Document 3QnVByLDpZKMKywD2Kr0z93L0

BSGoodhch p. n. sox 95a 8.F. Goodrich Chemical Company A DIVISION OF THE 8, f. GOODRICH COMPANY BEllS LAME LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY <J02BT June 25, 1975 Mr* Bob Lindon Director, Division of compliance For occupational. Safety and Health Capital Plaza Office Tower Building Frankfort, Kentucky 40601 Dear -Mr. Lindon* This will confirm our telephone notification on the morning of June 19, 1975 that the B.F. Goodrich Chemical Company, Louis.yille, Kentucky Plant experienced an unusual vinyl chloride release to the atmosphere* This notification was made in accordance with the requirement of regulation 1910*93q <n) (2). At approximately 6*00 p.m* Thursday, June 19, ja 13,300 volt cable between two transformers went to ground. The loss of power supplied by these transformers shut down roughly half the plant including Building 111, a PVC resin manufacturing unit? Building 103, the process cooling water supply unit?, and Building 103, the Boiler House* The vinyl chloride release was from Building 111 in which 34 PVC resin charges were reacting. As soon as the power went off, the flow of reactor cooling water from Building 108 to the reactors in Building 111 shut off. In a few minutes numerous reactors began to overheat seriously and build up excessive vinyl chloride vapor pressure* All available blowdown tank space was used to reduce reactor pressure, but despite this twenty polymerisers reached pressures high enough to blow the rupture disc and partially relieve through the relief valves to the atmosphere* In addition one reactor developed a leak at the rnanhaad gasket under the high pressure and vented some monomer into the building. Since the building ventilation fan3 were off because of the power outage, all personnel promptly evacuated the building. At It,05 p.m* partial power was restored. A production foreman, a chemical operator, and a Total Hydrocarbon Vapor Analyzer technioan put on Scot;-: Ait-Paks and went to the electrical pent-house on the roof of Building 111 where, after determining the vinyl chloride concentration was below the lower explosive limit, they started the building ventilation and exhaust fans. NGC36177 Mr. Bob. JLindan June- 25*. 1975 Page- 2 A hood.was- then placed over the- leading masthead cn lio, 17 poly and connected to the vent system. With this leak; source- stopped the vinyl, chloride concentrations on. all three floors of Building 111 dropped to norruaL in about thirty minutes* . It is estimated that 5,000 pounds of vinyl chloride monomer was vented to the atmosphere^ This -estimate is based on. the various stages of conversion of monomer to polymer in the reactors which partially vented,, the quantity of slurry equalised to empty blowdown tanks prior, to venting uni the pressures on the reactors after power was restored- and the agitators restarted*. Twelve men. were working in. the -building*, but they promptly evacuated at the first sign of monomer leakage- into the- building to an area- of no exposure, Ztfo one was permitted to return to the building until the vapor' cancs-ntratlan.. was belaw- 5 ppm*- One operator: in this, area was wearing a personnel monitor sample pump on. this shift-, as part. cl the routine monitoring program*. . The-results of his sample tube-showed an exposure of 2*Z ppm*. Corrective steps are being taken, to reduce the effects of a ; similar power failure since there is no known method of com pletely assuring power availability 10Q?i of the time* The cooling water pump3 are fitted with, auxiliary steam, turbine drives which can be engaged manually to furnish cooling water during an electrical power outage* The boiler which was operating at the time of the incident is oil fired and depends on electric power for the oil feed pump* controls, and main draft fan, When the power failed fhi3 boiler went down immediately, shutting off the steam supply, A Diesel driven auxiliary generator: unit had. been ordered to supply power to this boiler in situations such as this and was in the process of being installed. It is estimated that this work will be completed by July 15* 1975* V/nen this emergency power source is available* the effects of power outages such as this will be minimised. If any additional information is needed, please contact me* Very truly yours. H. baltemafe JtA, Xlupar L.A. Bennett L.S, Wallis CUC* Talbott CSBA Coordinator - Cleveland - Cleveland - Cleveland - A1TC ~ ALCC i D.E, Giffin M* Lukity w, O'Brien D,?~ OUCeere Henry Brecksvi He Calvert- City Pedrickt own NGC36178