Source: https://toxicrisk.com/reports/8680/summary.htm
Timestamp: 2020-04-08 09:02:57
Document Index: 175298801

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68', 'art 68']

Genpak LLC - Montgomery - Executive Summary
Isopentane is delivered to the Genpak - Montgomery facility via tank truck. The tank truck is unloaded into a 12,000 gallon aboveground storage tank using a transfer pump. The facility has administrative controls in place which limit the capacity of the tank to 85% of its capacity, therefore, the maximum amount of isopentane which can be stored in the tank is 10,200 gallons (52,734 pounds). A vapor recovery system prevents the release of isopentane vapors to the atmosphere during the transfer. Isopentane is pumped from the storage tank to the isopentane p
ump room where it the pressure is increased so it can be injected into one of the 4 extruders.
As a result of the manufacturing process, isopentane is stored at the facility in quantities that exceed the threshold quantity specified by EPA regulations. Genpak - Montgomery has one covered process that requires compliance with Program 3 of the EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) regulation.
Genpak - Montgomery is committed to protecting facility personnel, the public and the environment from any workplace and accidental release hazards. Appropriate responses to releases of regulated chemicals are documented in the Hazard Communication Plan.
In accordance with the requirements of the EPA RMP reg
ulations Genpak performed the following offsite consequence analyses.
The following are brief descriptions of the release scenarios that are being submitted by Genpak in the Risk Management Plan (RMPlan). Genpak elected to use the look-up tables contained in the EPA Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance document to calculate estimated release rates and to determine the distances to the appropriate flammable endpoints.
The Federal Register dated May 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 101) page 28697 states that the following changes to ' 68.25 have been made by EPA: "For regulated flammable substances that are normally liquids at ambient temperatures, the owner or operator shall assume that the entire quantity in the vessel or pipe, as determined under ' 68.25(b), is spilled instantaneously to form a liquid pool. The owner or operator shall assume that the quan
tity which becomes vapor in the first 10 minutes is reported as the quantity released." Genpak elected to use the look-up tables contained in the EPA Offsite Consequence Analysis Guidance document (April 1999) to calculate estimated release rates and to determine the distances to the appropriate flammable endpoints.
Therefore, the worst-case release scenario for Genpak LLC - Montgomery facility was calculated assuming that the entire contents of an above ground tank containing 10,200 gallons (52,734 pounds) of isopentane is spilled instantaneously to form a liquid pool in the diked area located underneath the storage tank. The quantity of isopentane that is evaporated from the liquid pool in the first ten minutes of the release was then assumed to form a vapor cloud within the upper and lower flammability limits, and the cloud detonates. Ten percent of the flammable vapor in the cloud is assumed to participate in the explosion. Using Equation C-1 from the guidance document, the di
stance to an overpressure level of 1 psi from the explosion of the vapor cloud was calculated to be 0.10 miles (528 feet). There are no environmental receptors located within the 0.10 mile radius. However, there are major commercial/office/industrial areas within this radius.
The alternative release scenario for the Genpak LLC - Montgomery facility was calculated assuming an O-ring failure which results in a &lt; -inch hole in the union located on the 3-inch unloading line, underneath the storage tank. The unloading line is equipped with an automatic shutoff valve which is activated when a leak of isopentane is detected. This shutoff valve is situated after the union with the leaking O-ring. This scenario resulted in the formation of a liquid pool containing approximately 302 pounds of isopentane which evaporated, found an ignition source and produced a vapor cloud fire. The release rate and evaporation rate from the pool of isopentane were calculated
using the guidance document assuming that no mitigation was present. The distance to the Lower Flammability Limit (LFL) for this scenario represents the maximum distance at which the radiant heat effects of a vapor cloud fire might have serious consequences. The distance to the LFL for this release, assuming urban topography, D stability and a wind speed of 3.0 m/s, was calculated to be &lt;0.10 miles (&lt;528 feet). There are no environmental receptors located within the 0.10 mile radius. However, there are major commercial/office/industrial areas within this radius.
Under the EPA RMP regulations, an accidental release is defined as a release of a regulated substance that "resulted in deaths, injuries or significant property damage on-site, or known off-site deaths, injuries, evacuations, sheltering in place, property damage, or environmental damage." Within the past five years, the Genpak - Montgomery, AL facility has had no accidents that meet th
ese requirements.
Management System - Genpak has a management program in place that assigns overall responsibility for the development and implementation of the Risk Management Program (RMProgram) to a qualified individual or position of responsibility. It clearly delineates accountability and responsibilities for any elements where responsibilities are delegated.
- Safe operating limits and evaluation of consequences of deviat
ions from these limits for the covered process.
Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) - A PHA has been performed for the Program 3 covered process at Genpak in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.67. The PHA was performed using the What-If/Checklist method. The PHA identified the hazards associated with isopentane and the covered process; causes of potential accidental release scenarios; safeguards used to prevent accidental releases; and methods used to detect, monitor or control accidental releases. Any issues identified during the PHA were documented and resolved in a timely manner. The PHA will be revalidated and updated once every five years following completion of the in
itial PHA.
Operating Procedures - Detailed and up-to-date process operating procedures have been developed and are maintained for the isopentane process in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.69. Operating procedures provide clear instructions for safely conducting activities involving a covered process in a manner consistent with process safety information and are readily accessible to employees involved in a covered process. Operating procedures are reviewed annually to ensure that they remain current and accurate.
- Process Operating Limits (including consequences of deviations and steps
to correct or avoid such deviations).
- Safety and health considerations (including properties and hazards of covered chemicals, precautions necessary to prevent exposure, control measures to be taken upon physical contact or airborne exposure, quality control for raw materials, and control of regulated substance inventories).
Refresher training is provided at a mi
nimum of once every three years to all employees working with a covered process. Documentation is maintained for each employee to ensure that he or she received and understood the required training.
Written procedures have been developed to ensure that covered process equipment is properly maintained, tested, and inspected at regular, scheduled intervals and that such activities are thoroughly documented. Maintenance, inspection and testing procedures and frequencies are consistent with applicable manufacturer's recommendations and follow accepted engineering practices. Any equipment deficiencies identified
during maintenance, inspection or testing are corrected in a safe and timely manner. The mechanical integrity program also includes a quality assurance program.
Management of Change (MOC) - A written MOC procedure has been implemented to manage changes in process chemicals, technology, equipment and operating procedures for the covered process in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.75. The MOC procedure does not apply to "replacements in kind" which are defined as replacements that satisfy the original design specifications (e.g., replace a pressure reducing valve with a new identical valve supplied by the original equipment manufacturer).
- The schedule for implementing the change has been de
veloped and required authorizations have been obtained.
- Training of all employees involved in operating or maintaining the n
ew or modified process has been performed.
Compliance Safety Audits - RMProgram compliance is confirmed through safety audits that are performed at least once every three years in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.79. The audits are completed by at least one person knowledgeable in the process. A report of the findings is generated following the audit, and all deficiencies and/or recommendations are promptly addressed and the resolution is documented. The two most recent safety audit reports are maintained at the facility.
Incident Investigation - Specific incident investigation, reporting, and documentation procedures have been implemented and are followed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.81 in response to any incident involving a covered process that did or could have reasonably resulted in a catastrophic release of a regulated substance. Under EPA RMP, a catastrophic release is defined as a major uncontrolled emission, fire, or explosion involving one or more regulated substance
s that presents imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and the environment.
The incident investigation procedure is initiated as soon as possible and no later than 48 hours following any incident. A team is established to perform the incident investigation and always includes at least one person knowledgeable in the process, a contract employee if the incident involves work by a contractor, and other persons with appropriate qualifications to investigate an accident.
Employee Participation - A written employee part
icipation plan has been implemented that provides employees with access to PHA and all other information developed under the RMP regulation in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.83. The employee participation plan describes employee participation in conducting PHA and in implementing all other RMP elements.
Contractors - A contractor safety program in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.87 covers all contractors performing maintenance or repair, turnaround, major renovation, or specialty work on or adjacent to
a covered process. The safety performance of each contractor is evaluated prior to selection. Each contractor employee is informed of the known potential fire, explosion hazards related to work on a covered process as well as the relevant provisions of the emergency response program. Procedures are in place to control the entrance, presence, and exit of contract employees in covered process areas. Periodically, the performance of the contract owner or operator is evaluated while working in or adjacent to a covered process.
Genpak will only respond to incidental releases of isopentane where the release can be absorbed, neutralized, or otherwise controlled at the time of release by employees in the immediate release area, or by maintenance personnel. For non-incidental releases Genpak will rely on outside responders. Therefore, Genpak has coordinated response actions with the local fire department and ensured that appropriate mechanisms are in pl
ace to notify emergency responders when there is a need for response.
The following safety improvement changes are planned for the Genpak - Montgomery facility:
- Label Isopentane stands and lines
- Write procedures for items identified during PHA
- Re-train key employees in isopentane emergency response procedures
- Post isopentane system drawing in extrusion area
- Label MSA heads with date, so the facility will know when the detector was installed and when it needs to be changed out.