Western Farm Service; Alpaugh, West Isle Prod'n. - Executive Summary

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

Agrium / Western Farm Service 
Alpaugh Facility 
 
 
1.  Facility Accidental Release Policy 
 
The owners, management, and employees of Western Farm Service's Alpaugh facility (herein referred to as the Facility) at 3201 Avenue 54, Alpaugh, California, 93201 are committed to the prevention of any accidental release 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 any release and minimize the impact of the release to people and the environment.  A detailed emergency response plan has been developed and will be implemented in the event of an accidental release. 
 
2.  Facility Information 
 
The primary activity at the Facility is the storage, blending, and sale of fertilizers. 
 
Anhydrous ammonia is received, stored, and distributed for both direct application and for blending into mixed grade fertilizers for crop production nutrients.  Anhydrous Ammonia is also used in the production of  
ammonium polyphosphate fertilizer. 
 
Anhydrous ammonia is stored in two 30,000-gallon storage tanks (bullets) at the site.  The maximum quantity of anhydrous ammonia handled in this process is 306,000 pounds. 
 
3.  The Worst-Case Release Scenario and Alternative Release Scenario 
 
A.  Anhydrous Ammonia Worst-Case and Alternative Release Scenarios   
The worst-case release scenario is failure of the largest storage tank when filled to the greatest amount releasing 128,000 pounds of anhydrous ammonia, which represents the volume of the largest storage tank at 85% capacity as limited by regulations.  The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 ppm) is 6.9 miles.   The alternative release scenario, based on the PHA scenarios (or the most likely potential incident) and  is a release of 67,800 pounds of anhydrous ammonia from a broken 4-inch diameter pipe.  The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 ppm) is 3.1 miles. 
 
4.  Accidental Release Prevention Program 
 
Anhydro 
us Ammonia:  The Facility has implemented the provisions of the "Safety Requirements for Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia, K-61.1", published by the American National Standards Institute, Inc.; California Code of Regulations, Title 8, Subchapter 1, "Unfired Pressure Vessel Safety Orders"; and the standards of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.111, "Storage and Handling of Anhydrous Ammonia." 
 
5.  Five-year Accident History 
 
a. There have been no accidental releases or near misses of anhydrous ammonia in the past five years that: 
 
1.  Have caused any deaths, injuries, or significant property damage at the facility; nor 
 
2.  Have resulted in off-site deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property  damage, or environmental damage. 
 
6.  The Emergency Response Program 
 
The facility's emergency response program was written in accordance with the following regulations: 
 
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.38; 
 
OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120; and 
 
Section 255 
03, Division 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code 
 
7.  Planned Changes to Improve Safety 
 
Safety improvement is an on-going process at the facility.  Periodic evaluations are performed to assess the maintenance of safe conditions.  Specific planned changes to the anhydrous ammonia process at the facility are listed in the Facility PHAs. In summary, planned changes address the review and development of Standard Operating Procedures for regulated onsite processes.
Click to return to beginning