Bob's Farm Center, Inc. - Executive Summary

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Risk Management Plan-Executive Summary 
 
Facility:  Bob's Farm Center, Conrad, Iowa 
Contact:  Todd Reel 
Phone:     641-366-2720 
 
 
1.    Facility Policy. 
 
   The  owners, management and employees of Bob's Farm Center 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, Grundy County LEPC, and/or other authorities, to mitigate and minimize the impacts of the release to the people and the environment. 
 
2.    Facility Information. 
 
   Bob's Farm Center leased this facility from Alexander Enterprises as of February 1, 2000, and is operated by the same employees in the same manner as it has been for the last 20 years.  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 stored would be 230,000 pounds in 
storage tanks and nurse tanks. 
 
3.    Worst-Case Scenario and 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 released would be 270,000 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 0.60 miles. 
 
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 shut-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 0.60 mile.  (The most likely potential incident, would be a release from a break in a 1-inc 
h 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 released would be 2,901 pounds.  The distance to the endpoit (point of dispersion 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 Institute, 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-Chapter 43-Rule 43.6(200), "Standard for the storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia".  The OSHA standard is referenced in the RMP Registration Form, see Section 8.3 (b). 
 
5.    F 
ive-Year Accident History. 
 
There have 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 accidentally releases resulted in off-site deaths, injuries, evacuations, property damage, or environmental damage 
 
 
6.    Emergency Action Plan. 
 
The 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 the facility.  Periodic evaluations are performed to assess the conditions of Bob's Farm Center.  There are no additional specific safety recommendations regarding storage or use of anhydrous ammonia for implementation at this time.
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