HANCOCK COOPERATIVE INC. - Executive Summary

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HANCOCK COOPERATIVE INC. 
355 ATLANTIC AVENUE 
HANCOCK, MINNESOTA   56244 
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, CRAIG SWENSON, GENERAL MANAGER, 320/392-5291. 
 
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
1.  THE FACILITY POLICY 
 
THE OWNERS, MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYEES OF HANCOCK COOPERATIVE INC. ARE 
COMMITTED TO THE PREVENTION OF ANY ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. 
IF AN ACCIDENATAL RELEASE SHOULD OCCUR, THE FACILITY IS PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL FIRE COMPANY, OR OTHER AUTHORITIES, TO MITIGATE ANY RELEASE AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE RELEASE TO PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. 
 
2.  FACILITY INFORMATION 
 
THE PRIMARY ACTIVITY AT THE FACILITY IS THE STORAGE AND BLENDING OF FERTILIZERS FOR SALE TO FARMERS. 
 
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS RECEIVED, STORED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR DIRECT APPLICATION. 
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS USED FOR CROP PRODUCTION NUTRIENTS. 
 
THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY OF AMMONIA STORED WOULD BE 360,000 POUNDS IN OUR 2 - 18,000 GALLON STORAGE TANKS AND 44 - 1,000 GALLON NURSE TANKS.  THE MAXIMUM  
QUANTITY HANDLED WOULD BE THE UNLOADING OF A TANK TRUCK HOLDING 40,000 POUNDS. 
 
3.  THE WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIO AND THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO. 
 
A.  THE WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIO FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA WOULD BE THE RELEASE OF THE TOTAL CONTENTS OF A STORAGE TANK RELEASED AS A GAS OVER TEN MINUTES.  THE  
MAXIMUM QUANTITY RELEASED WOULD BE 80,000 POUNDS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE VOLUME OF THE STORAGE TANK AT 85 PERCENT CAPACITY AS LIMITED BY DESIGN STANDARDS.  THE DISTANCE TO THE ENDPOINT (POINT OF DISPERSION TO 200 PPM) IS .94 MILES. 
 
B.  THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENERIO FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA BASED ON THE HAZARD REVIEW IS A 2 MINUTE RELEASE FROM A BREAK IN A 3 INCH PIPE.  THE DISTANCE TO THE ENDPOINT 
(POINT OF DISPERSION TO 200 PPM) IS .78 MILES. 
 
4.  THE ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM. 
 
THE FACILITY HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROVISIONS OF THE "SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA, K-61.1", PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE,  
INC. AND THE STANDARDS OF THE U.S. OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.111, "STORAGE AND HANDLING OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA".  IN ADDITION,  MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AG RULES. 
 
5.  THE FIVE YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY. 
 
A.  THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS THAT: 
    HAVE CAUSED ANY DEATHS, INJURIES, OR SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE AT THE FACILITY; NOR TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, HAVE RESULTED IN OFFSITE DEATHS, INJURIES, EVACUATIONS, SHELTERING IN PLACE, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. 
 
6.  THE EMERGENCEY RESPONSE PROGRAM. 
 
THE FACILITY HAS: 
 
A.  A WRITTEN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OSHA STANDARD, 29 CFR 1910.38; 
 
B.  PROVIDED STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES THE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT - TO - KNOW INFORMATION AS REQUIRED UNDER SARA TITLE III ( EPCRA). 
 
C.  COORDINATED WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. 
 
7.  PLANNED CHANGES TO IMPROVE SAFETY. 
 
SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IS AN ON-GOING PROCESS AT THE FACIL 
ITY.  PERIODIC EVALUATIONS ARE PERFORMED TO ASSESS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAFE CONDITIONS.  THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL 
SPECIFIC ANHYDROUS AMMONIA SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS TIME.
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