El Rio Booster Plant - Executive Summary |
|
1. Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policies In the United Water Conservation District's (WCD) El Rio Booster Plant (BP), we handle chlorine, which is considered hazardous by the USEPA. The same properties that make chlorine valuable as a commodity also make it necessary to observe certain safety precautions in handling chlorine to prevent unnecessary human exposure, to reduce the threat to our own personal health as well as our co-workers', and to reduce the threat to nearby members of the community. It is our policy to adhere to all applicable Federal and State rules and regulations. Safety depends upon the manner in which we handle chlorine combined with the safety devices inherent in the design of this facility, the safe handling procedures that we use, and the training of our personnel. Our emergency response program is based upon the Chlorine Institute's Pamphlet 64, Emergency Response Plans for Chlorine Facilities. The emergency response plan includes p rocedures for notification of the local fire authority and notification of any potentially affected neighbors. 2. General Description of the Stationary Source and Regulated Substances The primary purpose of the El Rio BP is to pump groundwater, store, disinfects and distributes water to customers in the Cities of Oxnard and Port Hueneme. Chlorine is delivered in ton containers. It is connected to the chlorinators to be mixed with water to make chlorine solution, then to be injected into water at several locations of the plant. Access to the plant is restricted to authorized plant employees, authorized management personnel and authorized contractors. 3. Offsite Consequence Analysis Results Worst-case Scenario - Failure of our largest chlorine storage tank when filled to the greatest amount allowed would release 2,000 pounds of chlorine. It is assumed that the entire contents are released as vapor, which is heavier than air, in ten minutes. The distance to the toxic end point of 0.0087 mg/L (3 ppm) would be 0.9 miles. Alternative Release Scenario - The gas valve (5/16") on the one-ton container remains open and mitigation stops the release in one hour. There would be chlorine gas release, and the distance to the toxic endpoint of 0.0087 mg/L (3 ppm) would be 0.1 miles. 4. Summary of the General Accidental Release Prevention Program and Chemical Specific Prevention Steps. This facilities complies with EPA's Risk Management Program and California's Accidental Release Prevention Program and wiht all applicable state codes and regulations. Thsi facilitiy is designed, constructed and operated in accordance with all applicable rules and regulations. All of our operators are state certified system operators, regularly trained and are competent to operate the process safely, in accordance with the operating procedures. 5. Summary of the Five-year Accident History. There were no reportable accidents in the last five years. 6. Summary of the Emergency Reponse Program The facility's emergency response program is based upon the Chlorine Institute's Emergency Response Plans for Chlorine Facilities. We have discussed this program with the Ventura County Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Ventura County Fire Department. A representative of the Ventura County Fire Department visited the El Rio BP on March 11, 1999. 7. Planned Changes to Improve Safety. The El Rio BP was constructed in February 1998 and is in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and the United WCD's safety rules and regulations. We continue to train and require all employees to participate in safe work practices, and to improve our operations in accordance with Federal and State safety guidelines. |