Document 7OXvVJYq23RGykerZQNQyQ06e

ABD00310751 * <3 %Vista Polymers Highway 25 Aberdeen, Mississippi 39730 A A Division of Post Office Box 91 Phone (601) 369-8111 Vista Chemical Company August 20, 1991 Mr. Dwayne Headrick Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Bureau of Pollution Control P.0. Box 10385 Jackson, MS 39209 VIS1A Dear Mr. Headrick: This letter is to inform you of two incidents in which leaks of vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) in excess of the reportable quantity (under CERCLA, 40 CFR part 302) of one pound occurred. Both of these incidents took place on August 16, 1991. Although the leaks posed no threat to anyone outside plant boundaries, separate calls were placed to the National Response Center to report each incident. Report #84207 At approximately 12:15 p.m. a 1/4" plug in a liquid-ring VCM recovery compressor casing vibrated loose and water saturated with VCM leaked from the hole for approximately five minutes. The compressor was isolated and the plug replaced. Initial calculations determined the leak contained about three (3) pounds of VCM. The relatively small amount of the leak was confirmed by the low readings obtained on the fixed-point gas chromatograph monitoring system in the area of the compressor. The National Response Center was notified that afternoon of the three pound leak. After more of the details became clear, later calculations revised the leak estimate to five (5) pounds. A letter was sent to EPA Region IV to amend the earlier report. Report #84228 At approximately 9:30 p.m. a pipe weld split spilling unstripped polyvinyl chloride (PVC) slurry. An initial report was made to the National Response Center at 11:45 p.m. indicating a leak of less than 150 pounds of VCM. Subsequent calculations based on 30 gallons of spilled slurry indicated about 46 pounds of VCM leaked. A letter to EPA Region IV was sent to amend the initial report. ABD00310752 Additional Notifications Although not required under CERCLA or SARA, as a courtesy a call was made to the Mississippi Emergency Response Commission's 24-hour telephone number. This call was attempted at approximately 5:30 p.m. on August 16, 1991 and was not answered. Although these leaks require no reporting under NESHAPS (40 CFR part 61 subpart F), I wanted to make you aware of the reports that had been filed with the National Response Center and the EPA. If you would like any further information concerning these incidents, please call me at (601) 369-3637. Sincerely, Kenneth G. Akins Environmental Coordinator