Fresno Product Supply Center - Executive Summary |
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The Fresno Product Supply Center is a food distribution warehouse that contains refrigerated areas for perishable items. The refrigerated areas of the warehouse are cooled by an anhydrous ammonia refrigeration system. Anhydrous ammonia, a substance regulated by EPA, is one of the most economical refrigerants available. However, the properties of ammonia makes it necessary to observe certain safety precautions while operating the refrigeration system to prevent employee exposure, and to reduce the threat of exposure to nearby members of the community. The Fresno Product Supply Center has opted to follow the California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP), Program Level 3, to prevent a release of ammonia from the refrigeration system. The amount of ammonia estimated to be contained inside the refrigeration system is 1,800 pounds. The Fresno Product Supply Center complies with California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP), and applicable state codes and regulat ions to prevent a catastrophic release of ammonia. The ammonia refrigeration system has been constructed according to the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration guidelines (IIAR). The operators of the systems are required to complete a training and certification program to operate the ammonia refrigeration systems. The California Accidental Release Prevention Program (CalARP) does not guarantee against an accidental release. An offsite consequence analysis was completed using a computer model to simulate a release of the ammonia from the refrigeration system. The worst case scenario considered the loss of the total charge of 1,800 pounds of anhydrous ammonia in the refrigeration system over a 10-minute period. The analysis showed that the release could travel approximately 1,412 yards (4,236 feet). There are approximately 3,217 residents within the potentially affected area. There are other public receptors (school, industrial/commercial buildings) in the potentially affected area but no environmental receptors. For the alternative scenario, it was determined that a release could travel approximately 258 yards (774 feet). There are public receptors (industrial/commercial buildings) in the potentially affected area. No administrative controls or mitigation measures were used to limit the chemical release distances for either scenario. The Fresno Product Supply Center has an established Emergency Response Plan to respond to emergencies. The plan was developed in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120 Emergency Response Plan. The plan requires Fleming associates to exit the facility during a fire or ammonia release to a safe area. The emergency agencies will be notified of the emergency. The emergency agencies will notify any potentially affected neighbors. Fleming maintenance associates will be available as a resource during an ammonia release emergency. The plan also addresses natural hazard emergencies, fires, bomb threats, civil disturbances, and utility outages. This location has not experienced an ammonia release in the past 5 years. The Fresno Product Supply Center wanted to evaluate the potential failures of the refrigeration system, and if the safeguards were sufficient to prevent a catastrophic release of ammonia. A Process Hazard Analysis was completed on the refrigeration system on February 24 - 28, 1997. Planned changes to improve safety resulting from this analysis are documented in the Process Hazard Analysis report in the Accidental Chemical Release Prevention Rule. Also, the guidelines from the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration (IIAR) will be followed where applicable, to manage the refrigeration system. |