Met-Al, Inc - Executive Summary

| Accident History | Chemicals | Emergency Response | Registration | Source | Executive Summary |

Met-Al, Inc. is a secondary aluminum recycling facility that complies with all requirements 
for chlorine gas storage. Met-Al, Inc. policy is to adhere to all applicable federal, state and 
local Laws. If an emergency should occur, our policy is to notify Mount Pleasant Police and 
Fire departments and request that they respond to the emergency. 
 
Our facility produce aluminium ingots for the automotive and other  industries. We use 
chlorine primarily as a cleansing agent.  
 
We have an in-house contingency plan and all of our chemical storage areas are placarded. 
We have (8) eight one ton chlorine cylinders on hand at any one time. We only connect and 
have one cylinder in service at a Time. This  policy limits us to a maximum of two thousand 
pounds of chlorine release exposure. 
 
Our worst - case accidental release scenario is the failure of "one"; one-ton chlorine storage 
cylinder when the cylinder is filled to the greatest amount allowed, resulting in a vapor cloud 
exposure. According to  
the RMP Guidance for offsite Consequence analysis tables, the 
distance to the end point is 3.5   miles.. 
 
Our alternative - case accidental release scenario is the failure of "one"; one-half inch 
outside diameter braided flexible, (20) feet long chlorine hose; which connects the cylinder 
to the main piping system manifold. resulting in a vapor cloud exposure. According to the 
RMP Guidance for offsite Consequence analysis tables, the distance to the end point  is 0.1   
miles.. 
 
We have a preventive maintenance program which includes daily inspections of the system 
for leaks. All valves are replaced on an annual  basis, and the piping system is also inspected annually 
and replaced as necessary by an outside contractor. We  have B kits on hand  for repair 
purposes.  
 
The chlorine storage areas are placarded and only supervisors are authorized  to switch the 
chlorine tanks. 
We had a chlorine spill in 1995 caused primarily by an unauthorized employee under the 
influence of illegal drugs tam 
pering with the system. We implemented a tough alcohol and 
drug testing program and terminated the employee.
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