Farmers Union Oil Company, Wegdahl NH3 Plant - Executive Summary

| Accident History | Chemicals | Emergency Response | Registration | Source | Executive Summary |

Farmers Union Oil Company                                                                                                                              Wegdahl Anhydrous Ammonia Plant 
2040 CoRd. 15                                                                                                                                            Wegdahl, Minnesota 56265 
 
The board of directors, management, and employees of Farmers Union Oil Company are committed to the prevention of any accidential releases of anhydrous ammonia.  If an accidential release should occur,  the facility is prepared to work with the Montevideo Fire Department, or other authorities, to minimize the impact of the release to people and the environment.   
 
The primary activity at the facility is the storage of anhydrous ammonia and loading nurse tanks for delivery  
to the farm for application.  
 
Anhydrous ammonia is received, stored, and distributed for direct application for crop nutrients. 
 
The maximum quantity stored wo 
uld be 288,400 lbs. in one 26,000 and one 30,000 gallon  tank.  The maximun quanity handled would be the unloading of a transport truck vessel containing 53,000 pounds. 
 
The worst case senerio would be the release of the total contents of a storage tank release over ten minutes.  The maximum quantity would be 131,325 pounds representing 85 percent of the largest tank  capacity, as limited by design standards.    
 
The alternate release scenario based on a two minute release is a release from a break in a three inch transfer hose.  The distance to the endpoint in this case would be .81 miles. 
 
The facility has implemented the provissions of "Safety Requirements for the Starage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia, K-61.1", published by The American National Standards Institute, Inc. and the standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),29 CFR 1910.111, "Starage and handling of anhydrous ammonia". 
 
There have been no accidental releases of Anhydrous Ammonia in th 
e past five years at this site. 
 
Farmers Union Oil Company  has a written action plan, in accordance with OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.38; provided state and local authorities with emergency planning and community right-to-know information as required under SARA Title III (EPRCA). 
 
Farmers Union Oil Company will coordinate this plan with the local emergency responders. 
 
Safety improvement is an on-going process at the facility.  Periodic evaluations are performed to access the maintenance of safety conditions.  There are no additional specific anhydrous ammonia safety recommendations for implementations at this time. 
                                                                                                                                                                   Employees and management have been very informed on Safety Practices.  The company has several employees on the local fire department which makes the information and fire drill practices at this site happen more of 
ten.
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