Royster - Clark Plymouth - Executive Summary |
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1.Accidental release prevention and emergency response policies: The owners, management and employees of Royster-Clark, Inc., Plymouth, NC.,. are committed to the prevention of any accidental release of ammonia from Aqua Ammonia. If any accidental release should occur at the facility, personnel have been instructed and are prepared to work with the Washington County Emergency personnel, the Washington County Emergency Planning Coordinator and other authorities to mitigate any release and minimize the impact of the release on people and the environment. 2. The stationary source and regulated substance handled: The primary activity at the Plymouth facility of Royster-Clark, Inc., is the blending andstorage of fertilizer for sales to agricultural users (farmers). Aqua Ammonia containing a maximum of 30% ammonia is received by tanker truck, stored, and used from the storage tanks in the production of mixed-grade liquid fertilizer for plant nutrients. The maximum quantity of Aqua Ammo nia stored at this facility would be 180,000 pounds in 2 - 12,000 gallon tanks each of which are located in a 3,575 square foot dike. This would be 54,000 pounds of ammonia at the maximum of 30% ammonia content. 3. The worst-case release scenario and the alternate release scenario: a. The worst-case release scenario would be the release of the entire contents of Aqua Ammonia containing a maximum of 30% ammonia from one of the 12,000 gallon storage tanks in the diked area released as a liquid over a 690 minute period. The maximum amount released would be 90,000 pounds of Aqua Ammonia which would contain 27,000 pounds ammonia at 30% maximum ammonia content. The distance to an end point of 200 ppm of ammonia, as determined by The Fertilizer Institute's Model - Degradis - and the passive mitigation of the 3,575 sq .ft. dike, is 0.27 miles. The release would affect 282 residents, and some commercial operations, office and industrial areas. The possibility of this worst case release oc curring is extremely unlikely as location personnel regularly inspect and repair as necessary all storage tanks. b. The alternate release scenario, based on the most likely potential incident, is a release of Aqua Ammonia from a ruptured 3 inch transfer hose, during the unloading procedure, with the release discontinued in 1 minute. The calculated quantity of Aqua Ammonia released would be 1500 pounds which is 450 pounds of ammonia, based on the maximmum of 30% ammonia cntent. The distance to the end point of 200 ppm of ammonia as determined by The Fertilizer Institute's Model - Degradis - is 0.07 miles. This is 370 feet and would affect 12 residents. The possibility of this alternate release scenario occurring is unlikely as Plymouth personnel periodically inspect, repair and replace equipment according to industry standard procedure. 4. The General Accidental Release prevention program: The Plymouth facility has implemented the provisions of Aqua Ammonia supplier's recommen dations for safe handling of Aqua Ammonia and appropriate OSHA regulations. Additionally, periodic training in handling, storage and use of Aqua Ammonia is conducted with personnel at this location. 5. The Five-Year Accident History: This facility has had no accidental release of Aqua Ammonia in the past five years that have caused any deaths, injuries, or significant property damage on site, or has resulted in any off site deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property damage, or environmental damage. 6. The Emergency Response Program: This facility has: a. A written emergency response plan which is incorporated in the written community emergency response plan of Washington County. b. Provided state and local authorities with emergency planning and community right-to-know information as required under SARA Title III (EPCRA). This facilities emergency response program has been discussed with and reviewed by the Washington County Emergency Planning Coordinator. 7 . Planned changes to improve safety: Safety improvement is an on-going process at all the facilities of Royster-Clark Inc. Periodic evaluations are performed to assess the effectiveness of safety practices and the proper maintenance of the facility. There are no additional specific Aqua Ammonia safety recommendations for implementation at this facility at this time. |