GOLDEN BELT COOPERATIVE ASSOC. INC. (NH3) - Executive Summary |
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THE GOLDEN BELT COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION IS AN AGRICULTURAL RELATED RETAIL BUSINESS WHICH SUPPLIES FERTILIZER TO ITS AREA CROP PRODUCERS. THE ANHYDROUS AMMONIA PLANT CONSIST OF 2 TANKS, 1-30,000 AND 1-13,000 GALLON WHICH ARE INSPECTED ANNUALLY BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. WE ARE IN STRICT ADHERANCE WITH ALL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS. THE EMPLOYEES WHO WORK IN THE AMMONIA AREA ARE TRAINED ANNUALLY BY ATTENDING STATE SCHOOLS OR OBSERVING SAFETY VIDEO'S THAT ARE OWNED BY THIS COMPANY. THEY ARE TRAINED IN SAFETY INFORMATION, HAZARDS, OPERATING PROCEDURES AND ABOVE ALL THE MAINTENANCE PRACTICES OF AMMONIA PLANTS. TRAINING INCLUDES SUPERVISORS WHO OBSERVE NEW TRAINEES WHILE FILLING NURSE TANKS. THE WORST CASE SCENARIO WOULD RELEASE 131,000 POUNDS IN A VAPOR CLOUD OR TOXIC RELEASE WITH A DISTANCE TO ENDPOINT OF 1.1 MILES AFFECTING NEARLY 2500 AREA CITIZENS. THIS COMPANY ALWAYS PUTS SAFETY FIRST AND IS WILLING TO PROVIDE AREA PEOPLE WITH THE INFORMATION NEEDED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. OUR EMERGENCY ACTION AND RESPONSE PLAN HAS BEEN SHARED AND DISCUSSED WITH THE ELLIS FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY'VE AGREED TO BE OUR FIRST RESPONDER IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THREE VOLUNTEER FIREMEN ACTUALLY WORK AT THIS FACILITY AND ARE AWARE OF THE SITUATIONS WHICH CAN EXIST AT A COMPANY OF THIS NATURE. |