COOPERATIVE ELEVATOR & SUPPLY, EDWARDS PLANT - Executive Summary |
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COOPERATIVE ELEVATOR AND SUPPLY COMPANY OF MEADE, KANSAS (EDWARDS BRANCH) IS AN ACCRICULTURAL RETAIL BUSINESS WHICH SPECIALIZES IN AGRICULTURAL INPUTS, AT THIS BRANCH IT IS ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. OUR PLANT CONSISTS OF TWO 12,000 GALON TANKS WITH A TOTAL CAPACITY OF 106,000 POUNDS, WHEN FILLED TO 85%. THE FACILITY IS INSPECTED EACH YEAR BY THE KANSS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, AND WE COMPLY WITH ALLTHEIR REQUESTS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. THE PLANT STRICTLY ADHERES TO ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS. OUR WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD BE RELEASE OF 53,000 POUNDS WITH A DISTANCE TO ENDPOINT OF 1.89 MILES AND HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO EFFECT 15 PEOPLE WHOM RESIDE IN THIS RURAL AREA. THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE WOULD BE A TRANSFER HOSE RUPTURE, RELEASEING APPROXIMATELY 11,908 LBS, WITH A DISTANCE TO ENDPOINT OF .83 MILES AND EFFECTING APPROXIMATELY 5 AREA RESIDENTS. OUR EMPLOYEES ARE TRAINED ANNUALLY ON THE EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, OPERATIONAL PRODEDURES, MAINTENANCE, AND THE HAZZARDS INVOLVED IN HANDLING ANHYDROUS AMMONIA. WE ARE PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THIS FACILITY HAS BEEN ACCIDENT FREE FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, AND WITH OUR CONTINUED EFFORT TO PROMOTE SAFETY THROUGH TRAINING AND BY EXAMPLE WE HOPE TO CONTINUE THIS GOOD RECORD. OUR EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN HAS BEEN SHARED WITH THE MEADE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND THE COUNTY LEPC. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE DANGERS OF NH3, AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN A TOUR OF OUR FACILITY. THEY HAVE AGREED TO BE OUR FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. |