Estimation and Evaluation of Exposures from a Large Sulfur Fire in South Africa
Environmental Research Section A 81, 316}333 (1999)Article ID enrs.1999.3990, available online at http://www.idealibrary.com
by Stuart A. Batterman,*,1 Eugene Cairncross,- and Yu-Li Huang*
* Environmental and Industrial Health, University of Michigan, 109 Observatory Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109; and- Department of Physical Science, Peninsula Technikon, Box 1906, Bellville 7535, Western Cape, South Africa
Received August 28, 1998
A massive fire at a sulfur stockpile in the Western Cape Province of South Africa in December 1995 is estimated to have released over 14,000 t of sulfur dioxide (SO2) over a 20-h period. High and persistent winds greatly reduced the effectiveness of fire-fighting activities and increased the severity of impacts. Nearby urban and agricultural areas were seriously affected. Thousands of people were evacuated from the nearby town of Macassar located 2.5+4 km downwind, and at least several deaths occurred. Agricultural impacts ranged over a broad area extending to 30 km from the fire site and included severe damage to plants and some animal deaths.
This paper describes the chronology of the fire, the emergency responses, and the immediate impacts. SO2 concentrations are estimated using dispersion modeling, and predictions are evaluated using available monitoring information. Sensitivity analyses are used to test unknown or uncertain model parameters. The SO2 concentrations estimated in Macassar reached extremely dangerous levels, at times over the IDLH level (100 ppm). Predictions agree with the available but very limited monitoring data, as well as with the symptomologyof Macassar residents and plant damage patterns. Procedures to deal with the limited information and variability in this fire and similar incidents are suggested. The fire is a tragic demonstration of shortcomings in hazardous material management and emergency response.
( 1999 Academic PressKey Words: air pollution; dispersion modeling;emergency response; exposure; hazardous materials;inhalation; Are; respiratory system; sulfur dioxide.
Letter from citizen near the Port of Anacortes, Washington…opposing a sulfur facility there
Loading sulphur at Pier 2 bad for Anacortes
Posted by J.B. Smith in Letters, Community
Nov 11, 2009
The Port Commissioners should reconsider the direction the Port is taking to allow the loading of Sulfur at Pier 2.
The public process to date has been used to steer the debate and it has been said that there is little opposition to sulfur loading from the neighbors. This is not fact. The initial public meeting called hastily and with short notice, downplayed the environmental consequences of sulfur being trucked through our city center and loaded onto large cargo ships. A small demonstration loading downplayed the fact that substantial dust and smell did occur. We were told that the Port is within their rights and this is in fact their function. I ask that you read this letter and then reconsider the Port direction.
As far as I know this is the third time the Port has loaded or considered loading sulfur in Anacortes. Previously there was a load operation and it was an admitted disaster because of odor and dust, blamed mainly on the open trucks used at the time. The second time it was suggested that sulfur be stored and loaded here which was a bad idea that never got far off the ground. Now the Port is again considering sulfur shipping using the same system currently used for [petroleum] coke. Although the coke loading is vastly better than during the 1990’s it does not contain the dust completely as evidenced by the black mess that still results on Cap Sante homes. This system is also unlikely to work for sulfur because not only do you have the dust problem but odor as well. My opinion of the test load was that it did in fact have odor and dust, the two things that the public meeting said we would not have. If a small test load of a few hours duration had dust and odor issues what do you think is going to happen when 20-50k tons are loaded over a week’s period of time?
Prilled Sulfur Operation Information – Port of Anacortes, Washington
Preliminary Prilled Sulfur Operation Information
(All information below was pulled directly from www.portofanacortes.com/sulfur.shtml, the website for the Port of Anacortes.)
Oct. 22, 2009 briefing to community about plans to ship sulfur off Pier 2 (PDF 622KB)
(below is some information from the “Neighborhood Meeting Agenda” slide on “Factors to Consider:
FACTORS TO CONSIDER
- Increased truck traffic approx 4-5 ships/year
- Odor may or may not be noticeable to CapSante neighbors
- Capital cost – need to build tent or building overloader for approx $100k
- Bright yellow color – in the unlikely event of aspill, it can be identified for cleanup
Below is a short video of the first sulfur operation test:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4CeE1P91J4&feature=player_embedded
View photos of the first sulfur operation test here.
Project Documents
- SEPA Checklist for Pier 2 Sulfur Shipment (PDF 315KB)
- MDNS Pier 2 Sulfur Shipment (PDF 90KB)
- The release of H2S from formed solid elementals (PDF 682KB)
- Notice of Application for construction (PDF 2.2MB)
- Potential Odor Impacts of Proposed Sulfur Loading (PDF 472KB)
- NWCAA Permit (PDF 3.7MB)
- H2S Odor Monitoring Plan (PDF 4MB)
- Dust Management Plan (PDF 225KB)
Public Comments Received on SEPA Checklist
- Comment 1 (PDF 32KB)
- Comment 2 (PDF 27KB)
- Comment 3 (PDF 928KB)
- Comment 4 (PDF 47KB)
- Comment 5 (PDF 58KB)
- Comment 6 (PDF 91KB)
- Comment 7 (PDF 27KB)
- Comment 8 (PDF 57KB)
- Comment 9 (PDF 37KB)
- Comment 10 (PDF 140KB)
- Comment 11 (PDF 333KB)
Port Responses to Comments
- Guide to Responses (PDF 37KB)
- Comments Received and Responses Given (PDF 86KB)
Sulfur & Public Safety Issues
- Prilled Sulfur Report (PDF 88KB)
- Contingency Plan for the Transportation and Maritime Ship and Barge Loading of Sulfur by Port of Anacortes (PDF 135kb)
- Letter from Fire Dept. to Mr. David Gessert, Consulting Fire Protection Engineer (PDF 97KB)
- Response from Port of Anacortes to Fire Dept. (PDF 1.3MB)
- Link to Northwest Clean Air Agency documents, public notice, and public hearing information
Past evacuations due to sulfur related accidents
Evacuations of residents or workers in cases of incidents of sulphur-handling-related accidents
As of 2005 07 24, a search of the Internet for Sulfur OR Sulphur AND Residents AND evacuated produced a search-return-list with 26,600 entries containing links to stories and articles covering incidents during which residents had to be evacuated.
When the search string was modified to include the term “fire”, the search-return-list still contained 23,000 entries.
Do the residents of Lamont County wish to make the news on account of having to be evacuated when an accident happens in connection with the handling, storing or processing of sulphur at the proposed Hazco sulphur storage facility?
Sulphur storage, -processing, -handling and -transportation pose problems and hazards that are often extremely dangerous and harmful to the environment and especially to people. The following is a tabulation of details of some sulphur-related incidents involving evacuation of people.
