ARGYLE CO-OP WHSE ASSN. - Executive Summary |
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ARGYLE CO-OP WHSE. ASSN. 101 EAST 3RD STREET ARGYLE, MN. 56713 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT JEROME WHITLOW, PLANT MANAGER, 218-437-6643 RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. THE FACILITY POLICY THE OWNERS, MANAGEMENT AND THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ARGYLE CO-OP WHSE ASSN ARE COMMITTED TO THE PREVENTION OF ANY ACCIDENTAL RELEASES OF ANNHYDROUS AMMONIA. IF AN ACCIDENTAL RELEASE SHOULD OCCUR, THE FACILITY IS PREPARED TO WORK WITH THE LOCAL FIRE COMPANY, OR OTHER AUTHORITIES, TO MITIGATE ANY RELEASE AND MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF THE RELEASE TO PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT. 2. FACILITY INFORMATION THE PRIMARY ACTIVITY AT THE FACITILY IS THE STORAGE AND BLENDING OF FERTILIZERS FOR SALE TO FARMERS. ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS RECIEVED, STORED AND DISTRIBUTED FOR DIRECT APPLICATION. ANHYDROUS AMMONIA IS USED FOR CROP PRODUCTION NUTRIENTS. THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY OF AMMONIA STORED WOULD BE 510,000 POUNDS IN OUR 30,000 AND 12,000 GALLON STORAGE TANKS, AND 1,000 GALLON NURSE TANKS. THE MAXIMUM Q UANTITY HANDLED WOULD BE THE UNLOADING OF A TANK CAR OF 160,000 POUNDS. 3. THE WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIO AND THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SCENARIO. A. THE WORST-CASE RELEASE SCENARIO FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA WOULD BE THE RELEASE OF THE TOTAL CONTENTS OF A STORAGE TANK RELEASED AS A GAS OVER TEN MINUTES. THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY RELEASED WOULD BE 130,000 POUNDS, WHICH REPRESENTS THE VOLUME OF THE STORAGE TANK AT 85 PERCENT CAPACITY AS LIMITED BY DESIGN STANDARDS. THE DISTANCE TO THE ENDPOINT (POINT OF DISPERSION TO 200 PPM) IS 1.12 MILES. B. THE ALTERNATIVE RELEASE SACENARIO FOR ANHYDROUS AMMONIA BASED ON THE HAZARD REVIEW IS A 2 MINUTE RELEASE FROM A BREAK IN A 3 INCH PIPE. THE DISTANCE TO THE ENDPOINT (POINT OF DISPERSION TO 200 PPM) IS .78 MILES. 4. THE ACCIDENTAL RELEASE PREVENTION PROGRAM. THE FACILITY HAS IMPLEMENTED THE PROVISIONS OF "SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE STORAGE 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, "STORAGE AND HANDLING OF ANHYDROUS AMMONIA". IN ADDITION, MINNESOTA DEPT. OF AG RULES. 5. THE FIVE-YEAR ACCIDENT HISTORY. A. 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, HAVE RESULTED IN OFFSITE DEATHS, INJURIES, EVACUATIONS, SHELTERING IN PLACE, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. 6. THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROGRAM. THE FACILITY HAS: A. A WRITTEN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN, IN ACCORDANCE WITH OSHA STANDARD,29CFR 1910.38 B. PROVIDED STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES THE EMERGENCY PLANNING AND COMMUNITY RIGHT-TO-KNOW INFORMATION AS REQUIRED UNDER SARA TITLE III (EPCRA). C. COORDINATED WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. 7. PLANNED CHANGES TO IMPROVE SAFETY. SAFETY IMPROVEMENT IS AN ON-GOING PROCESS AT THE FACILITY. PERIODIC EVALUATIONS ARE PERFO RMED TO ASSESS THE MAINTENANCE OF SAFE CONDITIONS. THERE ARE NO ADDITIONAL SPECIFIC ANHYDROUS AMMONIA SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION AT THIS TIME. |