Dutch Quality House I - Executive Summary

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

Dutch Quality House I (DQH1)is a poultry processing facility that stores and uses a chemical that is regulated by EPA's Risk Management Program.  This Chemical is :   Ammonia for refrigeration.  We currently have maximum storage capacities of 18,000 pounds of Ammonia at the DQHI facility. 
 
DQHI believes that the ammonia we store and handle on site has very real and potential dangers.  However, it is important to keep the risks in perspective.   DQHI ammonia storage and handling facilities: 
1.  are properly designed 
2.  have effective operation and maintenance procedures 
3.  employ trained operators and technicians 
4.  periodically conduct safety audits, and 
5.  are constantly upgrading itsr processes to meet or exceed industry standards 
 
DQHI also has taken  a proactive approach towards coordinating emergency efforts with the Oakwood Fire Department.  The Hall County EMA has a copy of our emergency response program and is well trained and prepared to respond to potential spills and lea 
ks that may occur at the  DQHI facility.  The Oakwood Fire Department conducts annual site visits toour facility and is prepared to respond to a possible spill or leak. 
 
A facility which maintains high standards such as DQHI, provides less public risk that a facility that does not provide safe operations.   DQHI complies with Federal OSHA rules and guidelines for safe handling, storage and operation of ammonia systems.  We also utilize outside ammonia system experts to periodically inspect our systems integrity, train system operators and upgrade the system to improve safety. 
 
Because of the large quantity of ammonia DQHI maintains on-site, there is a very small probability that there could be off-site consequences if a major leak occurred.   DQHI used EPA's OCA Guidance to develop a model for off-site consequence analysis of ammonia. 
 
WORST-CASE SPILL 
In the event of a worst-case ammonia release (18,000 pounds in 10-minutes), a .8 mile radius around the DQHI facility may have to be no 
tified and possibly evacutated.  According to 1990 Census Data, 856 people in the surrounding community may be notified that an evacuation may be necessary. 
 
ALTERNATIVE-CASE SPILL 
During the past five years DQHI has had several small releases of ammonia to the atmosphere.  A 990 pound release was used to determine an alternative-release scenario, which would result in a release of ammoinia that may travel .1 miles and may, according to 1990 Census Data, require 21 people in the surrounding community be notified that an evacutation may be necessary.   
 
CONCLUSION 
Poultry Division believes that the poultry industry should proactively inform that public of the potential dangers and the actions that CGC has taken to minimize these dangers.  DQHI has a long-great ongoing relationship with the community.  We encourage any and all citizens who have concerns or questions to contact our facility.  We look forward to continuing our relationship in Hall County.
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