Sherman County Farm Chemicals & Fertilizer Co., In - Executive Summary |
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We are a fertilizer retail facility. The only material considered hazardous at this facility is anhydrous ammonia. Our facility has one 21,500 gallon tank and one 18,000 gallon tank for storing ammonia, equipment for receiving ammonia by truck and equipment for transferring ammonia from storage to trucks and applicators. It is our policy to meet, or exceed, all local, state, and national standards relating to handling ammonia. We have never had any accidents or releases with off-site consequences. Specific safety features that we employ to minimize the impact of an accidental release include: 1. Pressure relief valves on the storage tank to prevent overpressuring and rupture of the tank. 2. Excess flow valves to prevent flow from the tank if any anhydrous line or hose breaks.. To further ensure safe operation of the facility, our employees are trained in procedures for safe handling of hazardous materials, and in safe operating and maintenance procedures. We have also coordinat ed with the North Sherman Rural Fire Protection Disctrict to respond in the unlikely event of an emergency. As required by the EPA, we have analyzed the worst-case release scenario defined by the EPA. This scenario involves a release of the entire contents of the storage tank. According to information supplied by the EPA the zone of concern from this scenario would extend 5.55 miles from our facility, and would impact the city of Wasco and its school. It is extremely unlikely that an event such as EPAs worst-case release scenario will ever occur. A more probable, but still highly unlikely event, would be an event like a hose break during a truck pull away. According to information supplied by the EPA, the zone of concern from such a release would only extend 2000 feet and might impact one residence, but no hospitals, schools, or commercial areas. |