Document dYqvqKzGXR3D9Y9wejBEEqrjq

Lake Charles VCM Plant Vista Chemical Company Box 605 VCM Plant Road Westlake, Louisiana 70669 Telephones VCM Plant Office 318/494-5030 (7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Monday - Friday) VCM Control Room 318/494-5070 (Day or Night) Employees Approximately 120 employees. Major Materials Produced Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) Ethylene dichloride (EDC) Process Capacity 700 million pounds per year. Product Facts VCM is produced from ethylene fed to the plant from Vista Chemical's ethylene unit (part of the Lake Charles Chemical Plant), located in the same chemical complex. Vista's VCM is utilized in the production ofVista Polymers' PVC resins, compounds and dryblends and is also sold into the merchant market. When VCM is processed into PVC, the resulting resin can be manufactured into such products as siding, pipe, furniture, apparel and packaging. VCM is a colorless gas at atmospheric pressure and is the basic raw material for making polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic resin. Ethylene dichloride (EDC), the other basic ingredient for the manufacture ofVCM, is produced on site as part of the VCM manufacturing process. After it is made, it is held in tanks until needed. EDC, a colorless, oily liquid, is not routinely shipped outside the plant. VCM from this facility is transported to Vista's PVC plants in Aberdeen, Mississippi, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is also sold to other companies. Facility Description The Lake Charles VCM Plant is located adjacent to the Lake Charles Chemical Plant on an 80-acre tract, ofwhich 25 acres are utilized. It contains rail and trucking facilities, with access to water transport facilities. Facility History ^ ooo009^* 1967 - Constructed from a Stauffer Chemical Company design. 1968 - Brought on-stream. The plant was the largest single-train VCM plant in the world. 1981 - The plant completed a major modernization project in 1983. 1984 - Vista Chemical assumes operations of the plant after the company purchased assets of Conoco Chemicals. Sec. 16 4/87 1 Lake Charles VCM Plant Page 2 Incoming Supplies (Feedstocks, Raw Materials) Chlorine Transported to the plant in gaseous form by pipeline from the nearby PPG Industries Plant and limited quantities in liquid form by tank car from other chlorine manufacturers in the southeast. Only on-site storage of feedstock is for liquid chlorine. High concentrations of chlorine gas cause severe damage to the respiratory tract. With long exposure, death may result. Gas or liquid contact can burn skin ana permanently damage eye tissue. Ethylene Transferred to the plant via pipeline from LCCP. Ethylene is a flammable gas which has an anesthetic effect on humans. HC1 Gas (Hydrogen Chloride Anhydrous) Transferred to the plant as gas by pipeline. It is a colorless, nonflam mable gas. Eyes and respiratory tract are susceptible to irritation if inhaled. Tissue damage may occur with exposure to high concentrations. Handling of Outgoing Materials Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) The major product from this facility is VCM, totaling 700 million pounds capacity per year. On-site tank farm capacity is 27 million pounds maximum. VCM is shipped from the plant by railcar, ship and pipeline. VCM is a colorless gas and a liquid under pressure. Vapors can form flammable mixtures in air. Burning VCM generates hydrogen chloride gas. VCM is a recognized human carcinogen. High levels of exposure over long periods of time can cause cancer in humans. Ethylene Dichloride (EDC) EDC is used on site and is not routinely shipped outside the plant. EDC is a clear liquid with a sweet, chloroform-like odor. EDC va pors can form flammable mixtures in air. Burning EDC generates hydrogen chloride gas. EDC is classified as a suspected carcinogen. High levels of exposure over long periods of time can cause adverse effects on the liver and kidneys. Regulated Waste Substances as a Result of Manufacturing Operations Heavy Ends Light Ends Muriatic Acid Generated from the VCM process and is sent off-site to PPG Industries for recycling. Generated from the VCM process and is normally sold in the mar ket as a product. Generated from the VCM process and is either sold as product or neutralized in tanks to be rendered non-hazardous. Sec. 16 4/87 VVV 000009532 2 j>nmnt4i Investigations Branch, ^ion of Respiratory Disease Stud* , MIQSH, 944 Chestnut Ridge Road, iorgantown. WV 26506. b) Requests for health hazard eval* ^itoni shall be submitted In writing and signed by either. (1) The employer in whose place of employment the tub* stance or physical agent is normally found, or (2) an authorized representa tive of employee* (see 165.3-1(0) In the place of employment where the substance or physical agent la normal* ly found. 146 FR 3663. Jan. 14.1B601 ft 854-1 Contents of a request for health hatard evaluation. Sach request for health hazard eval uation shall contain; i) The requester'i name, address, andtelephonenumber,If any. (o) The name and address of the place of employment where the sub* ^'JTtocfr.jr-ghysIca^agem Is normally The specific process or type of which Is the source of the sub stance or physical agent, or In which the substance or phyalcal agent Is kS Details of the conditions or cir cumstances which prompted the re* i quest. Wei A statement, if the requester la Hrtt/the employer, that the requester -) Ah authorized representative or in officer of the organization repre senting the employees for purposes of Collective bargaining: or (2) An employee of the employer and is authorized by two or more em ployees employed In the same place of employment to represent them for purposes of these Acts (each such au thorization shall be in writing and a copy submitted with the request for health hazard evaluation); or (3) One of three or less employees employed In the place of employment where the substance or physical agent is normally found. <f) A statement indicating whether or not the name(s) of the requester or those persons who have authorized the requester to represent them may be revealed to the employer by /Xm> Tht following supplementary In* flbrmation if known to the requester: Ml)' Identity of each substance or physical agent involved: <2) The trade name, chemical name, and manufacturer of each substance Involved; (2) Whether the substance or its container or the source of the physical iftdril has a warning label; and <4) Tha physical form of the subst e or physical agent, number of people exposed, length of exposure thouts per day), and occupation* of exposed employees. NOTt: N103K hu developed two forms en* titled "Request (or Health Hazard Evalua* non" and -Request tor Minin* Health Hazard Evaluation" to assist person* m requintal evaluations. The forms are availa ble upon request from the offices luted in ) 164(a) m and Oi or from the Retlonal Consultant for Occupational Safety and Health In any Regional Office of the De partment of Health and Human Service*. (46 ER 2653, Jan. 14. i960) ft 66.4 Acting on requests. (a) upon receipt of a request for health hazard evaluation submitted under this part. K10SH will determine whether or not there is reasonable cause to Justify conducting an investi gation. (b) If NIOSH determines that an In vestigation Is Justified, a NIOSH offi cer will Inspect the place of employ ment. collect samples where^ppropriate, and perform test* necessary to the conduct of a health hazard evaluation, including medical examinations of em ployees. <c> If NIOSH determines that an In* vestigation is not justified, the re* quester will be notified in writing of the declston. (48 FR 2699, Jan. IS, 1989) ft 66.8 Authority for lnvs(t|stiona (a) NIOSH officer* who have been issued official NIOSH credentials (Form No. CDC/JUOSH 2.W are au thorized by the Director, NIOSH, under sections 20(a) (8) and 3 of the OSH Act and sections SOl(txil) and 103 of the 7MSH Act; To enter with out delay any place of employment for the purpose of conducting investiga tions of a)) pertinent processes, condi tions, structures, machines, apparatus, devices, equipment, records, and mate rials within the place of employment; and to conduct medical examinations, anthropometric measurements, and functional tests of employees within the place of employment as may be di rectly related to the specific health hazard evaluation being conducted. In vestigations wUl be conducted In a rea sonable manner, during regular workin* hours or at other reasonable times and within reasonable limits. In con nection with any investigation, the NIOSH officers may question private ly any employer, owner, operator, agent, or employee from the place of employment; and review, abstract, and duplicate reoords required by the Acts and regulations and any other related records. (b) Areas under Investigation which contain information classified by any agency o( the United State* Govern ment In the Interest of national secu rity win be investigated only by NIOSH officers who have obtained the proper security clearance and authori zation. 146 FR 2869. Jan. 14. 1960) 6 86.6 Advance notice of vlilla. (a) Advance notice of visits to the place of employment may be given to expedite a thorough and effective In vestigation. Advance notice win not be given when, in the Judgment of the NIOSH officer, giving such notice would adversely affect the validity and effectiveness of the Investigation. (b) Where a request in accordance with this part has been made by on authorized representative of employ ees, advance notice In accordance with paragraph (a) of this section will be given by NIOSH to the requester, the representative of the employees for purposes of collective bargaining if such representative is other than the requester, and to the employer. tc) Where a request in accordancs with this part has been made by any employer, advance notice will be given* by NI08H to the employer. Upon the request of the employer, NIOSH win inform the authorized representative of employees of the visit: Rrovtrfsd, The employer furnishes NIOSH in writing with the identity of such rep resentative and with such Information M ti necessary to enable NIOSH promptly to inform such representa tive of the visit. 1684 Conduct of ItvrestlgsUoni. (a) Prior to beginning on investiga tion. NIOSH officers shah present their credentials to the owner, opera tor, or agent in charge at the place of employment, explain the nature, pur pose, and scope of the Investigation and the records specified in 186.9 which they wish to review. Where the investigation is the result of a request submitted by an authorized repre sentative of employees, a copy of the request shall be provided to the amployer, except where the requester or any person authorizing the requester pursuant to I 86.3-l(eX2> has indicat ed that NIOSH not reveal his name to the employer, In which cose a sum mary of the basis for the request shall be provided to the employer. (b) At the commencement of an in vestigation. the employer should pre cisely identify Information which can be obtained In the workplace or work places to be Inspected La trade secrets. If the NIOSH offloer has no dear reason to question such identification, such Information shall not be dis closed except in accordance with the provisions of section 20(a)(3) and sec* VVV 00000*5533