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File: 082696_doc1_623.txt
the gas.
14) Neither the day nor the night scenario for a
ruptured tank on the industrial port will threaten the commercial
port. The camp area is not threatened in such a scenario given
its distance from the port.
15) In summary, the worst case scenario in terms of
time to react is an instantaneous release of ammonia from either
the industrial port or the plant area. The explosion at the port
threatens the commercial port while an explosion at the plant
affects the camp area. A daytime explosion would be the most
detrimental in either case. However, the nighttime scenario is
still a threat and the diameter of the lethal cloud at night
would be larger.
16) Rupturing of the tanks at the plant also could
threaten the camp area, particularly if the incident took place
at night. This threat would persist until all of the ammonia
evaporated. Thus, the more ammonia stored, the longer the
duration of the threat.
d. Chlorine
1. Tanks of chlorine are~present only in the industrial city
although Sabic (Ibn Hayyan) holds a small amount as well. Saudi
Petrochemical Company (Sadaf), the owner of the tanks containing
most of the chlorine, has reduced its holdings of chlorine in
response to the present crisis. Each tank contains on the order
of 110 MT of chlorine.
2. Chlorine is a green-yellow gas with a pungent, suffocating
odor. It is toxic by inhalation and contact with it may cause
burns to the skin and eyes. Signs of exposure include immediate
and severe irritation of the nose, throat, and eyes.
3. The IDHt concentration of chlorine is 30 ppm. However, 4 ppm
is the maximum amount of exposure for 39 to 90 minutes. Appendix
D contains additional information about the toxicity of chlorine.
Both the X17A1 gas mask and the MOPP suit are effective against
chlorine unless the gas has completely saturated the air.
4. Because toxicity of chlorine and the proximity of the tanks to
the various military installations, the threat of release of this
gas to various locations was assessed. The same scenarios were
considered for these simulations, i.e., an instantaneous release
of the gas and formation of a pool of chlorine as a result of
rupturing of the tank. These simulations were performed by the
SAMAD company. Appendix E provides additional information
concerning the computer simulations.
5. If the chlorine tank ruptures during the day and the gas forms
a pool, a plume 3 km in length containing lethal concentrations
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