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ORTNEK

INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC ON SECURITY MEASURES AT STORAGE FACILITY FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS ORTNEK

In accordance with the provisions of Article 13 of the Decree on the prevention of major accidents and mitigation of their consequences (Uredba o preprečevanju večjih nesreč in zmanjševanju njihovih posledic) (hereinafter: the Decree), the Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Commodity Reserves publishes the Information for the public on security measures in place at the Storage Facility for Petroleum Products Ortnek (SND Ortnek).

  1. Operator of SND Ortnek: ZRSBR (Agency of the Republic of Slovenia for Commodity Reserves), Dunajska cesta 106, 1000 LJUBLJANA

Name and address: Storage facility for petroleum products Ortnek (hereinafter: SND Ortnek), Ortnek 9, 1316 Ortnek

  1. We conform that in accordance with the provisions of the Decree, the storage facility classified as a facility with a significant risk to the environment:
  • operates in compliance with the Decree on the prevention of major accidents and mitigation of their consequences,
  • Security Report has been drawn up and approved by the Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO),
  • it has been registered in accordance with the Decree on storing and handling of flammable liquids (Uredba o skladiščenju in pretakanju vnetljivih tekočin),
  • the Environmental Approval was obtained in 2012 (Okoljevarstveno dovoljenje) No. 35492-1/2012-64.
  1. Short description of the operations carried out at the tank farm:

SND Ortnek performs the operation of taking petroleum products into storage, storing petroleum products and releasing petroleum products as required for the national strategic and emergency reserve stocks. Petroleum products are handled only occasionally, mostly during morning hours.

  1. Information on hazardous substances at the tank farm SND Ortnek where the following hazardous substances are stored:
  • Diesel fuel
  • Unleaded motor gasoline, and
  • Fuel oil (occasionally)

Diesel fuel (road diesel) is light-colour liquid, mostly yellowish with specific odour. It is mostly used for road vehicles with diesel engines. Based on its physical and chemical properties, it is a medium distillate with the ignition point between 160°C and 360°C, it does not dissolve in water, its density is approximately 0.83 kg/l. Diesel fuel is among flammable substances, its flash point is above 55°C. It is harmful to health (irritates eyes, skin, lungs) and poses risks to the environment. Diesel vapours are heavier than air.

Unleaded motor gasoline is a clear light-coloured, mostly slightly yellowish liquid with characteristic odour. It is mostly used for road vehicles with petrol engines. Its ignition point is med 25°C and 210°C, its density is approximately 0.74 kg/l and does not dissolve in water. The flashpoint of unleaded motor gasoline is below – 40°C and it is classified among highly flammable liquids. It is harmful to health (irritates eyes, skin, lungs) and poses risks to the environment. Diesel vapours are heavier than air.

Petroleum/fuel oil is also a crude oil derivative. It is a clear colourless or slightly yellowish liquid with characteristic odour that may also be coloured (depending on the purpose of its use – transport or heating). According to its physical and chemical properties it falls in the group between gasoline and middle distillates. Its ignition point range is between 150°C and 300°C. Fuel oil is most often used as road and non-road fuel or for heating. The flash point of fuel oil is above 38°C. It is harmful to health (irritates eyes, skin, lungs) and poses risks to the environment. Diesel vapours are heavier than air.

Detailed information regarding hazardous properties of the above petroleum products can be reads in the Security Documents (Varnostne listine) and can be accessed by the public.

  1. General information about warning the public about potential symptoms experienced as a consequence of a major disaster

Warnings and information for the public regarding emergencies are released as needed in accordance with the crisis communication document: the Plan for protection and disaster relief for SND Ortnek. The activities serving to alert the population and provide information are carried out by the employees of the Agency, the Regional Centre for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief – ReCO, and the media.

No major impact of an emergency on the inhabitants living in the vicinity is to be expected; therefore, no special measures for the populations have been envisaged.

Adequate information on proper action to be taken in case of a major disaster can be obtained from the manager of the tank farm and the person in charge of the environment-related issues.

All information can also be obtained by sending an e-mail message to the electronic mail address info@zrsbr.si

Manager of fuel storage facility: Lojze Ilc, e-mail: lojze.ilc@zrsbr.si

Person in charge of the environment-related issues, Marjan Lampret, e-mail: marjan.lampret@zrsbr.si

  1. Location where information relating to on-site inspection reviews can be obtained

All information and supporting documents relating to on-site inspection reviews and supervision plans and schedules are available on the web pages of the Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for the Environment and Spatial Planning and the Inspectorate of the Republic of Slovenia for Protection against Natural and Other Disasters.

  1. Possibility of chain reaction

There are no facilities in the vicinity that in conjunction with the tank farm Ortnek would present a conglomerate of facilities giving rise to potential chain reaction/effects.

  1. Acquiring additional information subject to the provisions of regulations on access to public information

In addition to the information with regard to the tank farm available on the website of the tank farm operator www.zrsbr.si , stakeholders and other members of the public may obtain further information by sending an e-mail to: info@zrsbr.si .

  1. General information on the nature of major disasters complete with their potential impact on people’s health and the environment

Based on the experience and the performed analyses, it is assessed that the following principal scenarios of major disasters taking place at the tank farm would be possible:

  • Rail tanker loading/off-loading – explosion and fire at the rail tanker loading/off-loading bay during fuel sampling;
  • Petrol filling station – explosion and fire at the filling station due to damaged flexible fuel hose;
  • Petrol filling station – leak from a road tanker and a fire;
  • Above-ground storage tanks – explosion during cleaning operation inside the tank;
  • Above-ground storage tanks – leak/spill and combustion of fuel in the catchment basin, possible propagation of fire to the adjacent storage tank;
  • Discharge – discharge of fuel into the stream – various causes, there is also the possibility of a fire;
  • Fuel oil/petroleum ignition in the hall during sampling;
  • Gas storage tank – explosion as a consequence of a vehicle crashing into it.

The assumption is that in case of the above-listed accidents, the Agency’s staff could be injured and even lives could be lost, plant and equipment could be damaged but such an accident would not have a large-scale impact on the population living in the vicinity. The most serious consequences of these accidents – impact on the environment t would be in the event of fuel leaking into the stream that could lead to groundwater pollution and the groundwater as a source of drinking water in the Suhs Krajina region could not be used. The possibility for the fire spreading to the wooded areas in the vicinity has also been taken into consideration as plausible.

  1. Assurance that the tank farm operator in order to cope with major accidents and contain their effects disposes of resources necessary to take appropriate action on site and cooperate with rescue services

Since SND Ortnek is classified as a facility associated with significant risk to the environment, there is system in place for managing safety issues and within the framework of this system we are able to provide for the carrying out of all activities serving to identify hazard, perform risk assessment, work out  possible scenarios and carry out relevant and adequate emergency response measures by taking into consideration effective regulations and best available techniques for accident prevention and containing their consequences during operation, when major alterations are made on the facility and in case of construction works.

In order to take proper action in accordance with the Protection and Rescue Plan there is a fire-fighting unit set up within the framework of the tank farm trained and equipped to respond and act in case of a disaster and to eliminate its consequences. Protection and rescue drills are organised to test in the field the envisaged scenarios and to make changes and improve response plans based on the findings and analyses conducted with the aim to raise the tank farm safety. The Agency’s fire-fighting staff collaborates with the local associations of voluntary fire-fighters at these drills, as well as with emergency medical service, police and the Protection and Rescue Service of the Municipality of Ribnica.

  1. Information provided in municipal or regional disaster response plans

Adequate information and guidance on action to be taken in accordance with the instructions or orders given by rescue services when a disaster occurs are elaborated in detail in the document drafted by the Municipality of Ribnica with the response plan in case of incidents involving dangerous substances. The document is available on the website of the Municipality of Ribnica.

At the Agency as the tank farm operator potentially posing significant risk for the environment, we are fully aware of the responsibility to the population and the environment. Consequently, we spare no effort to put in place all the necessary measures to provide for safety and to prevent incidents, and to manage, contain and reduce consequences of such events.

Ljubljana, September 2017

AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR COMMODITY RESERVES

Anton ZAKRAJŠEK, Director