North Chicago Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary |
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ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE POLICIES The North Chicago Water Treatment Plant (NCWTP) uses chlorine, a chemical considered hazardous and toxic by USEPA, to disinfect the drinking water supply. Because chlorine is toxic, it is necessary to observe certain precautions in handling it in order to prevent unnecessary human exposure and to reduce the threat to the population living or working on adjacent properties. It is the policy of the NCWTP to adhere to all applicable Federal and State rules and regulations. Safe handling of chlorine depends on adherence to safe handling procedures, incorporation of proper safety devices into the design of the chlorine facility, and adequate training of all facility personnel with respect to handling procedures and safety devices. The Emergency Response Plan includes procedures for notification of the North Chicago Fire Department and any potentially affected neighbors. THE STATIONARY SOURCE AND REGULATED SUBSTANCES HANDL ED The NCWTP purifies water for use as drinking water in the City of North Chicago. In addition, it supplies disinfected water to Abbott Labs for use in cooling towers. Chlorine is supplied to the facility in 1-ton cylinders by delivery trucks. The storage capacity of the facility is 16,000 pounds (8 one-ton cylinders). Access to the chlorine room is restricted to authorized Water Department employees and management personnel, and to vendor delivery personnel. RELEASE SCENARIOS The Worst-Case Scenario is the failure of a storage cylinder containing 2,000lb of chlorine. For assumed conditions of 1.5 m/s wind velocity, F stability class, and 25 C temperature at 50% humidity, the distance to the endpoint of 0.0087mg/L for a 2,000-lb release in a 10-minute time period is 1.3 miles for an urban area. A 1.3-mi radius from the NCWTP includes the Great Lakes Naval Training Facility, most of the City of North Chicago and part of the City of Waukegan, or an estimated total population of 25,000. The assumed Alternate Scenario is the failure of a safety valve, and is based on an actual occurrence. For assumed conditions of 3 m/s wind velocity, D stability class, and a 3/4-in valve, the distance to the endpoint for an urban area was found to be 0.2 mi. Other alternate scenarios were evaluated but found to have smaller release rates and consequently smaller distances to the endpoint. ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION This facility complies with EPAs Accidental Release Prevention Rule, OSHAs Process Safety Management Rule and all applicable State codes and regulations. FIVE-YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY An accidental release occurred on 4/28/1998, as a result of a broken valve. There were no off-site injuries or off-site damage. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM The Emergency Response Program for the NCWTP was based on Pamphlet 64 of the Chlorine Institute and emergency response protocols contained in SARA Title III. |