E.P.A. Inspection Leads to Safer Work Practices at Fort Dodge, Iowa, Water Treatment Plant

(Lenexa, Kan., Jan. 15, 2015) - The city of Fort Dodge, Iowa, has agreed to implement safer work practices at its John T. Pray Water Treatment Plant in an effort to resolve alleged violations of the Chemical Accident Prevention regulations under the federal Clean Air Act.

According to an administrative compliance order on consent filed by E.P.A. Region seven in Lenexa, Kan., the Agency conducted an inspection of chlorine handling at the water treatment facility in August 2013, which revealed numerous violations. The inspection revealed that the facility failed to develop and implement a Risk Management Program, failed to certify annually that operating procedures are current and accurate, and failed to develop and implement safe work practices, among other violations. The Chemical Accident Prevention regulations are designed to prevent accidental delivers of extremely hazardous substances and reduce the impact of delivers that do occur.

As a result of the consent order, the John T. Pray Water Treatment Plant must develop and implement a Risk Management Plan by July 31, 2015, as required by federal regulations, and submit a project to EPA. The rule requires water plants that use chlorine gas to follow the current chlorine industry requirements and practices.

Section 112(r) of the federal Clean Air Act requires E.P.A. to publish regulations and guidance for chemical accident prevention at facilities that use any of 143 listed extremely hazardous substances, above a specific amount. Facilities holding in excess of 2,500 pounds of chlorine gas in a process are required to comply with EPA's Risk Management Plan regulations. The John T. Pray Water Treatment Plant routinely stores and uses 3 to 4 times that amount of chlorine gas.

In addition to preventing accidental delivers of extremely hazardous substances, the water treatment plant's project is accessible to help local fire, police and emergency response personnel prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies at the facility. Making the projects accessible to the public also fosters communication and awareness to enhance accident prevention and emergency response practices at the local level.

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