BASF, Beaumont Plant - Executive Summary |
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RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Commitment to the Community BASF Corporation has a long tradition of operating its facilities in the safest possible manner. BASF also believes in being a responsible corporate citizen and maintaining open, constructive dialogue with our neighbors. These principles are an integral part of our corporate vision statement and values. We believe that sharing this information with our neighbors makes good sense. By doing so, we believe the community will better understand how safe and ecologically sound BASF operations are. Policies BASF Corporation has the following Corporate Guidelines related to environmental, health and safety: * We produce products that are safe to manufacture, use and dispose of. * We assist our customers to use our products safely and in environmentally sound manner. We provide them with information on correct handlng of our products. * We minimize the impact on mankind and the environment during production, storag e, transportation, marketing and use of our products. * Economic considerations do not take priority over environmental protection, health and safety. * An important contribution to "Sustainable Development" is our involvement in the "Responsible Care" initiative worldwide. This applies to our products and services in all our businesses and affiliates. * We are committed to making continuous improvements in safety, health and environmental protection. We do this acting on our own initiative and in consultation with recognized regulatory authorities. We take any action judged to be necessary, whether or not dictated by statutory obligation or official regulations. * We encourage safety, environmental and health awareness among employees. * We regard it as an important corporate duty to advance science and technology in order to improve safety and environmental protection. * We carefully weigh the potential benefits and risks of new discoveries and technologies in dialogue with scientists and society before deciding on how to proceed. *We pursue an open dialogue with all relevant opinion leaders in society. Our goals are to promote and strengthen mutual understanding and deepen trust in what we do. The BASF Corporation Beaumont Site implements these policies through site-specific programs and procedures. Facility Description The BASF Corporation Beaumont Site produces several brands of trade name herbicides. These include Banvel(R), Clarity(R), Distinct(R), and Frontier(R), as well as a variety of other formulations, which are used in the farm sector to enhance growth, to eliminate weeds, and to improve the yield in general. Chlorine, dimethylamine, methyl chloride, and methyl chloroformate are used to produce some of these products. Release Scenarios Worst Case * Toxic gas release of chlorine with off-site impacts resulting from rupture of a chlorine railcar. * Vapor cloud explosion resulting from the release of dimethylami ne from a railcar with off-site impacts. Alternative * Vessel leak of chlorine with minimal off-site impact. Active mitigation that is available but not accounted for in determining the off-site impact includes firewater sprays to limit gas evolution as well as a flow- limiting valve. * Vessel leak of methyl chloride with no off-site impact. Passive mitigation considered is a dike and active mitigation includes a foam sprinkler system. * Vapor cloud explosion resulting from the release of dimethylamine with minimal off-site impact. Active mitigation consists of diluting anhydrous dimethylamine with water upon receiving it, which drastically reduces its flammability. * A pipe leak of methyl chloroformate with minimal off-site impact. Passive mitigation includes a dike. Active mitigation includes a deluge, sprinkler and neutralization system. Accidental Release Prevention Program To prevent accidental releases, this facility is in compliance with the EPA Risk Management Program and the OSHA Process Safety Management standard. Extensive efforts have been made to avoid situations that could provide the conditions which could lead to the release of any chemical used on site. These efforts include (1) HAZOP or Zurich analysis of all new or modified systems, (2) Pre-startup safety reviews, and (3) Specific operating procedures for normal conditions as well as emergency situations. Five Year Accident History Emergency Response Program This facility has an emergency response plan that is coordinated with the local emergency planning commission. The site is a member of the Sabine Area Chiefs Association, which is a mutual aid group, and assists the Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Commission. The site maintains a complete fire fighting facility manned by volunteer employees who receive extensive training. This training consists of offsite training as well as regularly scheduled on-site drills. A plant wide system of fi re water piping with emergency pumps and power. A system of foam generators are available wherever flammable solvents are stored and throughout the tank farm. Planned Changes to Improve Safety Facility processes are routinely changed to improve safety as a result of employee suggestions, process hazard analyses, incident investigations, etc. |