Document ExVNy7enmQ66JyGjd2MpDw1ej

a division of Til* B.r.Go&^rich Company ry. LONG BEACH PLANT P. O. BOX 9077 * 2104 E. 223m> STREET LONG BEACH. CALIFORNIA 90310 <f74.- 7*1 Air Pollution Control Districts County or Los Angeles 434 South. San Pedro Street Los Angeles, California 90013 Hov&rob&r 1, 1974 Attention: Mr. Ralph E. George* Director of Enforcement Dear Sirs: Xn accordance with your letter of October 18, 1974, we have called your office about an abnormal discharge of vinyl chloride which occurred yesterday, October 31, 1974 at about 11:15 AM* The dis charge lasted about fifteen minutes, a full report of which follows. Because of a series of Improper communications, one of our polymeri zation vessels was allowed, to overheat. Abnormal pressure v?as thus created inside the vessel so that the relief hardware was activated and an estimated 2,000 pounds of vinyl chloride was discharged through the vent stack into the atmosphere over the building about 40 feet above ground level. The vessel was immediately put on vapor recovery and as much vinyl chloride as possible was routed through recovery equipment. Xn this v;ay, a maviTmim amount of the VC1 was prevented from being released. Stationary monitors in. the area of release showed the maximum concentration on the roof to be IS ppm VC1 during the incident. Better communication means.- between operators and maintenance people have been instituted as a result of this incident. Xt is believed that a reoccurrence of this type vjill not happen. Equioniant is being designed to ba installed at our plant so that even abnormal venting as occurred ir> this instance car: be fully contained. Also equipment is being purchased to warn oi higher titan normal pressure so that action can be taken bet ore venting occurs 1 lease let us know if Liu ny other information you desire. V i-?.-try L Trul y yo u r 'k;c: U. ru Robb Technical. Maw. NGC 22996