Farmers Coop Association, Anisworth, Ia. - Executive Summary

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Risk Management Plan - Executive Summary 
 
Facility:      Farmers Coop Association, Ainsworth, Ia. 
Contact:    Greg Giardino 
Phone:       319-657-3661 
 
1.  Facility Policy. 
 
    The owners, management and employees of Farmers Coop Association (Ainsworth) are 
    committed to the prevention of any accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia and propane. 
    If an addidental release should occur, the facility is prepared to work with the local fire 
    department, or other authorties, to mitigate and minimize the impacts of the release to the 
    people and the environment. 
 
2.  Facility Information. 
 
    The primary activity at the facility is the storage and blending of fertilizers for sale to 
    farmers.  Anhydrous ammonia is received, stored and distributed for both direct  
    application and for blending into mixed-grade fertilizers for crop production nutrients. 
    Anhydrous ammonia is stored at the facility in one 30,000-gallon storage tank.  The 
    maximum quantity of a 
nhydrous ammonia stored would be 127,500-pounds.  Propane 
    is stored in two 30,000-gallon storage tanks.  The maximum quantity of propane 
    stored would be 188,700-pounds. 
 
3.  Worst-Case Scenario and Alternate Release Scenerio 
 
    a.     The worst-case scenerio for each chemical would be the release of the total 
            contents of the largest storage tank released as gas over a period of 10 minutes. 
 
            Anhydrous Ammonia - The maximum quantity released would be 127,500 
            pounds, which represents the volume of the largest storage tank at 85 percent 
            capacity as limited by design standards.  The distance to the end point (point of 
            dispersion of the gas to 200 parts per million, or ppm) is 2.6 miles. 
 
            Propane - The maximum quantity released would be 94,400 pounds, which 
            represents the volume of the largest storage tank at 85 percent capacity as limited 
            by design standards.  The distance to 
the end point is 0.4 miles.  The endpoint 
            represents the lateral extent of a pressure wave of 1 psi overpressure from an 
            assumed explosion of the gas. 
 
    b.     The alternate release scenarios, based on the most likely potential incident, or the 
            five-year accident history, are: 
 
            Anhydrous Ammonia - A release from a break in a 3-inch transfer hose, lasting 2 
            minutes before automatic or manual shut-off intervenes to stop the flow.  The 
            maximum quantity released would be 26,640 pounds.  The distance to the 
            endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 ppm) is 1.6 miles. 
 
            Propane - A release from a hose rupture in a 4-inch hose 25-feet long caused by a 
            pull-away.  The active mitigation devices are assumed to work as designed, 
            limiting the release to the contents of the hose, a maximum of 69 pounds.  The 
            distance to the end point (point of 1 psi overpress 
ure) is 0.03 miles, or 175 feet. 
 
4.  Accidental Release Prevention Program. 
 
    The facility has been reviewed for general compliance with applicable standards for 
    storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia and propane. 
 
    The standards for anhydrous ammonia include the provisions of "Safety Requirements 
    for the Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia, K-61.1", published by The 
    American National Standards Institute, Inc. (ANSI), and the standards of the U.S. 
    Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.111, "Storage 
    and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia".  The ANSI Standard has been adopted by 
    reference by Iowa Administrative Code Part-21-Chapter 43- Rule 43.6(200) - Standard 
    for the storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia. 
 
    The applicable standard for propane is National Protection Association Standard 58 
    "Standard for the Storage and Handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gases", 1992 Edition 
    (NFPA-58).  The standar 
d is referenced in the Registration Form Section 8.3.b. 
 
5.  Five-Year Accident History. 
 
    There have been no accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia or propane in the past five 
    years that: have caused any deaths, injuries or significant property damage at the facility; 
    nor to our knowledge, have resulted in off-site deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in 
    place, property damage, or environmental damage. 
 
6.  Emergency Reponse Program. 
 
    The Facility has: 
 
    a.     a written action plan, in accordance with OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.38; 
 
    b.     provided state and local authorities with the emergency planning and community 
            right-to-know information as required under SARA Title III (EPCRA). 
 
7.  Planned Changes to Improve Safety. 
 
    Safety improvement is an on-going process at the facility.  Periodic evaluations are 
    performed to assess the maintenance of safe conditions.  There are no additional specific 
    recommendations regard 
ing storage or use of annhydrous ammonia and propane for 
    implementation at this time.
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