Benicia Water Treatment Plant - Executive Summary

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CITY OF BENICIA 
WATER TREATMENT PLANT 
BENICIA, CALIFORNIA 
RISK MANAGEMENT PLAN 
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 
 
Background Data 
In accordance with Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 68 (40 CFR 68), promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Article2, Chapter 6.95 of the California Health and Safety Code (HSC), the City of Benicia ("City") submits this Risk Management Plan (RMP) for operations at their Water Treatment Plant ("WTP") in Benicia, California. The City provides potable water to their service area, which coincides with the City limits.  The facility is capable of treating 12 million gallons per day of water.   
Accidental Release Prevention and Emergency Response Policy 
The City is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees, the surrounding community, and the environment; therefore, it is the City's policy to manage a safe and healthy workplace, protect the environment and maintain compliance with safety, health, and environmental reg 
ulations: 40 CFR 68 as well as Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations promulgated as Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 1910, Section 119 (29 CFR 1910.119. This commitment is demonstrated by our comprehensive accidental release prevention program that covers areas such as design, installation, operating procedures, maintenance, and employee training associated with the processes at our facility.  It is our policy to implement appropriate controls to prevent possible releases of regulated substances. 
Stationary Sources and Regulated Substances 
The City is subject to Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act because chlorine, a regulated substance, is present at the facility in amounts greater than 2,500 pounds.  The City is required to treat the water supply so that it meets or exceeds the drinking water quality standards of the California Department of Health Services.  The City uses chlorine (the 112(r) regulated su 
bstance) to disinfect the water.  The City's chlorine disinfection process consists of one-ton chlorine cylinders, a containment vessel, chlorinators, and a piping system that is all under vacuum.  The process and storage cylinders can contain a maximum amount of 10,000 pounds of chlorine. 
Worst-Case Release Scenario 
As required by 40 CFR 68 Subpart B, the City has evaluated a worst-case release scenario for chlorine using the parameters specified by the EPA.  The City's worst-case release scenario is the rupture of a one-ton cylinder of chlorine and the loss of the entire contents over a 10-minute period.  The distance to the toxic endpoint was determined using EPA's RMP Guidance for Waste Water Treatment Plants Reference Tables or Equations.  The following paragraphs provide details of the chosen scenarios. 
 
The toxic liquid released is assumed to form a 1-cm deep pool from which evaporation takes place.  The entire pool is estimated to evaporate over 10 minutes.  The released quanti 
ty has not been limited by administrative controls.  At Class F atmospheric stability and 1.5 m/s windspeed, the maximum distance of 1.3 miles is obtained corresponding to a toxic endpoint of 0.0087 mg/L. 
 
The worst-case release scenario was developed following EPA regulations and is not considered to be a likely release scenario.  Historically throughout the chlorine industry, the rupture of one-ton cylinders is rare.  The rupture of a cylinder outside the building would probably only occur during unloading of the cylinder.  This would be a daytime activity.  The meteorological condition required to be used by the EPA is F stability class.  By definition this stability class only occurs at nighttime.  Therefore, the results of this worst case offsite consequence analysis are extremely conservative. 
Alternative Release Scenario 
A more realistic release scenario (alternative release) was developed by the City taking into consideration the history of operation's experience and the hazard 
s identified in the process hazard analyses (PHAs).  The PHA was conducted to ensure that the City's plant hazards are identified and minimized. These analyses were conducted under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Process Safety Management (PSM) regulations promulgated as Title 29 of the Code of Federal Regulations Chapter 1910, Section 119 (29 CFR 1910.119). 
The most likely alternative release scenario for chlorine involves a vapor release from a break in the flexible 1/4" pigtail tubing.  Potentially 9 lbs of chlorine per minute is released.  However the release is assumed to occur within the Chlortainer chlorine containment vessel, which is located inside the chlorine building.  The Chlortainer vessel is a cylindrical steel ASME pressure vessel.  A flexible pipe connects the chlorine cylinder to a high-pressure penetration fitting in the containment vessel.  A spring-loaded valve, held open by nitrogen pressure, serves as a fail-safe shut-off for the chlorine 
line.  The valve shuts on loss of power, leak detection, or operator action to instantly mitigate a release.  The containment vessel will control at least 90 percent of the release.  Therefore, only 0.9 lbs of chlorine per minute is released.  An operator will be in attendance and should be able to contain the leak within a minute.  Therefore, it is anticipated that less than 1 lb of chlorine could be released.  Under neutral weather conditions, the maximum distance to the toxic endpoint of 0.0087 mg/L of chlorine is <0.1 miles.  This is the minimum distance on the reference tables.  We do not anticipate that the release will go offsite and there will be no impacts. 
General Accidental Release Prevention Program and Chemical-Specific Prevention Steps 
Our facility has taken all the necessary steps to comply with the accidental release prevention program requirements set out under 40 CFR part 68 of the EPA.  The following sections briefly describe the elements of the release prevention p 
rogram that is in place at our stationary source. 
 
Process Safety Information 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant maintains a detailed record of safety information that describes the chemical hazards, operating parameters and equipment designs associated with all processes. 
 
Process Hazard Analysis 
Our facility conducts comprehensive studies to ensure that hazards associated with our processes are identified and controlled efficiently.  The methodology used to carry out these analyses is a Checklist.  Any findings related to the hazard analysis are addressed in a timely manner.  The most recent PHA/update was performed on June 8, 1999. 
Operating Procedures 
For the purposes of safely conducting activities within our covered processes, Benicia Water Treatment Plant maintains written operating procedures.  These procedures address various modes of operation such as initial startup, normal operations, temporary operations, emergency shutdown, emergency operations, normal shutdown and startup aft 
er a turnaround.  The information is regularly reviewed and is readily accessible to operators involved in the processes. 
 
Training 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant has a training program in place to ensure that employees who are operating the processes are competent in the operating procedures associated with these processes.  Refresher training is provided at least every year and more frequently as needed. 
 
Mechanical Integrity 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant carries out documented maintenance checks on process equipment to ensure proper operations.  Process equipment examined by these checks includes among others; containment vessel, one-ton chlorine cylinders, piping systems, relief and vent systems, leak detectors and controls.  Maintenance operations are carried out by qualified personnel with previous training in maintenance practices.  Furthermore, these personnel are offered specialized training as needed.  Any equipment deficiencies identified by the maintenance checks are correct 
ed in a safe and timely manner. 
 
Management of Change 
Written procedures are in place at Benicia Water Treatment Plant to manage changes in process chemicals, technology, equipment and procedures.  The most recent review/revision of management of change procedures was performed on June 10, 1999.  Process operators, maintenance personnel or any other employee whose job tasks are affected by a modification in process conditions are promptly made aware of and offered training to deal with the modification. 
 
Pre-startup Reviews 
Pre-start up safety reviews related to new processes and to modifications in established processes are conducted as a regular practice at Benicia Water Treatment Plant.  The most recent review was performed on June 8, 1999.  These reviews are conducted to confirm that construction, equipment, operating and maintenance procedures are suitable for safe startup prior to placing equipment into operation. 
 
Compliance Audits 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant conducts audits o 
n a regular basis to determine whether the provisions set out under the RMP rule are being implemented.  The most recent compliance audit was conducted on June 8, 1999.  These audits are carried out at least every 3 years and any corrective actions required as a result of the audits are undertaken in a safe and prompt manner. 
 
Incident Investigation 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant promptly investigates any incident that has resulted in, or could reasonably result in a catastrophic release of a regulated substance.  These investigations are undertaken to identify the situation leading to the incident as well as any corrective actions to prevent the release from reoccurring.  All reports are retained for a minimum of 5 years. 
 
Employee Participation 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant truly believes that process safety management and accident prevention is a team effort.  Agency employees are strongly encouraged to express their views concerning accident prevention issues and to recommend improv 
ements.  In addition, our employees have access to all information created as part of the facility's implementation of the RMP rule, including information resulting from process hazard analyses in particular. 
 
Contractors 
On occasion, our agency hires contractors to conduct specialized maintenance and construction activities.  Prior to selecting a contractor, a thorough evaluation of safety performance of the contractor is carried out.  Benicia Water Treatment Plant has a strict policy of informing the contractors of known potential hazards related to the contractor's work and the processes.  Contractors are also informed of all the procedures for emergency response should an accidental release of a regulated substance occur. 
 
 
Five-year Accident History 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant has had an excellent record of preventing accidental releases over the last 5 years.  Due to our stringent release prevention policies, there has been no accidental release during this period that caused a 
ny onsite death, injury or significant property damage, or known offsite death, injury, property damage, environmental damage, evacuations, or sheltering in place. 
 
Emergency Response Plan 
Benicia Water Treatment Plant carries a written emergency response plan to deal with accidental releases of hazardous materials.  The plan includes all aspects of emergency response including adequate first aid and medical treatment, evacuations, notification of local emergency response agencies and the public, as well as post-incident decontamination of affected areas. 
 
To ensure proper functioning, our emergency response equipment is regularly inspected and serviced.  In addition, the plan is promptly updated to reflect any pertinent changes taking place within our processes that would require a modified emergency response. 
 
 
Continuous Efforts to Improve Safety 
Several developments and findings have resulted from the implementation of the various elements of our accidental release prevention progr 
am.  We are pleased with the safety program that we already have implemented.  We plan to continue to improve safety by reviewing, revising, and enhancing our written Standard Operating Procedures.
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