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HM 92 -030 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />To: Harry Dennis, Bob Hammitt' <br />From: Gil Wistar, Hazardous Materials Program Manager <br />Date: August 14, 1992 <br />Subj: Recommended improvements for hazardous materials storage, <br />Wastewater Treatment Plant and city pools <br />cc: Christine Andersen, Dave Whitlow, Bill Bass, Tom Rogers <br />Earlier this summer, I inspected four city facilities (the Wastewater Treatment <br />Plant, as well as Amazon, Echo Hollow, and Sheldon Pools) for their storage and <br />use of hazardous materials. As part of the Hazardous Materials Program's overall <br />plan to address public safety issues at both public and private occupancies citywide, <br />inspection of these four facilities was done because of their use of chlorine, a toxic, <br />highly corrosive gas. The treatment plant also uses large amounts of sulfur dioxide, <br />a toxic irritant gas, as well as extremely flammable "sewer gas" (methane). <br />My inspections reveal that these four facilities do not comply fully with Article 80 <br />of the Uniform Fire Code (the section that addresses hazardous materials). These <br />facilities also do not comply with the Uniform Building Code's Group H occupancy <br />standards, which Article 80 requires when hazardous material use and storage <br />exceeds threshold ( "exempt ") quantities. The Building Official can provide more <br />information on Group H occupancy standards. Because the four facilities present <br />hazards to life, health, and property, they should all be upgraded to current code. <br />These hazards are summarized below. <br />1. At the treatment plant, the large quantities of chlorine and sulfur dioxide stored, <br />and methane generated (measured in tons), means that there is the risk of a <br />large -scale chemical incident, explosion, or fire at this facility. It is appropriate <br />to minimize this risk by installing additional safeguards. <br />2. At the pools, users congregate near chlorine storage areas, and the release of a <br />150 -1b. chlorine cylinder could cause severe injuries. A sudden release from a <br />cylinder could necessitate evacuation for 300 yards downwind and 75 yards <br />crosswind. Article 80 was adopted to prevent such catastrophic releases. <br />3. The same safety considerations apply to other facilities in Eugene, public or <br />private, that use chlorine or other toxic gases; they all should meet current <br />codes, but most probably do not. Unless the City of Eugene sets an example, it <br />MEMO -- CITY FACILITIES <br />P. I <br />