Filtration Plant A - Executive Summary

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

To:        The Environmental Protection Agency 
            RMP Reporting Center 
            P.O. Box 3346 
            Merrifield, VA 22116-3346 
 
From:    The North Fayette County Municipal Authority 
            P.O. Box 368 
            Dunbar, PA 15431 
 
Subject:   Risk Management Plan  
               Executive Summary 
 
 
 
Accident Release and Emergency Response Policies: 
 
The management and staff of the North Fayette County Municipal Authority (NFCMA) are fully committed to the safe handling, storage and use of all chemicals utilized in the drinking water purification process.  Safety and emergency response procedures and policies are in place and serve as guides to insure that the accidental leakage of chemicals is prevented and that emergencies are handled appropriately.  
 
 
The Facility and Regulated Substance: 
 
The NFCMA is a municipally owned water authority with approximately 13,500 customers.  The NFCMA's treatment plant is permitted by the State of Pennsylvania's Department 
of Environmental Protection (Public Water System ID No.: 5260019) for 11.7 millions of gallons of water per day.  In the treatment process at the plant, various chemicals are used to produce a quality finished water supply.  All of those chemicals utilized at the plant are stored in approved storage vessels and are all handled in a safe manner. 
 
One of the chemicals used at the plant is chlorine gas.  Chlorine gas is used in the disinfection process to kill bacteria and other harmful pathogens.  The plant stores a maximum of 8,000 lbs. of chlorine gas. The chlorine gas is pressurized to a liquid state and is contained in four (4) - one ton cylinders. 
 
 
The Worst-Case Release Scenario and Alternate Release Scenario: 
 
Worst-Case Release Scenario: 
 
The worst-case release scenario would involve the release of 8,000 lbs. of chlorine gas.  The release of this quantity of gas would have potentially hazardous off-site impacts.  The toxic area affected would be within a 1.9-mile radius around  
the plant.  The areas affected would include the City of Connellsville, South Connellsville, Dunbar, and portions of Dunbar Township, and Connellsville Township.                                   The release of all 8,000 lbs. of chlorine is highly unlikely, as this would require the simultaneous leak of four individual storage cylinders. 
 
 
Alternate Release Scenario: 
 
An alternate release scenario would involve the release of 2,000 lbs. of chlorine gas from one storage cylinder.  This release would cause potentially hazardous off-site impacts to an area within a 
0.9-mile radius around the plant.  The areas affected would include South Connellsville and portions of Connellsville, Dunbar Township and Connellsville Township.  
 
 
Five Year Accident History:  
 
During the last five years, the plant has had no accidental releases of chlorine gas. 
 
 
The Emergency Response Plan: 
 
In the event of an accidental release of chlorine gas, a leak detector would alert plant personnel of a hazardous c 
ondition.  The severity of the leak would be determined.  The Fayette County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) would be immediately notified.  The Fayette County LEPC would alert all required state and local agencies as may be necessary to respond to the emergency.   
All plant personnel are fully aware of the extreme potentially hazardous conditions that may occur in the event of an accidental release of chlorine gas. 
 
 
Planned Changes to Improve Safety:   
 
In the future an air scrubber may be installed in the chlorine room to remove any chlorine gas that may be accidentally leaked.  The air scrubber will prevent discharge of chlorine gas to the atmosphere. 
 
Another possible improvement to the plant would be to replace chlorine gas with Sodium HypoChlorite (NaOCl).  Sodium HypoChlorite does not have the potentially hazardous impacts as chlorine gas.
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