Foster Farms Fresno Dairy - Executive Summary

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FOSTER FARMS DAIRY 
RISK MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND 
PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 
Anhydrous Ammonia Refrigeration System 
 
Revised September 1999 
 
 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
 
 
Foster Farms Dairy (Foster Farms) prepared a Chemical Risk Management Program and Process Safety Management Program (RMP/PSM) in general accordance with state and federal regulations.  The state risk management regulations, also referred to as the California Accidental Release Prevention (CalARP) program, are codified in California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Section 2735.1, et. Seq.  The Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also regulates facilities with certain toxic and flammable substances.  The federal regulations are codified in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 68.  Finally, both CalOSHA and Federal OSHA regulate facilities with certain acutely hazardous materials under the Process Safety Management regulations, as defined in CCR Title 8 Section 5189 and CFR Title 29 Part 191 
0 Section 119, respectively. 
 
Foster Farms prepared an RMP/PSM to satisfy regulatory requirements and to demonstrate a commitment to evaluate and improve anhydrous ammonia handling systems and practices at the facility.  Foster Farms incorporated many state-of-the-art safety features into the ammonia refrigeration system at the facility as part of the original system construction and system modifications.  Foster Farms will continue to improve ammonia-handling safety through the implementation of the prevention program elements of the RMP/PSM.  In the unlikely event that a chemical release does occur at the facility, Foster Farms personnel are trained in the appropriate response measures, relying on support services provided by the local fire department and hazardous materials response team. 
 
Foster Farms is located at 3380 West Ashlan in Fresno, California.  The surrounding area consists of  industrial and commercial businesses and residential development.  The site is bordered by Ash 
lan Avenue to the south, North Valentine Avenue to the west, West Holland to the north and industrial businesses to the east and west.  Foster Farms is approximately one half mile east of Highway 99. 
 
The facility was originally constructed in the mid 1960s.  The ammonia refrigeration system was remodeled in the mid 1980s.  Operations at the facility consist of the storage, processing, packaging and distribution of milk and dairy products.  The facility is surrounded by chain-link fencing and is staffed by a refrigeration operator or mechanic 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. 
 
Anhydrous ammonia is used in a refrigeration system at the facility.  The ammonia refrigeration system, which is a closed system, contains approximately 13,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia.  The system provides cooling for production areas, product, and water chilling.  The desired temperatures are maintained by controlling the flow of ammonia with manually and electrically operated valves, float switches and c 
ompressor controls.   
 
The RMP/PSM regulations require a review of the five-year accident history at the regulated facility.  The Foster Farms facility reported no accidental releases of ammonia during the past five years.  
 
The RMP regulations require facilities to identify and evaluate chemical release scenarios resulting from potential failures of the chemical handling systems covered by the RMP.  Program 3 requirements of the RMP apply to the Foster Farms facility due to the quantity of ammonia used.  Program 3 facilities are required to evaluate a worst-case release scenario (release parameters are defined by the regulations) and an alternative release scenario.  The regulations define a worst-case release scenario as "the greatest amount held in a single vesselreleased as a gas over 10 minutes."  An alternative release scenario is identified as a release that is more likely to occur at the facility. 
 
The largest ammonia vessel at Foster Farms, the high pressure receiver, has an 
approximate capacity of 14,500 pounds of ammonia. The amount of ammonia charged to the system is approximately 13,000 pounds at the safe fill level for the vessel (i.e. the capacity of the high pressure receiver currently exceeds the quantity of ammonia in the system).  Therefore, the worst-case release scenario for the facility is a release of the entire contents of the system (13,000 pounds of ammonia) in 10 minutes.  Catastrophic failure of the high-pressure receiver would be required for this scenario to occur.  As required by the RMP regulations, pessimistic atmospheric conditions, very conservative chemical dispersion characteristics, and a toxic endpoint of 200 parts per million (ppm) ammonia vapor were assumed.  The predicted distance to the toxic endpoint for the worst case release scenario is approximately 0.78 mile.  The SLAB Model was used for modeling the worst case release scenario.  SLAB was first developed by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract with t 
he U.S. Department of Energy.  SLAB has been revised and updated by the USAF Engineering and Services Center and the American Petroleum Institute.  SLAB is commonly used to simulate the atmospheric dispersion of denser-than-air releases. 
 
Foster Farms used the alternative release scenario described in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Model Risk Management Program and Plan for Ammonia Refrigeration, November 1998.  The release scenario is described as a <-inch effective diameter orifice leaking liquid ammonia and resulting in an airborne release, representative of a pipe connection leak or a gasket rupture.  The evaluation used a release rate of 82 pounds/minute and average weather conditions.  The predicted distance to the toxic endpoint for the alternative release scenario is approximately 0.08 mile.  The SLAB Model was used also for modeling the alternative release scenario. 
 
The RMP/PSM regulations require a review of the accidental release prevention program and chemical 
specific prevention steps used by the facility.  Foster Farms has incorporated many safety features in the ammonia refrigeration system to prevent system failures and to mitigate potential releases.  The predominant safety concern with closed-loop ammonia systems is an inadvertent buildup of pressure exceeding pressure ratings or capacities of equipment due to ammonia expansion.  The Foster Farms ammonia system is continuously monitored by automated control systems that shut down components if deviations from normal operating conditions occur.  The major pressure vessels in the system are connected to a diffusion panel.  Ammonia from the vessels can be mixed with water (neutralized) and discharged to the city sewer to prevent over-pressurization of the vessels.  Further, all pressure vessels in the system are equipped with pressure relief valves. 
 
Other safety features at the facility include:  
7 Emergency shutdown systems 
7 Component specific safety shutdowns 
7 Pressure relief valves 
on all vessels, compressors, and several other areas in the system where trapped ammonia could build pressure 
7 All major vessels are connected to a fire diffusion panel 
7 Engine room is equipped with ammonia detection system 
7 Engine room is equipped with emergency shut down switch 
7 Engine room is equipped with a ventilation system 
7 Many of the ammonia pipes, valves and components are labeled 
7 A fire sprinkler system is installed in the plant 
7 Operators receive ongoing training in operations, maintenance and emergency response 
 
In addition to the physical features of the ammonia refrigeration system at the facility, Foster Farms has extensive administrative controls in place to maintain safe operation of the system.  Administrative controls include, but are not limited to: formal training programs for system operators and mechanics, emergency training, a hot work permit program, a lock-out/tag-out program, a contractor safety program, incident investigation program, mechanical in 
tegrity program, management of change program, pre start-up safety review program, and a RMP/PSM auditing and inspection program.  Written standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being prepared for the ammonia system at the facility.  The SOPs provide a basis for site specific operator training and a ready reference for operating and trouble-shooting the systems. 
 
Foster Farms is committed to maintaining the mechanical integrity of the ammonia refrigeration system.  A preventive maintenance system is utilized to manage the maintenance of the refrigeration system.  Preventive maintenance at the facility includes daily, weekly, and periodic inspection; calibration; testing; and overhaul of ammonia system equipment.  The system is used to track equipment performance and to create reports that are used by maintenance personnel to monitor the frequency of repairs and deviations from normal operating parameters. 
 
Changes to improve safety at the facility are ongoing.  Many of the mitigation 
measures suggested by the process hazard analysis team have already been implemented.  Others will be implemented during the next several months.  The status of significant mitigation measures is as follows: 
7 Preventive maintenance program is being reviewed to verify that all ammonia system components are included and maintenance frequencies are appropriate 
7 Management is evaluating engine room exhaust requirements  
7 Management is evaluating using spring return valves for all oil draining 
7 Ammonia awareness will be added to forklift training program 
7 Management is evaluating safe work practices and emergency response plan 
 
Foster Farms will respond to all suggested mitigation measures promptly.  Foster Farms is establishing schedules of proposed actions.  Management responses and support will be consistent with Foster Farms' commitment to safe and environmentally responsible operations. 
 
Foster Farms recognizes that the RMP/PSM is a continuous process for evaluating, monitoring,  
and improving anhydrous ammonia handling operations at its facility.  As such, this document and related attachments and program elements will evolve as Foster Farms continues their ongoing focus and dedication of risk minimization and safety improvement for their employees and surrounding community.  Foster Farms will submit revised information if a change occurs that is considered significant and requires resubmission under the regulations.  However, minor improvements / modifications to the RMP/PSM, related attachments, and program elements will be incorporated consistent with Foster Farms' internal review practices, and Foster Farms will maintain the most current versions on site.  Thus, the most current version RMP/PSM, related documents, and elements maintained on site may vary slightly from the information in submittals made to EPA and other regulatory agencies.
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