Limon North Fertilizer Facility - Executive Summary |
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For further information, please contact Jeff Moritz, General Manager Risk Management Plan - Executive Summary 1. Facility Policy The owners, management, and employees of Cargill, Inc.'s Limon (North), Colorado, Fertilizer Facility (the Facility) are committed to the prevention of any accidental release of anhydrous ammonia to the environment. If an accidental release were to occur, the facility is prepared to work with the local fire department, local law enforcement, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and all other pertinent authorities, to mitigate any release and minimize the impact of the release to the public and environment. 2. Facility Information The primary activity at the facility is the storage, sale and distribution of anhydrous ammonia, which is used by farmers as fertilizer for crop production nutrients. The maximum quantity stored at the facility is variable, depending on demand. A bulk storage tank at the facility stores 18,000 gallons (84, 117 lbs.), but often times some of the "nurse" tanks (the tanks used for distribution of product) are also filled. These tanks average 1000 gallons (roughly 4700 lbs) in size, and perhaps 50% (or roughly 34 tanks) may be filled at any one time, resulting in the potential of an additional 159,800 lbs being on-site. 3. The Worst-Case Release Scenario and the Alternative Release Scenario a. The worst-case release scenario would be the release of the total content of a bulk storage tank, the largest of which is 18,000 gallons (84,117 lbs.). This release would occur over a period of 10 minutes. The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 parts per million) is 2.23 miles. The assumed atmospheric conditions are a wind speed of 1.5 meters per second, and a highly stable atmosphere (Category F). b. Two alternative release scenarios have been developed and are based on a most likely potential incidents. These are a rupture in a transfer hose or piping, or a rele ase from one of the 1000 gallon nurse tanks (resulting in a total discharge of the tank). The distance to the endpoint (point of dispersion to 200 parts per million) is 0.4 miles for a pipe rupture, and 0.9 miles for the nurse tank rupture . These are based on a rupture or puncture of a hose or piping of 0.5 square inches, and a rupture of 1.0 square inches for the nurse tank. The assumed atmospheric conditions are a wind speed of 3.0 meters per second, and a neutral to slightly stable atmosphere (Category D). 4. The Accidental Release Prevention Program The facility has developed a program which incorporates 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 Heath Administration (OSHA), 29 CFR 1910.111, "Storage and handling of anhydrous ammonia". 5. The Five-year Accident History 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 written emergency action plan that follows OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.38, coordinates with state and local authorities, and provides emergency planning and community right-to-know information as required under SARA Title III (EPCRA). This plan outlines all activities and persons to be contacted in the case of an accidental release of anhydrous ammonia from the facility. 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. There are no additional specific anhydrous ammonia safety recommendations for implementation at th is time. |