Britz Fertilizers Inc., Five Points - Executive Summary |
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The Britz Fertilizer Facility located near Five Points, California sells agricultural chemicals directly to farmers. The facility has a training program for employees who handle chemicals and an inspection program by management to minimize the potential for accidental releases. Employees are trained in emergency response to accidental releases. The facility has a program for emergency notification of the Fresno County Fire Protection District in the event of an accidental release which threatens to go off-site. There are few residences, and no schools, prisons or the like within the range of the toxic endpoint per the worst case scenario. It handles one material (ammonia) which is listed in the RMP program at a volume in excess of the threshold amount. Two different forms of that material are handled - anhydrous ammonia and ammonia (20% aqueous solution). There are five separate processes on the facility that involve these two different forms of ammonia. (1) Anhydrous Ammonia L oad-Out (52,020 pounds) (2) Anhydrous Ammonia Load-Out (65,025 pounds) (3) Ammonia into Aqua Conversion (lines only) (4) Aqua Ammonia Storage (135,000 pounds) (5) Anhydrous Ammonia for Aqua Blending (87,785 pounds) Program 2 is the default program level for all facilities. The facility does not manufacture fertilizers. It purchases the agricultural chemicals wholesale and sells them retail directly to farmers, who use the products. As such, it is not an OSHA PSM facility nor is it an NAICS code which requires a Program 3. The facility has a few public receptors within the worst-case circle and therefore does not qualify as a Program 1. Program 2 is therefore selected for this facility. The worst-case scenario is the release of the entire 104,300 pound anhydrous ammonia tank, which has an off-site impact with a toxic endpoint of 1.3 miles. The alternative scenario is a one inch hole in the railcar unloading operation, which has an off-site impact with a toxic endpoint of 0.3 mil es off-site. The toxic endpoints are calculated by DEGADIS. No active or passive mitigation measures are assumed. The prevention program emphasizes procedural and managerial steps which enhance maintenance and training. There have been no accidents in the last five years. The emergency response program includes a facility-specific evacuation plan which the personnel are trained in, the county-wide emergency response plan with the Fresno County Fire Protection District as the designated responding unit, and the provision for notifying agencies in the event of a release which threatens to go off-site. The facility has an ongoing training program for personnel, including new personnel and refresher programs for long-time personnel. Several changes in the physical plant will be made because of the inspections performed in conjunction with the preparation of the RMP. |