F1                    Outline Emergency Response Plan

F1.1              Introduction

A detailed emergency response plan for the operation of the biodiesel plant will be developed after the completion of the detailed design of the plant.  The following sections outline the general requirements of the plan respect to prevention and management of the risk of pollution and will form the basis for the development of the detailed plan.

F1.2              Pollution Prevention and Control Measures

F1.2.1        Loading and Loading of Materials

Loading and unloading of materials should be carried out by trained personnel of the biodiesel plant and in accordance with the operational procedures established by plant manager.

Loading and Unloading at the Jetty

The operator at the jetty should closely liaise with the operator on the barge to ensure that all the connections are secured.  The operators should closely monitor the loading and loading operation to ensure no spillage or leakage of material during the operation.  Should there be a leak, the operator at the jetty should immediately press the emergency stop of the pumps and close the valve to minimise the leak.

Loading at the Grease Trap Waste Unloading Area

The operator should check the joint connection of the discharge pipe of the grease trap waste (GTW) tanker and the reception pipe of the unloading station to ensure that it is properly connected and secured.  The operator should closely monitor the loading operation to ensure no spillage or leakage of material during the operation.  Should there be a leak, the operator should instruct the driver of the tanker to close the discharge valve of the tanker to stop further leak.  The spill should be cleaned up immediately by washing down to the drainage system.  The wastewater will be pumped to the wastewater treatment plant for treatment.

F1.2.2        Prevention of Leakage of Materials from Tank Farm and Process Tanks

All storage tanks should be hydro-tested with water (according the designed test pressure) before used.  The tanks should be provided with a leak detection system.  The integrity of the tanks should be inspected regularly in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Building Regulations. 

Bund wall should be provided in the tank farm (including the storage tank of the raw materials/products) and the process tanks within the Process Building to contain any spillage of materials (the wall should be designed to hold at least 110% of the volume of the largest tank) within the bunded area.  The floor of the bunded area should be paved with concrete block and coated with waterproofing membrane.  This will effective prevent any spill from seeping into the soil. 

The bunded area should be provided with a sump pit(s) with a manually controlled valve/penstock which should normally be closed.  All surface water discharged from the bunded area should pass through an oil interceptor.  No surface water will be automatically drained from the bunded area.  The plant operator should check the valves/penstocks on a daily basis to ensure that they are closed.  The operator should also check that the valves/penstocks are closed before the tank is receiving stock.  The water level within the interceptor should be inspected regularly to ensure that oily water cannot pass directly to the outlet.  During each regular check, the operator will turn the interceptor outlet valve to confirm that it operates easily and can be shut tight when necessary.

During rainstorm, the operator should observe the rainwater collected within the bunded and will manually open the valve of the sump pit of the bunded area to allow an appropriate flow to pass through the oil interceptor.  

The sump pit should also be equipped with a level switch instrument to detect the water level.  The sensor should be connected to an alarm of the PCS-system.  Spill/leak within the bunded area should be cleaned up immediately.  If a large spill/leak is detected, the materials should be pumped out and reuse, where appropriate.  Otherwise the material should be disposed of as a chemical waste to the Chemical Waste Treatment Centre.  If the leak is from the GTW and Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) storage tanks, the materials will be pumped to other GTW storage tanks or to the on-site wastewater treatment plant for treatment.

F1.2.3        Prevention of Leakage from Pipe Bridge

After installation, the pipelines should be tested (pressure test with water).  The pipes on the pipe bridge should be welded so that there will be no connection (eg flanges and valves) on the pipe bridge outside the bunded area.  Flanges and valves should only be located within/above a bunded area (eg Process Building, tank farm, Technic Room).  The pipelines should be visual inspected on a regularly basis and tested as necessary. 

To prevent the pipe bridge against any traffic collisions, the bottom line of the bridge should be at least 4.5m above ground level.  At the site entrance, a “height check/control” should be installed to ensure that vehicles taller than 4m will not been allowed to enter the site unless it is escorted by senior site operator to ensure that the vehicle will not drive near the pipe bridge.  The columns of the pipe bridge at the street level should be protected by barriers and sufficient clearance from the road.

F1.2.4         Loading/Unloading Stations at the GTW Unloading Area and Jetty

At the loading and unloading stations, the following control measures should be implemented:

·           Dry couplings should be used to connect the pipes with the truck or barge;

·           The GTW unloading area should be paved with concrete and the drainage should be separated from the stormwater drainage system.  The drainage should be connected to the on-site wastewater treatment plant.  For the unloading area at the jetty area, the gate valve of the sump pit of the bunded area should be closed to ensure any spillage will be contained and collected.  This avoids direct discharge of any spill to the stormwater drainage system.  

·           Emergency stops of loading and unloading should be installed at all stations.

·           The loading and unloading operation should be carried out by trained operators. 

F1.2.5        Monitoring of Effluent Discharge from the Site

The water discharged from the oil interceptor will be checked to ensure that the effluent comply with the discharge standards prior discharge to the stormwater system. 

The quality of the effluent discharge from the terminal manhole of the site to the public sewer of the TKO Industrial Estate will be monitored in accordance with the requirements of the Water Pollution Control Ordinance Licence.

F1.3              Marine pollution Equipment

The following marine pollution equipment will be maintained at the jetty area.

·         Boom: the total length of the boom will not be less 2.5 times the maximum length of the marine vessel delivering the raw materials and exporting the biodiesel;

·         Ancillary equipment necessary for the proper deployment of the boom; and

·         Appropriate absorbent materials for the PFAD, methanol and biodiesel.

F1.4              Clean Up Procedures for Spillage of Materials on Site

There is potential for spillage of biodiesel, PFAD and methanol during the loading/unloading operations at the jetty area.  Dry coupling should be used to connect two loading/unloading pipes or a flexible hose to a transfer pipe in order to avoid any leakage of the materials at the joint.  The loading/ unloading area should be surrounded by covered surface channel to contain any potential spillage of materials.  In addition, the operations should be undertaken at the paved loading/ unloading station and should be manned by trained staff and closely monitored with flow control equipment.  Any spillages should be contained and the spill be absorbed by appropriate absorbents.  The area should be properly washed and the wastewater should be conveyed to the on-site wastewater treatment plant for treatment. 

For accidental spills that could occur during transportation of biodiesel from the site, retainer booms should be used to create a warp around the barge and the contaminated areas to prevent the spillage spreading.  The spill should be absorbed by appropriate absorbents.  If there is leak of the methanol, it should let the methanol to vapour as quickly as possible so that the vapour will be diluted below the flammable concentration. 

F1.5              Training of Site Personnel

Induction training for all site personnel will include the emergency contingency plan of the site.  Refresher training will be provided to the key operation staff on an annual basis.

The training will include all possible risks, which can be occurred when handling different materials (eg methanol, acids and bases, biodiesel, etc), health and safety measures and the necessary clean up procedures.  Training will make reference to the MSDS (Material safety data sheets) so that the staff will be fully conversant with the potential risks and environmental implications associated with spillage of materials.

The training will also include the operation of the clean up equipment.

F1.6              Emergency Contacts

The detailed emergency response plan should include the contact person, telephone numbers and addressed of the following organisation.

·         Plant Manager;

·         Regional Office (East), Environmental Compliance Division of EPD;

·         TKO Ambulance/Fire Station;

·         TKO Police Station;

·         Marine Department;

·         Manager of the TKOIE, Hong Kong Science and Technology Park; and

·         Sai Kung District Office.