Source: https://toxicrisk.com/reports/8698/summary.htm
Timestamp: 2020-08-09 04:45:21
Document Index: 119808891

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

Genpak LLC - Middletown - Executive Summary
Genpak LLC (Genpak) produces foamed polystyrene food trays and containers using a single screw and tandem system of extruding expanded polystyrene foam sheets. The process takes polystyrene pellets through an extrusion process where a nuclient and blowing agent (isopentane) are added. The sheets are then thermoformed and cut to produce the final product.
Isopentane is delivered to the Genpak - Middletown, New York facility via railcar. The railcar is unloaded into an underground storage tank using a transfer pump. 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 pump room where 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 b
y EPA regulations. Genpak - Middletown has one covered process that requires compliance with Program 3 of the EPA Risk Management Program (RMP) regulation.
B. Accidental Release Prevention & Emergency Response Policies of Genpak
Genpak - Middletown 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 Plant Emergency Evacuation Plan.
In accordance with the requirements of the EPA RMP regulations Genpak performed the following offsite consequence analyses.
- One worst-case release scenario for isopentane.
- One alternate release scenario for isopentane.
The following are brief descriptions of the release scenar
ios 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 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 quantity 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 estimat
ed release rates and to determine the distances to the appropriate flammable endpoints.
The Middletown, NY facility utilizes a 30,000 gallon underground isopentane storage tank. However, this vessel was not considered for the worst-case release scenario. From page 4-11 of EPA's General Guidance for Risk Management Programs (July 1998) "Reservoirs or vessels sufficiently buried underground are passively mitigated or prevented from failing catastrophically." Therefore, the worst-case release scenario for the Genpak LLC - Middletown facility was calculated assuming that the entire contents of a railcar containing 25,600 gallons (132,400 pounds) of isopentane forms a liquid pool, one centimeter deep beneath the railcar. The 132,400 pounds of isopentane is assumed to vaporize within the first then minutes of the release and form a vapor cloud within the upper and lower flammability limits which then detonates. Ten percent of the flammable vapor in the cloud is assumed to participate i
n the explosion. Using Equation C-1 from the guidance document, the distance to an overpressure level of 1 psi from the explosion of the vapor cloud was calculated to be 0.41 miles (2,165 feet). There are three public receptors (Orange & Rockland Utilities, Middletown Sewage Treatment Plant and the Moon School) and no environmental receptors located within the 0.41 mile radius.
The alternative release scenario for the Genpak LLC - Middletown facility was calculated assuming a =-inch hole in the 3-inch unloading hose from the railcar. This scenario resulted in the formation of a liquid pool containing approximately 48 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 were no public or environmental receptors identified by Landview III located within the 0.10 mile 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 - Middletown, NY facility has had no accidents that meet these requirements.
Management System - Genpak has a management program in place that assigns overall responsibility for the development and implementation of the Risk Ma
nagement Program (RMProgram) to a qualified individual or position of responsibility. It clearly delineates accountability and responsibilities for any elements where responsibilities are delegated.
Process Safety Information - Up-to-date process safety information is maintained for use by employees operating the covered process in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.65, including the following:
- MSDS for isopentane that contains toxicity information, permissible exposure limits, physical data, reactivity data, thermal and chemical stability data and synergistic effects from mixing process flows.
- Block flow diagrams for the covered process.
- Process chemistry and maximum intended inventory data for the covered process.
- Safe operating limits and evaluation of consequences of deviations from these limits for the covered process.
- Covered process equipment information consisting of materials of construction; piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs); electrical classification; reli
ef system design and design basis; ventilation system design; design codes and standards employed; and safety systems (interlocks, detection or suppression systems).
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 initial 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 pr
ocedures 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.
Operating procedures cover each operating phase of the covered process including initial system startup, normal operation, temporary operations, emergency shutdown and conditions when required, emergency operations, normal shutdown and startup following a turnaround or emergency shutdown. Operating procedures also incorporate or reference relevant process safety information including the following:
- 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 upo
n physical contact or airborne exposure, quality control for raw materials, and control of regulated substance inventories).
- Safety systems and their functions.
Training - New employees working with a covered process receive initial training in accordance with 40 Part CFR 68.71. The training includes an overview of the process and emphasizes process operating procedures, safe work practices, health and safety hazards, and emergency operations including shutdown. Those employees already involved in operating or maintaining a covered process prior to 21 June 1999 have been certified in writing as having "the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely carry out the duties and responsibilities as specified in the operating procedures."
Refresher training is provided at a minimum of once every three years to all employees involved in working with a covered process. Documentation is maintained for each employee to ensure that he or she received and understood the required tra
Mechanical Integrity - A mechanical integrity program has been developed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.73 for covered process equipment. Employees involved in the maintenance of the covered process receive additional training, which includes an overview of the process, its hazards, and applicable procedures to ensure that the employee can perform the job in a safe manner.
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).
Prior to introducing a change, the MOC procedure is implemented to ensure the following:
- The technical basis for the change and its impact on health and safety have been fully evaluated;
- Affected operating procedures and applicable process safety information have been updated accordingly; and
- The schedule for implementing the change has been developed and required authorizations have been obtained.
All employees involved in operating or maintaining the modified process are informed of the change and trained accordingly prior to star
tup of the modified process.
Pre-Startup Safety Review (PSSR) - PSSRs are performed in accordance with 40 CFR Part 68.77 for new covered processes and for modified covered processes when the modification is significant enough to require a change in the process safety information. The PSSR confirms the following prior to introducing a regulated substance into a process:
- Equipment and construction satisfy design specifications;
- Safety, operation, maintenance, and emergency procedures have been developed and are adequate;
- A PHA has been performed for new covered processes, and all recommendations have been resolved or implemented prior to startup;
- The MOC procedure has been completed for the process modifications; and
- Training of all employees involved in operating or maintaining the new 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 w
ith 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 substances 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 f
ollowing 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.
Following the investigation, a written report is prepared summarizing the following information at a minimum: date of the incident; date the investigation began; description of the incident and any contributing factors; and any recommendations resulting from the investigation. When completed, all affected personnel including contract employees review the report. Incident investigation reports are maintained at the facility for a minimum of five years.
Employee Participation - A written employee participation 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 p
articipation 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 w
ork 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 place to notify emergency responders when there is a need for response.
Genpak - Middletown believes that the existing safety program is adequate. How
ever, if any changes occur in the future which affect the isopentane process, these changes will be thoroughly reviewed to ensure that the safety of Genpak employees and neighbors is not compromised.