Cedar Creek Pump Station - Executive Summary

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Cedar Creek Pump Station 
Risk Management Plan 
Executive Summary 
 
Approach 
The safety and health of the Tarrant Regional Water District's (TRWD) employees and facilities, and of the general public is fundamental to the District's operations.  This objective can be achieved by employing safe and healthy work practices and attitudes in and to every job, activity and function performed.  Safety and health objectives will not be compromised or subordinated in achieving overall District goals. 
The District is committed to the safe and healthy design, construction, and operation of its chemical systems with emphasis on the prevention of releases, accidents, or injuries to personnel, the public, or the environment.  This commitment, within the District's control, is supported by the following principles: 
7 accidents, injuries and occupational illnesses are preventable, 
7 each manager, supervisor, and employee is responsible for administering and applying the safety and health program and will  
be evaluated accordingly, 
7 every employee has a personal responsibility for job safety and health and for the safety and health of others both on and off the job, 
7 safe conduct of operations is a condition of employment, 
7 safety and health performance reviews must be a continuing process, 
7 training is an essential element for a safe and healthy work environment, 
7 injuries, unsafe conditions, and incidents with injury and/or damage potential must be investigated, and 
7 prevention of accidents, injuries, and occupational illnesses is good business. 
Facility 
The TRWD has constructed and operates four surface water reservoirs and is one of the largest providers of raw surface water in Texas. One of their reservoirs, Cedar Creek, is located in TRWD's eastern division. Constructed in the 1960s, Cedar Creek Reservoir has a permitted total annual diversion of 175,000 acre feet. From Cedar Creek Reservoir, water must be pumped approximately 80 miles to reach customers. Water pumped from Ce 
dar Creek Reservoir discharges to the Kennedale Balancing Reservoirs and is then gravity-fed to the City of Arlington's Pierce-Burch Water Treatment Plant via Lake Arlington and the City of Fort Worth's Rolling Hills Water Treatment Plant. 
The lake pump station is situated on the western shore of Cedar Creek Reservoir at a deep water intake and provides the pumping capacity to deliver raw water from the reservoir to The Kennedale Balancing Reservoir. The station includes six vertical turbine pumps, each with an individual capacity of approximately 35 million gallons per day (mgd). The pump station's maximum capacity is approximately 147 mgd with all six pumps in service. Under normal, or low capacity, operating conditions in 1997, the station's production averaged about 65 mgd with two pumps running. 
During the warmer months, increased water temperatures promote biological growth, creating a film on the inside walls of the transmission pipeline (biofilm). Uncontrolled biofilm growth ca 
n substantially reduce capacity within the pipeline due to a decrease in pipe radius and an increase in frictional resistance, thus increasing the pumping cost. To control biofilm growth, aqueous chlorine in conjunction with ammonia is used to form chloramines. Chloramines are a stable disinfectant that inhibit biofilm growth and provide a persistent residual for transmission system protection. 
Currently, the Cedar Creek Pump Station stores its chlorine in a single, fixed 20-ton (40,000-pound) chlorine storage tank. The quantity of chlorine stored onsite exceeds the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) threshold of 2,500 pounds, thus subjecting Cedar Creek to USEPA's Risk Management Program (RMP) Rule. The RMP primarily consists of the following three elements: Offsite Hazard Assessment, Accident Prevention Program, and an Emergency Response Program. 
Offsite Hazard Assessment 
An offsite hazard assessment was conducted for the Cedar Creek facility to determine the dis 
tance a toxic concentration of chlorine gas would travel in the event of a release. The toxic endpoint concentration for chlorine is three parts per million (ppm). The population within the radius of the release and sensitive receptors such as hospitals, schools, and state parks were identified. Two release scenarios-the "Worst Case" and an "Alternative Case" were considered. The Hazard Assessment also includes a five-year accident history of the Cedar Creek Pump Station. 
Worst Case Scenario 
The worst case scenario assumes the entire contents of the largest single container are released, regardless of how improbable that may be, over a period of ten minutes. Therefore, Cedar Creek must model offsite impacts of a 40,000-pound chlorine release over a duration of 10 minutes. The resulting release rate is 4,000 pounds per minute. The worst case scenario also requires conservative meteorological conditions. A relatively slow wind speed of 1.5 meters per second and a stability class F must b 
e assumed.  Stability classes are categorized by the amount of turbulence in the atmosphere.  Class F is the lowest turbulence classification.  With low wind speed and atmospheric turbulence, the chlorine plume will dilute slowly, causing an increased distance to the toxic endpoint.  
Furthermore, only "passive" mitigation methods such as buildings or dikes can be considered. Passive mitigation, as defined, requires no mechanical, electrical, or human input. The 20-ton chlorine tank, associated process piping, and chlorine feed equipment are stored in a building at Cedar Creek. The USEPA allows a mitigation factor of 0.55 to be applied to releases of chemicals stored in buildings. This mitigation factor assumes the building housing the chlorine will suppress the release rate by 55 percent. The resulting release rate taking into account building mitigation is 2,200 pounds per minute.  
Because chlorine is heavier than air, air dispersion modeling of the worst case scenario was performed u 
sing the USEPA approved Dense Gas Release Model Breeze HazTM DEGADIS+3.0. The DEGADIS+ model allows a more accurate representation of offsite impacts because it uses site-specific meteorological parameters as opposed to USEPA's Offsite Consequence Guidance "look-up" tables.  
For the worst case scenario, the DEGADIS+ model predicted a distance required for the plume of chlorine gas to dilute to 3 ppm of 2.6 miles. Within a 2.6-mile radius an estimated population of 1,400 people would be exposed to chlorine concentrations greater than 3 ppm. There are no sensitive receptors within a 2.6-mile radius around Cedar Creek Pump Station. 
Alternative Release Scenario 
The alternative release scenario reflects a type of release that is more likely to occur compared to the worst case scenario. Unlike the worst case scenario, the alternative release scenario may consider "active" mitigation such as automatic shutoff valves, and scrubbers. Active mitigation is defined as requiring mechanical, electri 
cal or human input. Furthermore, the alternative release scenario assumes more realistic regional and seasonal meteorology as compared to the worst case scenario.  Average temperature, wind speed, and a lower stability class (class D) were used.  
The alternative release scenario modeled for Cedar Creek Pump Station involves a pipe failure between the chlorine storage tank and vacuum regulator. An excess flow valve in the tank that seats when the release rate reaches 7,000 pounds per hour suppresses the leak. This particular scenario was selected because it represents a "worst case" alternative release resulting in offsite impacts. As in the worst case scenario, a building mitigation factor of 0.55 was utilized in addition to the excess flow valve mentioned above. 
DEGADIS+ was used to model the alternative release scenario for the same reasons as the worst case scenario. The pipe failure results in a 0.64-mile migration of chlorine gas until it reaches a toxic endpoint of 3 ppm. Within  
a 0.64-mile radius, an estimated population of 110 people would be impacted. There are no sensitive receptors within a 0.64-mile radius around Cedar Creek Pump Station.  
Five-year Accident History 
Under the RMP Rule, a five-year accident release history must be reported for regulated substances exceeding the threshold quantity. The release must have caused at least one of the following: on-site or off-site death(s), injuries or significant property damage, off-site environmental damage, evacuations, or sheltering in place. There were no reportable accidents at Cedar Creek Pump Station between June 21, 1994, and the present date. 
Prevention Program 
The Prevention Program is comprised of Safety Information, Hazard Review, Operating Procedures, Training, Maintenance, Incident Investigation, and Compliance Audit procedures. The procedures are designed to prevent an accidental release from occurring. Presently, Cedar Creek Pump Station is in compliance with most of the procedures listed bel 
ow since the facility is also regulated under OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) rules. 
Safety Information 
Information regarding process chemicals, process technology, and process equipment is compiled and included in the Prevention Program as a resource to emergency response planners and to develop training programs and operating procedures. Within the Safety Information section, one can find comprehensive chemical data including action thresholds, health hazards, chemical exposure limitations, and physical properties. Also, details such as maximum intended inventory and safe upper and lower operating limits can be found. 
Hazard Review 
The hazard review (HR) provides information that will assist Cedar Creek staff in making decisions for improving safety and reducing the consequences of hazardous accidental releases. An HR is a systematic effort to evaluate potential causes and consequences of accidental releases. The HR focuses on equipment, instrumentation, utilities, human actions 
, and external factors that might affect the process. Several improvements to the Cedar Creek facility were recommended as a result of the hazard review. 
Operating Procedures 
A copy of the Cedar Creek operating procedures is included in the RMP. These procedures are designed to ensure continuous, efficient, and safe operation of the facility. The operating procedures are also used to train new employees and to provide refresher training for existing staff. 
Training 
The USEPA requires that a training program be included as part of the RMP. An effective training program can significantly reduce the number and severity of accidental release incidents. The Cedar Creek RMP includes guidelines for conducting regular and structured plant training. Training record forms are included with the program for documentation purposes. Elements of the program include training in safety information, operating procedures, maintenance, and emergency response procedures. 
Maintenance 
Maintenance ensures equ 
ipment used to process, store, or handle chlorine is functioning properly and installed to minimize the risk of releases. An effective maintenance program is one of the primary lines of defense against a release and addresses equipment testing and inspection, preventive maintenance schedules, and personnel training. When implemented, a regular maintenance program ensures that process equipment performs properly and that documentation exists to support reliable, safe, operation and maintenance of the process. 
Incident Investigation 
An incident investigation program has been developed which outlines the investigation team, investigation process, and implementation of changes. Ultimately, it is desired that the plant staff learn from incidents and take action to prevent similar incidents in the future. Necessary forms for documentation are included and must be maintained for a minimum of five years after each incident.  
Compliance Audit 
Procedures were developed to complete a compliance a 
udit for the Cedar Creek Pump Station. A compliance audit is a self-evaluation of the effectiveness of the RMP program that identifies deficiencies, assures corrective action, and increases safety awareness among plant staff. The compliance audit methodology for the Cedar Creek facility was modeled after OSHA'S guidelines for conducting regulatory Process Safety Management compliance audits. These guidelines have been modified to include the Hazard Assessment and Emergency Response requirements of the RMP rule. To ensure compliance with the program, the RMP includes a "check list" that the Cedar Creek staff must complete at least once every three years. 
Emergency Response Program 
The Emergency Response Program develops a plan for dealing with a release. The USEPA RMP regulation 40 CFR 68 Subpart E require that an Accidental Release Emergency Response Plan be prepared. The plan must be prepared in accordance with the provisions of an overlapping OSHA regulation-Employee Emergency Plans  
(29 CFR 1910.38(a)). In addition, provisions of the OSHA hazardous waste and emergency response standard, 29 CFR 1910.120 (q), must also be considered. The Emergency Planning and Response Plan described in this section complies with the requirements of 40 CFR 68.95, 29 CFR 1910.38(a), and 29 CFR 1910.120(q).  
The Emergency Response Program consists of HAZMAT response policy and procedures developed by TRWD. The program is part of a larger Emergency Action Plan, also developed by TRWD, which provides a framework for the District to plan and respond appropriately during a disaster or any other emergency. The Emergency Response Program provides specific emergency response procedures for accidental releases of hazardous materials. The emergency response procedures cover a release from the initial alarm stage through HAZMAT assistance. As part of the emergency response procedures there are plans for victim rescue, leak investigation, communication with additional support agencies, and proce 
dures for informing the public in the event of a release.  
Planned Changes to Improve Safety 
While developing the RMP for the Cedar Creek Pump Station, two deficiencies in the existing facility were recognized. First, the chlorination facility is currently equipped with a single pass scrubber utilizing twenty spray nozzles to atomize a water scrubbing solution. Scrubbers of this type typically have very limited effectiveness on major chlorine leaks because of limited solubility of chlorine into water and the difficulty in bringing the scrubbing solution into contact with the chlorine. A wet scrubber using caustic as the scrubbing media rated for a 20-ton leak, complete with air exhaust fan, ductwork, and associated facilities will replace the existing scrubber.  
Secondly, the vacuum regulator valve for the liquid chlorine system is currently located a considerable distance from the chlorine storage tank. This arrangement requires a long length of pressurized chlorine line where leaks c 
ould occur. Most modern chlorine systems place the vacuum regulator as close to the storage tank as possible. Therefore, the chlorine vacuum regulator will be moved adjacent to the chlorine storage tank to decrease the length of pressurized feed piping and avoid potential leaks. The above improvements will be implemented within approximately one year.
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