Martin Ag Service, Inc. - Executive Summary

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Martin Ag Service, Inc. 
Contact:  Barbara Martin 
319-689-5482 
 
1. Facility Policy 
The owners, management and employees of Martin Ag Service are committed to the prevention of any accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia.  If an accidental release should occur, the facility is prepared to work with the local fire department, or other authorities, to mitigate and minimize the impacts of the release to the people and the environment. 
 
2. Fackility Information 
The primary activity at the facility is the storage of fertilizers for sale to farmers.  Anhydrous ammonia is received, stored and distributed for direct application as a nutrient for crop production.   The maximum quantity of anhydrous ammonia stored  in storage tanks and nurse tanks would be 320,000 pounds. 
 
3. Worst-case Scenario and the Alternate Release Scenario 
 
a.  The worst-case scenario would be the release of the total contents of a storage tank released as gas over a period of 10 minutes.  The maximum quantity of anhydrous 
ammonia released would be 79,000 pounds, which represents the volume of the largest storage tank at 85 percent capacity as limited by design standards and administrative controls.  The distance to the end point (point of dispersion to 200 parts per million, or ppm) is 0.9 mile. 
 
b.  The alternate release scenario: a 3-inch transfer hose is used as an alternate scenario followed by release of ammonia for 2 minutes before an automatic excess flow shut-down valve/valves intervenes or remote manual shuyt-off is closed and stops the flow of ammonia.  The maximum quantity released would be 28,000 pounds.  The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 ppm) is 0.6 mile  (The most likely potential incident, would be a release from a break in a 1-inch transfer hose release scenario followed by release of ammonia for 2 minutes before an automatic excess flow shut-down valve/valves intervenes or remote manual shut-off is closed and stops the flow of ammonia.  The maximum quantity relea 
sed would be 2,901 pounds.  The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to to 200 ppm) is .22 miles). 
 
4.  Accidental Release Prevention Program 
The facility is in compliance with the provisions of "Safety Requirements for the Storage and handling of Anhydrous Ammonia, K-61.1" published by the American National Standards Institutte, 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-Chap;ter 43-Rule 43.6(200)-Standard for the storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia.  The OSHA standard is referenced in this RMP Registration Form, see Section 8.3 (b). 
 
5. Five Year Accident History. 
There has been no accidental releases of anhydrous ammonia  in the past five years that have caused any deaths, injuries or significant property damage at the facility, nor to our knowledge, has there been any a 
ccidental releases resulting in off-site deaths, injuries, evacuations, property damage, or environmental damage. 
 
6.  Emergency Action Plan 
Our 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 our facility.  Periodic evaluations are performed to assess the maintenance of safe conditions of the facility.  There are no additional specific safety recommendations regarding storage or use of anhydrous ammonia for implementation at this time.
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