Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne - Executive Summary

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

             Risk Management Plan (RMP) - Ammonia 
                      Executive Summary 
      Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne 
                  New Rockford, North Dakota 
 
 
 1. Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies 
We at Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne in New Rockford 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 effor 
ts 
with the Eddy County LEPC, which provides additional emergency response expertise. 
 
 2. Stationary Source and Regulated Substances Handled 
Our facility's primary activities include support services for crop production.  We have anhydrous 
ammonia stored in an 18,000-gallon tank at our facility in New Rockford (Figure 1).  The maximum 
amount stored is 15,480 gallons (79,660.08 pounds) at the maximum fill capacity of 86%. 
 
 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 
anhydrous ammonia storage tank (79,660.08 pounds) in gaseous form over a 10-minute period.  At 
Class F atmospheric stability, 1.5 m/s wind speed, and urban topography, the maximum distance to 
a toxic endpoint of 0.14 mg/L is 4.2 miles (Figure 2).   
The estimated population within a 4.2-mile 
radius of this facility is 1,900. 
 
The alternative release scenario involves a release from an anhydrous ammonia product line.  The 
scenario involves the release of 7837.38 pounds of ammonia in a gaseous form over a period of 30 
minutes.  Under neutral weather conditions, the maximum distance to the toxic endpoint of 0.14 
mg/L of ammonia is 0.31 mile (Figure 3).  The estimated population within a 0.31-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 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne maintains a detailed record of safety 
information that describes the chemical hazards, operating paramete 
rs, and equipment designs 
associated with all processes (Appendix E). 
 
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 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne 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 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne 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 (Appendix C). 
 
Mechanical Integrity 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne conducts do 
cumented maintenance checks 
on process equipment to ensure proper operation.  Maintenance checks are conducted 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 D). 
 
Management of Change 
Written procedures are in place at Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne 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 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne routinely conducts pre-st 
artup safety 
reviews related to new processes and modifications in established processes.  These reviews are 
conducted to confirm that construction, equipment, and operating and maintenance procedures are 
suitable for safe startup prior to placing equipment into operation. 
 
Compliance Audits 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne conducts compliance audits on a regular 
basis to determine whether the plan's provisions, set out under the 40 CFR part 68, are being 
implemented.  Any non-compliance issue discovered during the audit is promptly corrected. 
 
Employee Participation 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne 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 i 
nformation resulting from process hazard analyses. 
 
 5. Five-year Accident History 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne has had an excellent record of preventing 
accidental releases over the last 5 years.  Due to our stringent release prevention policies, no 
accidental release has occurred during this period. 
 
 6. Emergency Response Plan 
Farmers Union Oil Company of New Rockford/Sheyenne 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).
Click to return to beginning