Britz Fertilizers Inc., Firebaugh, CA - Executive Summary |
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The Britz Fertilizer Facility located near Firebaugh, 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 municipal government in the event of an accidental release which threatens to go off-site. 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). Anhydrous ammonia is also used in the blending of 10-34-0, the final blend which is not regulated. There are six separate processes on the facility that involve these two different forms of ammonia. (1) Anhydrous Ammonia Load-Out (80,000 pounds) (2) Anhydrous Ammonia for 10-34-0 blending (156,000 pounds) (3) Ammoni a into Aqua Conversion (lines only) (4) Aqua Ammonia Storage (254,240 pounds) (5) Anhydrous Ammonia for Aqua Blending (156,000 pounds) (6) Ammonia into 10-34-0 Conversion (lines only) 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 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 aqua ammonia storage tank, which has an off-site impact with a toxic endpoint of 1.9 miles. The alternative scenario is a one inch hole in the rail car unloading operation, which has an off-site impact with a toxic endpoint of 0.3 miles off-site. The toxic endpoints are calculate d 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 plan with the Fresno County Fire Protection District as the emergency responder, and the provision for notifying off-site schools and municipal 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. |