gas supply fails to any town or area, then that area shall be isolated and all meters turned off. The affected system will be repaired and any air purged form the lines. Meters will then be turned on and pilot lights relighted . If a large portion of the entire system should fail, Company officials, in conferring with the Public Service commission, might devise an alternate plan to restore service in view of possible risks or hazards to the public being out of heat for an extended period. Other important factors to be considered are the hazardous flow of leaking gas and its possible migration to an area which might involve secondary damage. This would require monitoring the extent of the hazardous area and the possible ventilating of affected premises. The resurvey of an area involved in a leak incident to locate any additional leaks should be made as a precaution. As soon after the end of an emergency as possible, an investigation of the incident or failure should be made in acordance with Section 617. Savannah Electric will air television commercials aimed at educating the general public, customers, appropriate government organizations, and excavators on how to recognize and report a gas pipeline emerge ncy to Savannah Electric or the appropriate public officials. This program will be organized and supervised by the Vice President of Gas Supply and Transmission. |