FARMERS UNION OIL COMPANY - Executive Summary

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

FARMERS UNION OIL COMPANY 
201 MAIN AVE S 
ROSEAU, MN 56751 
 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT WAYNE BRATENG, PLANT MANAGER, 218-463-3300 
 
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN-EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
1. THE FACILITY POLICY 
 
THE OWNERS, MANAGEMENT, AND EMPLOYEES OF FARMERS UNION OIL COMPANY ARE COMMITTED TO THE PREVENTION OF AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OFANHYDROUS AMMONIA. IF AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE SHOULD OCCUR, THE FACILITY IS PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, OR OTHER AUTHORITIES, TO MITIGATE ANY RELEASE AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE RELEASE TO PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. 
 
2. FACILITY INFORMATION 
 
THE PRIMARY ACTIVITY AT THE FACILITY IS THE STORAGE  OF FERTILIZERS FOR SALE TO FARMERS. 
 
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS RECEIVED, STORED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR DIRECT APPLICATION. ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS USED FOR CROP PRODUCTION NUTRIENTS. 
 
THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY OF AMMONIA STORED WOULD BE 220,000 POUNDS IN OUR 30,000 GALLON STORAGE TANK. THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY HANDLED WOULD BE THE UNLOADING OF A TANK TRUCK HOLDING 40,000 PO 
UNDS. 
 
3. THE WORST-CASE  RELEASE SCENARIO AND THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO. 
 
a. THE WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIO FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA WOULD BE THE RELEASE OF THE TOTAL CONTENT OF THE STORAGE TANK RELEASED AS A GAS OVER 10 MINUTES. THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY RELEASED WOULD BE 130,000 POUNDS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE VOLUME OF THE STORAGE TANK AT 85% CAPACITY AS LIMITED BY DESIGN STANDARDS. THE DISTANCE 
THE ENDPOINT (POINT OF DISPERSION TO 200 PPM) IS 1.12 MILES. 
 
b. THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA BASED ON THE HAZARD REVIEW IS A 2 MINUTE RELEASE FROM A BREAK IN A 3 INCH PIPE. THE DISTANCE TO THE ENDPOINT (POINT OF DISPERSION TO 200 PPM) IS .78 MILES. 
 
4. THE ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM 
 
THE FACILITY HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROVISIONS OF "SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STORAGE AND HANDLING OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA, K-61.1," PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE, INC. AND THE STANDARDS OF THE US OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA), 29 CFR 
1910.111, "STORAGE AND HANDLING OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA". IN ADDITION, MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AG RULES. 
 
5. THE FIVE-YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY 
 
a. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IN THE PAST 5 YEARS THAT: 
HAVE CAUSED ANY DEATHS, INJURIES, OR SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY DAMAGE AT THE FACILITY; NOR TO OUR KNOWLEDGE, HAVE RESULTED IN OFFSITE DEATHS, INJURIES, EVACUATIONS, SHELTERING IN PLACE, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. 
 
6. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM. 
 
THE FACILITY HAS: 
 
a. A WRITTEN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OSHA STANDARD, 29 CFR 1910.38; 
 
b. PROVIDED STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES THE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT TO KNOW INFORMATION AS REQUIRED UNDER SARA TITLE III (EPCRA). 
 
c. COORDINATED WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. 
 
7. PLANNED CHANGES TO IMPROVE SAFETY. 
 
SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IS AN ON-GOING PROCESS AT THE FACILITY. PERIODIC EVALUATIONS ARE PERFORMED TO ACCESS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAFE CONDITIONS. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC  
ANHYDROUS AMMONIA SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS TIME.
Click to return to beginning