Pollution/Situation Report Profile

Fantis Foods Ammonia Release
Williamston, NC - EPA Region IV
POLREP #1
Final

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U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
POLLUTION/SITUATION REPORT
Fantis Foods Ammonia Release - Removal Polrep
Initial and Final Removal Polrep

EPA Emergency Response

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Region IV

Subject:

POLREP #1
Final
Fantis Foods Ammonia Release

Williamston, NC
Latitude: 35.8451306 Longitude: -77.0781524

To:

From:

Kenneth Rhame, OSC

Date:

2/23/2010

Reporting Period:

2/19/2010

1. Introduction

1.1 Background

Site Number:		Contract Number:
D.O. Number:		Action Memo Date:
Response Authority:	CERCLA	Response Type:	Emergency
Response Lead:	EPA	Incident Category:	Removal Action
NPL Status:	Non NPL	Operable Unit:
Mobilization Date:	2/19/2010	Start Date:	2/19/2010
Demob Date:	2/19/2010	Completion Date:	2/19/2010
CERCLIS ID:		RCRIS ID:
ERNS No.:		State Notification:	Division of Air, NC OSHA
FPN#:		Reimbursable Account #:

1.1.1 Incident Category
Emergency Response
1.1.2 Site Description
On 2/19 US EPA responded to a anhydrous ammonia release to investigate the response actions of a Fantis Foods facility located in Williamston NC at the request of the Williamston Fire Dept. The release occurred on 2/16/2010 between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm. The Fire Dept. received a complaint of ammonia odors from a wrecker service down the street. Private citizens also complained of the odors. The Fire Dept. responded and identified the source of the ammonia as Fantis Foods (Big City Gyros and Pita). The Fire Dept arrived at the complaintants facility (wrecker service) at approximately 7:13 pm and could hear the release located on top of the roof at the Fantis Foods Facility. The total capacity of the cooling system that contains the anhydrous ammonia at the Fantis Foods Facility is estimated at 6,500 lbs. No notification was received by the NRC of the release. The facility does not have a emergency response plan, the fire dept does not have any Tier II reports on file for the facility. This incident was referred to EPCRA.

1.1.2.1 Location
223 North McCaskey Road
1.1.2.2 Description of Threat
Fire Dept reported a significant release of anhydrous ammonia from a food storage facility located in town, near residents.
1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results
On 2/19/2010 EPA investigated the response actions of Fantis Foods in regards to a ammonia release that occurred on 2/16/2010. It was found that the refridgerant operator Ejay Jackson evacuated a line containing anhydrous on 2/16/2010 by purging the line into a 5 gallon bucket of water. Mr. Jackson left work for the day at 4:30 pm. At approximately 6:00, a alarm sounded due to rising temperatures in one of the cooling units, A employee who resides on site, Ali, turned the valve on the cooling unit to lower the temperature between 6:00 and 6:30 pm. This caused the release. The valve was not shut off until after the fire dept arrived.
The anydrous could be smelled in ambient air from several properties downwind (the wrecker service), The fire dept estimated the release occurred for 20 to 30 minutes, they know when the release was secured because they could hear the venting line, thus could hear when it was shut off.

2. Current Activities

2.1 Operations Section

2.1.1 Narrative

2.1.2 Response Actions to Date
No notification was made to date.
2.1.3 Enforcement Activities, Identity of Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs)
Fantis Foods
2.1.4 Progress Metrics

Waste Stream Medium Quantity Manifest # Treatment Disposal

2.2 Planning Section

2.2.1 Anticipated Activities

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues
Referred to EPCRA for follow-up.

2.3 Logistics Section