Volume 2, Issue 10, October 2000, David M. Garcia, Editor

Welcome to AcuSafe News -- The electronic newsletter devoted to serving industry, government, and interested members of the public by providing information that is useful, timely and best of all - FREE. AcuSafe News is comprised of best process safety practices, incident news, lessons learned, and regulatory developments.

AcuSafe News is an extension of the AcuSafe website (http://www.acusafe.com/), the Internet resource for safety and risk management information, products, training, and professional exchange. We hope you visit the website and find AcuSafe News and the AcuSafe site to be valuable tools.

 

In This Issue


  OSHA News: High-Profile OSHA Violations Since May 1998
  RMP Update: Accra Pac Group Ethylene Oxide Explosion Investigation Report 
  CSB News: CSB Releases Report at Sonat Exploration Company's Near Pitkin, LA
  Hot Topics: Process Safety Information – Resource Drain or Opportunity?
  Industry Focus:  NFPA Revisions to the Building Codes and API Evaluation of the Sections Affecting the Petroleum Industry 
  Resources:  
           1.  EPA's Toxic Release Data for 1998 is Now Available
           2.  EPA and CSB Releases Strategic Plan for FY2001-2005
           3.  Scorecard, a Resource for Identifying Environmental Issues in Your Area

  Incident News: Monthly Summary of Incidents, September 19 - October 13
  Events Update:  
           1. API Safety & Fire Protection Conference and Exhibition, October 30
           2. AIChE Annual Meeting, November 12-17, 2000
  Politics & Legislation: 
           1. Profile of Al Gore's Views on Environmental Issues
           2.  Pipeline Safety Bill is Defeated in the House
           3. Australia Developing Chemical List for Community Right-To-Know and Targeted Risk Assessments


 

Story Abstracts
OSHA News
High-Profile OSHA Violations Since May 1998  
In the wake of the proposed $2.5 million in penalties against the Phillips Houston Area Chemical Complex, we wanted to see how this proposed penalty measured up against other such penalties. For a top ten list that includes the industries involved and the principal reasons for the penalties, please refer to this link.

 
Back to Top
RMP Update
Accra Pac Group Ethylene Oxide Explosion Investigation Report
EPA investigated an explosion and fire that occurred at the Accra Pac Group, Inc., North Plant Facility located in Elkhart, Indiana. The incident took place on June 24, 1997 killing one employee, injuring 59 others and prompting the evacuation of a 1-mile radius around the plant. EPA issued its investigation report. Please refer to our summary for a synopsis of EPA's findings and a link to the full report. 


 
Back to Top
Chemical Safety Board News
CSB Releases Report at Sonat Exploration Company's Near Pitkin, LA
 On September 21, 2000, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released its report of the fatal March 4, 1998 catastrophic vessel failure and fire at Sonat Exploration Company's (now El Paso Production Company) Temple 22-1 Common Point Separation Facility near Pitkin, Louisiana. The incident was as a result of a catastrophic vessel failure. A summary of their findings and a link to the full report is available through this link.

 


Back to Top
Hot Topics
Process Safety Information - Resource Drain or Opportunity?
As plant operating budgets continue to get more scrutiny each year, we hear reports that plant management often cringes at the cost and resources set aside to maintain Process Safety Information. What are some ways to maintain regulatory compliance and effective safety programs while minimizing the costs of keeping Process Safety Information current? Click here to read more thoughts on this issue from AcuTech's John Lee. 

 
Back to Top
Industry Focus
NFPA Revisions to the Building Codes and API Evaluation of the Sections Affecting the Petroleum Industry
API's codes coordinator, Richard Kraus, has analyzed the new draft NFPA 5000 Building Code. He examined the chapters of the proposed code covering administrative and general areas and the chapters covering industrial, storage, hazardous and special structures occupancies for fire prevention, fire protection and safety concerns. API has granted AcuSafe permission to share his findings. For an online copy of Mr. Kraus's report, please visit this link. 

 
Back to Top
Resources
EPA's Toxic Release Data for 1998 is Now Available
EPA has published its Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) information for 1998. The inventory has been kept for manufacturers since 1986, but this is the first reporting year that includes categories for seven new industry sectors. The new sectors are metal mining, coal mining, electrical utilities that combust either oil or coal, hazardous waste TSD facilities, chemical wholesalers, petroleum terminals and bulk stations, and solvent recovery services. A wide variety of reports related to the data, including breakdowns by state, yearly trends, and much more are found on the EPA web site. 

EPA and CSB Releases Strategic Plan for FY2001-2005
Under the Government Performance Results Act, agencies are required to share their strategies, policy initiatives, and mission for public inspection. EPA and CSB have made their Strategic Plans for FY 2001 - 2005 available on the internet. Copies of the EPA plan and CSB plan are found on their respective web sites.  

Scorecard, a Resource for Identifying Environmental Issues in Your Area
The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has sponsored a web site, www.scorecard.org,  that identifies environmental concerns applicable to communities in the U.S.  Among the hazards discussed are criterial air pollutants (CO, NOx, Ozone, particulates), hazardous air pollutants, lead, waste products, watersheds, and more. 

 
Back to Top
Incident News
Monthly Summary of Accidents Involving Process Chemicals or Flammable Materials 
As a service for our readers, we collect and share incident news. This month's installment covers incidents brought to our attention between September 19 and October 13. Most of the incidents covered have caused significant injury, deaths, or major property damage. This month's issue includes accidents in Columbia, Norway, Canada, and the U.S. We welcome input to this effort by submitting summaries of other notable events to editor@acusafe.com.
 
Back to Top
Events Update
2000 API Safety and Fire Protection Conference and Exhibition
This is your last chance to register for the API conference at the Wyndham Palace Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Florida that will be taking place on October 30, 2000. Conference attendees can visit conference sessions on managing human factors, PSM beyond the regulations, and other hot topics. For more information about the conference and a registration form, please visit the z. 

AIChE Annual Meeting, November 12-17, 2000
The time to register for the AIChE annual meeting is also drawing near. This year's topic, "Exchanging Ideas for Innovation, " includes the Fall Showcase of industry products and services, and several free short courses and workshops. Topical conferences for this year are:

For more information about this exciting event, please visit their web site at http://www.aiche.org/annual/. 


A free calendar detailing important conferences, events, meetings, and regulatory deadlines is available on AcuSafe. The calendar is updated regularly, so we suggest you bookmark it for future reference - http://www.acusafe.com/Calendar/index.html. Our readers are encouraged to contribute other events of interest to Process Safety professionals.
 
Back to Top
Politics and Legislation
Profile of Al Gore's Views on Environmental Issues
Last month, AcuSafe highlighted the environmental record and positions of George W. Bush. Now it's Al Gore's turn. Mr. Gore has had a strong environmentalist record for many years, even publishing the book Earth in the Balance: Ecology and the Human Spirit. AcuSafe is featuring a synopsis of his message, his record, and what his opponents say about his record.

Pipeline Safety Bill is Defeated in the House
In a follow up to last month's feature story about passage of the Pipeline Safety Bill, which was passed unanimously by the Senate, the bill was narrowly defeated in the House. It failed on a 232-158 roll call vote, 28 short of the two-thirds majority required for passage. Among the key provisions, the bill would have increased fines for safety violators, boosted state oversight of the pipes and given whistle-blower protections to pipeline workers who revealed safety problems. Most opponents of the bill felt that the bill was too weak, and in particular faulted it for not mandating inspections. 

Australia Developing Chemical List for Community Right-To-Know and Targeted Risk Assessments
Updates to the Australian National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme (NICNAS) will increase the reporting requirements for chemicals that are imported or manufactured. For more information, please read our full story.



Back to Top

 
If you have received this e-mail in error or wish to be removed from our list:

  1. Click your e-mail "reply" button.

  2. Type the word "remove" in the subject line.

  3. Click on the "send e-mail" button.

  4. You will be removed and we will confirm your request.

If you are aware of others who may be interested in a free subscription to AcuSafe News™, please contact us at editor@acusafe.com or forward AcuSafe News™ to them and have them register at www.acusafe.com.

If you are having difficulty linking to the news feature from the newsletter copy you receive, or if your copy looks like code, you may require the plain text version of the newsletter. Drop us a note at  editor@acusafe.com and we would be happy to switch you to that version.