Risk management planning for facilities that handle or store acutely hazardous substances involves identification of potential scenarios for the unplanned release of these materials. The scenarios are ranked in terms of probability of occurrence and severity of impact.
Application of specialized modeling methods is used to simulate the transport and dispersion of these materials for selected release scenarios. Evaluation of the results to determine appropriate mitigation methods to reduce the probability of accidental releases and/or the severity of impacts in the event of such releases is then conducted.
These analyses are being performed in response to state and local regulatory programs aimed at reducing risks to populations near industrial sites, as well as the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.
Many of our successfully-completed projects listed to the right were conducted for compliance with the California Risk Management and Prevention Program, which preceded the CAAA Risk Management Program (RMP) requirement by several years.
Risk Management Program
San Diego Unified Port District
EES staff prepared a detailed response to the County of San Diego's request for additional information regarding the RMP for a Marine Terminal Cold Storage facility. EES staff conducted a comprehensive review and revisions of the offsite consequence analysis, accident history, and emergency response program. EES engineers have also performed a comprehensive review of the process hazard analysis presented in the 1992 RMPP including external events analysis.
Biomass Power Plant RMPP Plan
Woodland Biomass Power Corporation and
Thermo Electron Energy Systems, Inc.
EES staff prepared a RMPP plan for a biomass power plant designed to generate energy by burning agricultural wastes. The Woodland plant burns crop wastes in a fluidized bed boiler. The boiler generates steam which is fed to a turbine generator. This RMPP plan focused on the storage and use of ammonia, chlorine, and sulfuric acid at the facility. The project was completed on an accelerated schedule to meet compliance and financing deadlines.
Crude Oil Terminal RMPP Plan
Texaco Trading and Transportation Inc.
EES staff prepared one of the first RMPP plans to be certified in the state for the Gaviota Interim Marine Terminal. The RMPP plan focused on hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia. The hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxide, and nitrogen oxide were associated with the collection and combustion of crude oil vapors at the facility. The ammonia was used to reduce nitrogen oxide air emissions from the facility. Evaluation of the release prevention and control measures revealed that the ammonia tanks represented the most significant release hazard. EES staff recommended a barrier system to reduce the potential for collision with the tanks.
Harbor Generating Station Hazards Analysis
and Offsite Consequence Analysis
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
As part of a larger draft environmental impact report, EES staff prepared a hazards analysis and offsite consequence analysis for a major power plant renovation in the Los Angeles port area. The power plant was converted from a conventional oil- and gas fired steam turbine plant to a modern gas-fired turbine power plant. The hazards analysis and offsite consequence analysis focused on the transportation; storage; and use of ammonia, sulfuric acid, and sodium hydroxide in the facility and the effect of potential accidental releases of these substances under both the existing and new plant designs.
Process Hazards Analysis
Alchem Aluminum
EES engineers conducted a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) of a chlorine injection system at at two Alchem Aluminum facilities. The PHA was conducted to meet the requirements of OSHA's Process Safety Management and USEPA's Risk Management Plan regulations. Ogden lead a site review meeting with various facility employees and outside contractors to discuss process operations, potential hazards from the process, consequences of the hazards, and risk reduction methods using the "What-If" methodology.
