Palm Beach County Water Treatment Plant #9 - Executive Summary |
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FOR WTP #9 Regulatory Overview The Clean Air Act was Amended in 1990 and among its many changes, created Section 112(r), Prevention of Accidental Releases. The Environmental Protection Agency instituted 40 CFR Part 68, Chemical Accident Prevention Provisions, as an implementing rule. The purpose of the rule is to set forth requirements to prevent the accidental release of toxic substances and minimize the consequences of any release. The rule is commonly referred to as the Risk Management Plan Rule. The Environmental Protection Agency also finalized a list of 77 toxic and 63 flammable substances with specific threshold quantities. Facilities that handle any of the listed substances above the threshold quantity are subject to the rquirements of the Risk Management Program Rule. Chemical Substance Of the 140 chemical substances on the list, Water Treatment Plant #9 only uses or stores chlorine above the threshold quantity. Five Year Accident History The Ri sk management Program requires the reporting of all accidental releases of covered processes that resulted in deaths, injuries, or significant property damage on site, or known off-site deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property damage, or environmental damage, in the last five years. Water Treatment Plant #9 has had no accidental chlorine releases. Overall Safety The facility implements safety and health policies and procedures that are communicated in the Water Utilities Department Safety and Health Manual. These procedures are designed to protect workers from potential hazards when handling chemicals, operating a process, and maintaining equipment. The Water Utilities Department has also prepared a Safety and Health Policy Statement. A few extractions are as follows: "It is the policy of Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department to ensure that every employee is entitled to a safe and healthful place to work and that activities are conducted in such a man ner as to minimize risk to employees and the surrounding community." "Operational decisions affecting safety and health will receive greater consideration than those affecting productivity." "Management commitment and support is given to all initiatives regarding safety and health." The chlorine system is enclosed in a block constructed building with metal doors. Included in the chlorine system design is a chlorine gas scrubbing system that absorbs and neutralizes any chlorine gas emitted inside the chlorine building. The scrubbing system disallows chlorine gas to escape to the outdoor atmosphere. Water Treatment Plant #9 has been in compliance with OSHA 1910.119 "Process Safety Management of Highly Hazardous Chemicals," for the chlorine system, since May, 1997. The OSHA Standard has a prevention program similar to the Risk Management Program Rule. The Risk Management Program Rule allows the facility to incorporate the requirements of the OSHA Standard and in effect, provide a facility plan that manages a formal prevention program and a emergency response program. The facility meets compliance with both the Risk Management Plan Rule and OSHA's Process Safety Standard. Process Description Overview Chlorine gas is delivered to Water Treatment Plant #9 by truck in 1 ton steel containers (2,000 pounds of chlorine in each container). A bridge crane and hoist are used to off-load the containers from the truck and place them inside the chlorine building in holders called trunnions. This prevents containers from moving. Empty containers are removed from the trunnions and placed on the truck to be returned to the supplier. The chlorine gas process is operated such that only four containers are in use at any time and another four containers are on-line in reserve. The containers being used and the reserve containers are placed on scales. The scales are used to measure chlorine container contents and system usage. A Vacuum regulator is connected to each 1 t on container and in turn is connected to piping that leads to the chlorinators. The chlorinators are connected to piping that leads to the injectors. The chlorination process begins when process water flowing through the injector induces vacuum that is maintained throughout the entire chlorine feed system. The chlorinator is set to allow a specific amount of chlorine gas to travel to the injector. The vacuum allows the vacuum regulators on the chlorine containers to open and allow the chlorine gas to enter the piping system. In any situation that decreases the vacuum in the pipelines, the vacuum regulators on the containers will close. This safety feature prevents chlorine from escaping any part of the system. There are chlorine gas detectors inside the chlorine building. The detectors are set to alarm at 1 part per million and 3 parts per million and activate an audible and visual alarm. At 3 parts per million, the chlorine gas scrubber unit that is interlocked with the detec tor will activate. The scrubber system will maintain a negative pressure inside the chlorine building and draw the chlorine gas to where it will be neutralized. No chlorine gas is expected to be emitted to the outside of the building. The chlorine gas feed system has many built-in safety features that minimizes a chlorine gas release to the atmosphere. They are: Vacuum feed system instead of a pressurized system; Vacuum regulator closes when vacuum is lost (i.e., broken pipe); Vacuum regulator at each container; Chlorine detector and alarm system; Enclosed chlorine gas system (building); Chlorine gas scrubber system; Operational procedures; Emergency action plans. Worst-case Release Scenario The EPA defines worst-case release scenario as a release of the largest quantity of a regulated substance from a vessel or process line failure that results in the greatest distance to a specified endpoint. The EPA has determined that the endpoint for chlorine is 0.0087 milligrams of chlor ine, per liter of air (about 3 parts per million). The endpoint value, determined by the American Industrial Hygiene Association, is a maximum airborne concentration below which it is believed that nearly all individuals could be exposed for up to 1 hour without experiencing or developing irreversible or other serious health effects or symptoms that could impair an individuals ability to take protective action. The worst-case release scenario is an event that is unlikely to occur, but is considered to have the greatest impact on the facility and the community. The facility's worst-case release scenario information may be found in Section 2 of this submittal. Alternative Release Scenario The EPA requires a selection of an alternate release scenario that is more likely to occur than the worst-case release scenario and will reach an endpoint off-site. In this scenario, the endpoint remains the same as 0.0087 milligrams of chlorine, per liter of air (about 3 parts per million). The alternative release scenario is an event that may happen more often than the worst-case release scenario, but has a lesser impact on the community and facility. The facility's alternative release scenario information may be found in Section 3 of this submittal. Accidental Release Prevention Program Both the EPA Risk Management Plan and OSHA Process Safety Management Plan requires a accidental release prevention program. The release prevention program in the Risk management Plan for Water Treatment Plant #9 complies with the requirements of both agencies. The goal of the release prevention program is to reduce the risk to employees and the community of injury or death and the protection of the environment. The prevention program requires in-depth review of the chlorine process and allows for the implementation of key elements or programs that prevent a release. The following is an overview of the release prevention elements at Water Treatment Plant #9. Process Safety Informat ion A gathering of information relative to the chlorine process was obtained. This information includes the hazards of chlorine, the equipment used in the chlorine process such as vacuum regulators, type of piping for chlorine use, chlorinators, detector equipment, scrubber system components, etc. This information is necessary to proceed with a process hazard analysis for the entire chlorine system. Process Hazard Analysis A process hazard analysis is a method of identifying, evaluating, and controlling any risks associated with the chlorine process. A Hazard and Operability Study was used to review the entire chlorine process. Essentially it is a method where all parts of the system (i.e., from delivery of chlorine containers to endpoint of chlorine injected into the processed water) are looked at. Any equipment or existing operational procedure that reveals a potential of a release is scrutinized and recommendations are made that will lessen or eliminate the risk of a releas e. These recommendations are instituted where appropriate. It should be noted that the Hazard and Operability Study is a multidisciplinary team approach that allows the participants to review risk in their area of expertise. Some team members include a Process Hazard Analysis Team Leader, Plant Engineer, Plant Superintendent, Project Engineer, Facility Chief Operator, Industrial Electrician, and a Utility Plant Mechanic. Operating Procedures Written operating procedures are in place for all stages of the chlorine system. The facility uses a Job Safety Analysis format. This format describes steps to be taken in a job task in proper sequence and intergrates critical safety precautions and personal protective equipment necessary to safely perform the task. As examples, there are operating procedures for unloading new chlorine containers, system emergency shutdown, initial startup, chlorine scrubber test, chlorine detector test, etc. Operators are trained and tested in these proc edures. Training The purpose of training is to ensure that personnel working on or near the chlorine process are adequately trained and understand the inherent hazards and appropriate responses. Training is an integral part of preventing and mitigating the effects of accidental releases. The training section of the facility release prevention program specifies who and when an employee is to be trained and what the employee is to be trained on. Training is ongoing and any equipment or procedural change that is made is communicated to the employees. Mechanical Integrity Mechanical integrity is defined as the process of ensuring that process equipment is fabricated from proper materials of construction and is properly installed, maintained, and replaced to prevent failures and accidental releases. The facility Mechanical Integrity program addresses the following: * Identification of critical process equipment and instrumentation; * Written maintenance, testing, and inspection sc hedules and procedures; * Maintenance, testing, and inspection completion and documentation; * Correction of equipment deficiencies; * Quality assurance; * Maintenance personnel training. As part of the preventive maintenance program, equipment mechanical integrity is managed through computer generated work order system. This work order system handles all maintenance aspects of the chlorine system, which includes work order management, planning and scheduling, asset management and tracking, and reports and analysis. Identification of critical equipment is part of the work order system and is scheduled for preventive maintenance in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations. Management of Change Regrading the chlorine system, change is defined as all modifications to raw materials, process technology, facility, equipment, and procedures. Changes not considered as a "replacement in kind" are subject to the facility Management of Change Procedure and will not be performed witho ut authorized approval. Changes that have an effect on the chlorine process may be subject to a Hazard and Operability Study to analyze the change in equipment and conditions that may present risk. Where changes are significant enough to require a change in process safety information, the Management of Change Procedure must be performed in conjunction with the facility Pre-startup Safety Review Procedure. Pre-startup Safety Review A Pre-startup Safety Review is required when changes to the existing chlorine process results in a modification that is significant enough to require a change in process safety information. The purpose of the Pre-startup Safety Review is to ensure that the facility is ready to safely operate the modified chlorine system. The review consists of a chlorine system checklist, approvals by the Plant Engineer, required documentation, operator and maintenance mechanic training, and corrections of any deficiencies discovered in the review. Compliance Audits A Risk Management Program audit will be performed at least once every three years, in accordance with the Risk Management Plan requirements. An internal audit team will perform the audit. The audit will include a review of the facility's Risk Management Program for the chlorine process. This includes required supporting documentation, interviews of personnel, and a walk through and inspection of the chlorine process area. An audit report, documenting all findings will be prepared. This will include a listing of all deficiencies and recommended corrective actions. Plant management will ensure that all actions are resolved, in a timely manner. Chlorine process operators and maintenance mechanics will be informed of all changes. Incident Investigation All chlorine incidents at the facility, which result in or could have resulted in a release of chlorine, will be promptly investigated. The incident investigation procedure is part of the preventive maintenance program. The purpo se of the incident investigation procedure is to identify the underlying causes of an incident and to implement corrective measures to prevent the incident from reoccurring. Chlorine release incidents are communicated immediately to appropriate government agencies. The facility uses an investigative team approach to discover the contributory and root causes of an incident. The Director of Operations and Maintenance establishes the investigation team. Members of the team include the Director of O&M, Plant Superintendent, Regulatory programs Coordinator, Plant Engineer, and affected and/or responding employees. Other individuals with appropriate knowledge will be asked to participate (i.e., plant electrician, plant mechanic, equipment supplier). The team will prepare a report of the findings and submit recommendations that will prevent a similar incident from occurring. All recommendations are resolved. The incident investigation report findings and recommendations are communicat ed to all facility employees. Employee Participation The facility recognizes that it is essential to involve its employees in the development and implementation of this EPA Risk Management and OSHA Process Safety Management Programs. The facility has an Employee Participation Plan procedure as part of its prevention program. It sets forth procedures for involving employees in Process Hazard Analysis and other Risk Management program elements. It also provides procedures for communicating employees rights to access Risk Management Program information, and documenting employee participation. Hot Work Permit The facility has a Hot Work Permit procedure in its prevention program. The purpose of the procedure is to ensure that a hot work permit is issued for all hot work operations performed on or near the chlorine process. Hot work is defined as work involving electric or gas welding, cutting, brazing, or similar flame or spark-producing operations. Chlorine is not flammable, b ut is considered an oxidizer and can support combustion of burning materials. There are practically no materials in the chlorine building that can burn. Emergency Response This treatment facility is limited in its ability to provide a full emergency response to an accidental release of chlorine. Therefore, it is prudent to institute emergency action plans that allow a release to be managed by experienced responders such as Palm Beach County Fire/Rescue Responders and Public Safety Officials. The facility meets compliance with emergency action plans listed in OSHA 1910.38. The emergency action plans are performed on a first responder level which includes the recognition of a chlorine release, appropriate means of reporting a release, site emergency evacuation procedures, and accounting of evacuated personnel. The emeregncy action plan is reviewed by Fire/Rescue personnel. Facility and Fire/Rescue personnel will perform an annual drill at the facility. All facility employees re ceive training on the emergency action plan. Changes to the plan are communicated to all affected personnel. Planned Changes to Improve Safety Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department has devised a plan to eventually eliminate the use of chlorine gas as a disinfectant and use sodium hypochlorite as a safer alternative. |