Marshall Durbin Companies of Hattiesburg, MS - Executive Summary |
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Marshall Durbin Companies operates a poultry processing plant at 1301 James St in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Producing a safe and wholesome product requires that the poultry be processed and stored at low temperatures, so as to prevent spoilage. A refrigeration system which uses ammonia as a refrigerant is used to acheive these reduced temperatures. The maximum amount of ammonia ever present is approximately 30,000 pounds. A worst case scenario was developed using the EPA's RMP Comp software. If all the ammonia present in the system was discharged (30,000 pounds), it would require the evacuation of the community within a 1.0 mile radius of the plant. Due to all the safety procedures and equipment in place, this scenario is unlikely. An alternative release model was developed using the same procedure. If a lesser amount of ammonia was discharged (21000 pounds), it would require the evacuation of the community within a 0.4 mile radius of the plant. Equipment is constantly being upgraded and reviewed to assure safe operation of the refrigeration system. There has not been an accident in the last 5 years in the ammonia refrigeration system. In case of a release, plant management would cooridinate with the Hazardous Material Team of the Hattiesburg Fire Department in combined response to the accident. This response would include public notification and evacuation (if necessary). Plant personnel are regulary trained and drilled on emergency response procedures. |