Western Farm Service, Brawley - Executive Summary

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Agrium / Western Farm Service 
Brawley Facility 
 
 
1.  Facility Accidental Release Policy 
 
The owners, management, and employees of Western Farm Service's Brawley facility (herein referred to as the Facility) at 1025 Riberdrive Street, Brawley, California, 92227 are committed to the prevention of any accidental release of aqua 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, in addition to, the sale of pre-packaged agricultural chemicals to farmers.  
 
Aqua ammonia (upto 30% of ammonia by weight) is produced and stored at the site using an aqua ammonia convertor and stored in one 50, 
000-gallon above ground tank at the site. The maximum quantity of aqua ammonia handled is 375,000 pounds.  The total quantity of ammonia present in the aqua ammonia, based on 30% active ingredient by weight, is 112,500 pounds.   
 
3.  The Worst-Case Release Scenario and Alternative Release Scenario 
 
A.  Aqua Ammonia Worst-Case and Alternative Release Scenarios   
The worst-case scenario is failure of the largest storage tank when filled to the greatest amount would release 375,000 pounds of aqua ammonia solution within the secondary containment structure.  The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 ppm) is 4.10 miles.  The alternative release scenario, based on the PHA scenarios (or the most likely potential incident) is a release of 10,000 pounds of aqua ammonia solution from a storage tank modeled with an increased wind speed and "D" Stability modeling parameters.  The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 ppm) is 0.19 miles. 
 
4.  Accidental Release Prevent 
ion Program 
 
Aqua 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 aqua 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 
 

ection 25503, 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 aqua 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.
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