NRC# 844701 Harcros Chemical Ammonia Spill, Dalton, GA - At 0920, Phone Duty Officer received a report of an anhydrous ammonia spill at the Harcros Chemical Manufacturing facility. The facility produces anhydrous ammonia and during a product transfer a tank was overfilled. The facility believes the tank's overfill sensor failed. The spill produced an ammonia vapor cloud causing several manufacturing facilities (including Harcros) to be evacuated. The area is mostly industrial. Local Hazmat teams responded to the incident. The facility secured the release quickly and transferred the ammonia to another tank. The facility's emergency vapor control water sprayers were activated during the incident in an attempt to control the ammonia vapor cloud. OSC Gaughan was dispatched to assist local responders with air monitoring and to monitor the water run-off. All runoff went to the facilities retention pond and did not affect the outfall. EPA's air monitoring results indicated ammonia levels as high as 1 PPM. These results were below action levels. The evacuation was lifted late afternoon. OSC Gaughan demobed from the site at 2000 hrs. No further action will be needed. Source: ERNS report dated 08/08/07.
