NITROSTEEL DIVISION - Executive Summary

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

NITROSTEEL MANUFACTURES NITROCARBORIZED STEEL AND STEEL TUBING. THE PROCESS INVOLVES HEATING PRE-MANUFACTURED STEEL IN ELECTRIC FURNACES TO WHICH AMMONIA GAS IS FED AS ATMOSPHERE. EXCESS AMMONIA VAPORS AS HYDROGEN AND RESIDUAL AMMONIA ARE BURNED OFF IN A FLARE ATTACHED TO EACH FURNACE. AMMONIA IS STORED IN A 10,000 GALLON TANK THAT IS NEVER FILLED BEYOND 80% CAPACITY. WORSE CASE RELEASE MODELING SHOWS A TOXIC ENDPOINT OF 2.9 MILES. HOWEVER, ALTERNATIVE RELEASE MODELING, BASED ON A MORE REALISTIC RELEASE SCENARIO, SHOWS A TOXIC ENDPOINT OF ONLY 0.19 MILES USING EPA STANDARDIZED MODELING SOFTWARE. THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO IS BASED ON A SMALL LEAK IN THE SYSTEM PIPING. THE COMPANY HAS IN PLACE AN EFFECTIVE SAFETY PROGRAM AND CONDUCTS PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS ON ITS EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE A RELEASE DOES NOT OCCUR.
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