Travis County MUD #4 Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary |
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Executive Summary 0.1 Owner/Operator This site is owned by Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 4. It is operated by ECO Resources, which is subject to the requirements of OSHA 1910.120. Therefore, this is a Program 3 Risk Management Plan submittal. It is the policy of the MUD and ECO resources to fully comply with OSHA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations regarding the storage and use of hazardous materials. 0.2 Description of the Stationary Source and Regulated Substances Handled 0.2.1 Stationary Source Description This source is a 3.0 million gallon per day municipal utility district water treatment (water supply) plant that provides potable water for the Barton Creek Subdivision. One of the components of the treatment plant is disinfection of the water by chlorination. This site is located in an area where the terrain consists of relatively steep hills. 0.2.2 Regulated Substances The only regulated substance presen t at this facility is chlorine gas, which is delivered in one ton cylinders. 0.3 Release Scenarios 0.3.1 Worst-case Release Scenario The worst-case release scenario for this site is the rapid loss (complete loss over a ten-minute period) of a full 2,000-pound chlorine cylinder. The distance to the endpoint for this scenario is 1.3 miles. A 1.3-mile radius around this site encompasses 1,219 homes and apartments, including existing structures, structures under construction and planned structures under development (estimated population 3,700); a recreation area (golf course and country club); and schools. 0.3.2 Alternative Release Scenario The alternative release scenario assumes a full leak at the 3/4 inch cylinder vapor connection. This scenario generates a chlorine gas release rate of 86 pounds (of chlorine) per minute. The predicted distance to the endpoint is 0.2 miles. Public and environmental receptors within this distance include 64 homes (estimated population 190). 0. 3.3 Administrative Controls and Mitigative Measures No engineered passive controls are in place for a chlorine release from this site. Active controls consist of chlorine gas monitors near the chlorine gas system that provide direct chlorine readings at the site and sound alarms at the ECO Resources (operator) building. ECO Resources has emergency equipment and a leak repair kit. A SCBA is kept at the facility for use by personnel responding to a leak. There are emergency procedures in place for stopping leaks and for notification of local authorities and emergency response teams. 0.4 Five-year Accident History There have been no accidents or releases at this site over the past five years (or ever) that have resulted in any injuries or property damage. 0.5 Emergency Response Program Upon discovery of a leak by an employee or local resident report or via the chlorine gas monitor/alarm system, ECO Resources notifies the local chlorine response team and the facility operator. On-site response time is 30 minutes or less. If the response team determines that 10 pounds of chlorine have been released, or if there is a potential health or off-site health threat, the proper authorities are notified immediately. These include the Travis County Office of Emergency Management, City of Austin Office of Emergency Management, the NRC, the TNRCC and, if necessary, 911 for fire and police assistance. The response team will also take immediate steps to shutdown the system and stop/repair the source of the release. 0.6 Changes to Improve Safety No changes to improve the safety of this site are currently pending or being implemented. There are no recommended changes at this time. |