Cenex Petroleum, Perham Facility - Executive Summary

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             Risk Management Plan (RMP) - Propane 
                      Executive Summary 
               Cenex Petroleum, Perham Facility 
                      Perham, Minnesota 
 
 
 
 1. Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies 
We at Cenex Petroleum in Perham are strongly committed to employee, public, and environmental 
safety.  This commitment is an inherent part of our comprehensive accidental release prevention 
program that covers areas such as design, installation, operating procedures, maintenance, and 
employee training associated with the processes at our facility.  It is our policy to implement 
appropriate controls to prevent possible releases of regulated substances.  If such a release does 
occur, our trained emergency response personnel are at hand to control and mitigate the effects of 
the release.  We also coordinate our response efforts with the Perham Fir 
e Department, which 
provides additional emergency response expertise. 
 
 2. Stationary Source and Regulated Substances Handled 
Our facility's primary activities include propane distribution to domestic and commercial customers.  
We have propane  stored in a 30,000-gallon tank located at our facility in Perham (Figure 1).  The 
maximum amount stored is 25,500 gallons (107,686.5 pounds) at the maximum fill capacity of 85%. 
 
 3. Worst Case Release and Alternative Release Scenarios 
We utilized RMP PRO for the worst case and alternate case scenarios of the required offsite 
consequence analysis for our facility.  The following details these scenarios. 
 
The worst case release scenario involves a catastrophic release of the entire contents of the propane 
storage tank (108,686.5 pounds) in gaseous form over a 10-minute period.  At Class F atmospheric 
stability and 1.5 m/s wind speed, the maximum distance to an endpoint of 1 psi overpressure is 0.38 
miles (Figure 2).  This amount of overpressure 
can cause partial demolition of houses and can result 
in serious injury to people within this distance.  The estimated population within a 0.38-mile radius 
of this facility is 40. 
 
The alternative release scenario involves a 30-minute release of propane from a product line that 
contacts an ignition source and detonates, resulting in a vapor cloud explosion.  Under neutral 
weather conditions, the maximum distance to an endpoint of 1 psi overpressure is 0.12 mile (Figure 
3).  The estimated population within a 0.12-mile radius of this facility is 15. 
 
    4. General Accidental Release Prevention Program 
Our facility has taken all the necessary steps to comply with the EPA's accidental release prevention 
requirements as set forth in 40 CFR part 68.  The following sections briefly describe the elements 
of the release prevention program that is in place at our stationary source. 
 
 
Process Safety Information 
Cenex Petroleum maintains a detailed record of safety information that describes th 
e chemical 
hazards, operating parameters, and equipment designs associated with all processes (Appendix D). 
 
Process Hazard Analysis 
Our facility conducts comprehensive studies to ensure that hazards associated with our processes are 
identified and controlled effectively.  Any findings from the hazard analysis are addressed in a 
timely manner. 
 
Operating Procedures 
Cenex Petroleum maintains written operating procedures to ensure that activities within our covered 
processes are conducted safely.  These procedures address various modes of operation; the 
information is regularly reviewed and is readily accessible to operators involved in the processes 
(Appendix B). 
 
Training 
Cenex Petroleum has a comprehensive training program in place to ensure that employees who are 
operating processes are competent in the operating procedures associated with these processes. 
 
Mechanical Integrity 
Cenex Petroleum conducts documented maintenance checks on process equipment to ensure proper 
operation.  Ma 
intenance checks are performed by qualified personnel with previous training in 
maintenance practices.  Examples of process equipment that would receive maintenance checks 
include:  pressure vessels, storage tanks, piping systems, relief and vent systems, emergency 
shutdown systems, controls, and pumps.  Any equipment deficiencies identified by the maintenance 
checks are corrected in a safe and timely manner (Appendix C). 
 
Management of Change 
Written procedures are in place at Cenex Petroleum to manage changes in process chemicals, 
technology, equipment, and procedures.  Process operators, maintenance personnel or other 
employees whose job tasks are affected by a modification in process conditions are promptly notified 
of the modification and offered training to deal with it. 
 
Pre-startup Reviews 
Cenex Petroleum routinely conducts pre-startup safety reviews related to new processes and 
modifications in established processes.  These reviews are conducted to confirm that construction, 

quipment, and operating and maintenance procedures are suitable for safe startup prior to placing 
equipment into operation. 
 
Compliance Audits 
Cenex Petroleum conducts compliance audits on a regular basis to determine whether the provisions 
of the plan, as set out under 40 CFR part 68, are being implemented.  Any non-compliance issue 
discovered during the audit is promptly corrected. 
 
Employee Participation 
Cenex Petroleum truly believes that process safety management and accident prevention is a team 
effort.  Company employees are strongly encouraged to express their views concerning accident 
prevention issues and to recommend improvements.  In addition, our employees have access to all 
information created as part of the facility's implementation of the RMP particularly information 
resulting from process hazard analyses. 
 
 5. Five-year Accident History 
Cenex Petroleum has had an excellent record of preventing accidental releases over the last 5 years.  
Due to our stringent release pr 
evention policies, no accidental release has occurred during this 
period. 
 
 6. Emergency Response Plan 
Cenex Petroleum maintains a written emergency response plan to deal with accidental releases of 
hazardous materials.  The plan addresses all aspects of emergency response including first aid and 
medical treatment, evacuations, and notification of local emergency response agencies and the public 
(Appendix A).
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