Cargill Honeysuckle White - Executive Summary |
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CARGILL HONEYSUCKLE WHITE Springdale, Arkansas RISK MANAGMENT PLAN Executive Summary 1. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE POLICIES. At Cargill Honeysuckle White, we utilize anhydrous ammonia which is considered hazardous by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The properties which make ammonia valuable as a refrigerant also necessitate certain safety precautions. Cargill Honeysuckle White strives to protect all its valuable resources and assets - both personnel and property. We live and have families in this community. We want to prevent exposure to all our personnel as well as nearby members of our community, existing natural resources, and the surrounding environment. It is our policy to comply with all Federal, State, and Local regulations. Through continual, accurate training and various safety devices and procedures, we work to minimize potential releases. Our emergency response program has specific procedures for accidental releases of anhydro us ammonia as well as other emergencies. We work in conjunction with the California Fire Department and the Local Emergency Planning Committee to prepare for necessary notification of all affected neighbors. 2. THE STATIONARY SOURCE AND REGULATED SUBSTANCES HANDLED. The primary purpose of our facility is the processing and production of turkey and poultry products. We utilize anhydrous ammonia as the primary means for refrigeration, cooling and freezing. An outside company is used to fill our main receiver tanks. Piping then carries the ammonia to the needed refrigeration, cooling or freezing units. Access to the site is restricted to facility employees, authorized management personnel and authorized contractors. The regulated substance used at our facility is anhydrous ammonia. The maximum amount of ammonia stored at this facility is 44,000 pounds. We have the capacity for 110,000 pounds but our written policy limits our storage to 40% of total capacity. 3. THE WORST C ASE RELEASE SCENARIO(S) AND THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO(S), INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROLS AND MITIGATION MEASURES TO LIMIT THE DISTANCES FOR EACH REPORTED SCENARIO. Worst Case Scenario The worst case scenario would be failure of our receiver. Cargill policy restricts the maximum capacity of this 85,000 pound tank to 40% of capacity. The greatest amount stored in that tank is 34,627 pounds. It is assumed that the entire contents are released as a two phase flow (gas and aerosol-ALOHA). Distance to endpoint: 1.9 miles Alternative Scenario The alternative scenario would be the release of ammonia due to the failure of a pressure release valve. The emergency valves shut-down release would engage and stop the flow or the monitoring system would alert personnel to manually shut the valve. The maximum time of the release would be 57 minutes and maximum quantity released would be approximately 2,636 pounds of ammonia. Distance to endpoint: 0.2 miles (or 359 yards) 4. FIVE- YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY. To date, this Cargill Honeysuckle White facility has had one reportable release. It occurred November 3, 1997, due to a weld failure. A piece of metal that was welded to the piping sheared causing a pipe rupture. It resulted in improved piping design; the pipe was re-routed and a sonogram flex was installed. Approximately 20,080 pounds of anhydrous ammonia was released. Off-site consequences were minimized due to several factors. Cargill has an in-house HAZMAT team that responded to the incident. The Springdale HAZMAT Team was notified but were not required to respond. Also, the release occurred inside the facility and much product was neutralized using CO2. No evacuation was required for off-site receptors (persons off the Cargill property). 5. THE RMP MANAGEMENT PROGRAM. The management of the RMP program will be handled by Mr. Les Rau, Utilities Manager. Mr. Rau will administrate in conjunction with the Cargill Honeysuckle White management and p ersonnel. Other entities or organizations that will be coordinated with include the Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Springdale Fire Department. 6. THE GENERAL ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM AND THE SPECIFIC PREVENTION STEPS. The Cargill Honeysuckle White facility complies with all applicable Federal, State and Local regulations including the EPAs Accidental Release Prevention Rule. Our personnel are trained about this during our Hazard Communications Training and through access to our Written Programs. Our Refrigeration Maintenance operators receive a combination of classroom training plus On-The-Job training (OTJ). They are given written tests and are able to demonstrate proper job skills and knowledge. 7. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM. Cargill Honeysuckle White has onsite Hazardous Materials trained personnel to immediately respond to adverse conditions. This helps minimize the potential of an off-site release. We work very closely with the Washing ton County Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Springdale Fire Department on emergency preparedness. We meet periodically with representatives of each to address any changes in the facility or any new concerns. 8. PLANNED CHANGES TO IMPROVE SAFETY. Currently, Cargill Honeysuckle White trains and tests all refrigeration technicians. Our preventative maintenance program is above standard and our total ammonia Process Safety Program is reviewed annually and updated periodically. Our program is improved continuously through annual updates of our written program and annual training of our technicians. We also take advantage of new technologies when safer and more economical alternatives are available. |