HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS - Executive Summary |
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HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS IS STRONGLY COMMITTED TO THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ITS EMPLOYEES, OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS, VISITORS ETC.. AS WELL AS THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. IN ADDITION HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS BELIEVES IN PRESERVING OUR ENVIRONMENT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THIS COMMITTMENT IS AN INHERENT PART OF OUR PLANT DAILY OPERATION. PERSONNEL SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMTNAL ISSUES ARE WILL NOT BE SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO ENHANCE PLANT PROFITABILITY. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS APPROACH IS TO BE PRO-ACTIVE RATHER THAN REACTIVE THROUGH EMPLOYEE, CONTRACTOR, AND OTHER OUTSIDE CONTRACTING PERSONNEL DOCUMENTED TRAINING. OUR FACILITY'S PRIMARY ACTIVITY IS ETHANOL PRODUCTION FROM CORN. ETHANOL IS DENATURED WITH NATURAL GASOLINE AND STORED ON SITE UNTIL SHIPPED. WE UTILIZED EPA'S OCA GUIDANCE REFERENCE TABLES AND EQUATIONS FOR THE WORST CASE AND ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO OF THE REQUIRED OFF SITE CONSEQUENCES. THE WORST CASE RELEASE SCENARIO INVOLVES A CATASTROPHIC RELEASE OF OF THE ENTIRE CONTENTS OF THE DENATURANT STORAGE TANK (105,00 GAL). UNDER NEUTRAL WEATHER CONDITIONS THE AFFECTED AREA WAS .38 MILE IN CIRCULAR PATTERN AROUNDTHE TANK WITH A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE. THE ALTERNATIVE SCENARIO INVOLVED A POOL FIRE, WITH THE AFFECTED AREA BEING .11 MILE IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN AROUND THE TANK WITH A POPULATION OF APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE. THE RELEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM CONSISTS OF BUT IS NOT LIMITED TOO: 1. MAINTAINING A DETAILED RECORD OF SAFETY INFORMATION THAT DESCRIBES THE CHEMICAL HAZARDS, OPERATING PARAMETERS AND EQUIPMENT DESIGNS ASSOCIATED WITH ALL PROCESSES. 2. PROCESS HAZARD ANALYSIS HAS BEEN CONDUCTED FOR THE AFFECTED PROCESS WITH THE HAZARDS IDENTIFIED AND CONTROLLED. ANY FINDINGS FROM THE HAZARD ANALYSIS ARE ADDRESSED IN A TIMELY MANNER. 3. OPERATING PROCEDURES ARE ON THE PLANT SITE AND REVIEWED WITH EMPLOYEES REGULARLY, NEW EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED IN PROCEDU RES THROUGH ORAL COMMUNICATION, WRITTEN COMMUNICATION AND ON THE JOB TRAINING. 4. EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED IN PROCEDURES AND ENCOURAGED TO SEEK OUT HELP IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. IF UNSURE DON'T PERFORM THE JOB FUNCTION. 5. WRITTEN PROCEDURES ARE IN PLACE, CONTINUED TRAINING OF EMPLOYEES IS ONGOING TO ENSURE THAT EMPLOYEES ARE COMPETENT IN THE OPERATING PROCESSES. 6. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS CONDUCTS DOCUMENTED MAINTENANCE CHECKS OF PROCESS EQUIPMENT TO ENSURE PROPER OPERATION. MAINTENANCE CHECKS ARE PERFORMED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL WITH PREVIOUS TRAINING IN MAINTENANCE PRACTICES. EXAMPLES OF EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD RECEIVE MAINTENANCE CHECKS INCLUDE: PIPES, PUMPS, TANKS, RELIEF VALVES, CONTROLS ETC. THE HOLD HARMLESS AGREEMENT WITH CONTRACTORS REQUIRE PROCESS MODIFICATIONS TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE CODES. 7. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS CONDUCTS PRE-STARTUP TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES WHEN A NEW PROCESS IS ADDED OR MODIFICATION HAS BEEN MADE TO EXISTING AFFECTED PROCESS. 8. HEA RTLAND CORN PRODUCTS WILL CONDUCT COMPLIANCE AUDITS OF PROCEDURES WITH EMPLOYEES OF AFFECTED PROCESSES ON A REGULAR BASIS. 9. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS BELIEVES THAT PROCESS SAFETY MANAGEMENT AND ACCIDENT/INCIDENT PREVENTION IS A TEAM EFFORT. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS BELIEF IS TO BE PRO-ACTIVE NOT REACTIVE. 10. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS HAS AN EXCELLENT SAFETY RECORD. SINCE THE START-UP OF HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS IN 1995, THERE HAS NOT BEEN ONE INCIDENT OF AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE. 11. HEARTLAND CORN PRODUCTS MAINTAINS A WRITTEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE ON SITE TO DEAL WITH ACCIDENTAL RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. THE PLAN ADDRESSES ALL ASPECTS OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE INCLUDING FIRST AID, EVACUATION, AND PROPER NOTIFICATION OF LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES. |