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File: 082696_doc1_633.txt
of the gas are released. The results reflect a nighttime scenario
and should be compared to Figure C-2 which shows the ammonia
cloud upon release of 1000 MT of the gas under similar
conditions. The cloud is seen to extend 16 km downwind from the
origin. The width of the gas cloud is 3 kin. Thus, the larger the
holding of gas, the greater the size of the chemical cloud. This
increase in the size of the cloud, however,is not directly
proportional to the amount of gas released.
7. Four thousand measurement tons of ammonia represents only half
of the maximum levels the tanks at Ibn Baytar are currently
holding. Thus, even these average holdings of ammonia pose a
serious risk to life and health should the gas be released
instantaneously.
8. Figure 0-4 shows the results from the second scenario when a
puddle of ammonia is formed. These results are based on a daytime
scenario and rupturing of a tank at the SAMAD facility. Thus, the
harmful cloud of ammonia would extend 1.5 km downwind from this
location. The direction of the plume would depend on wind
conditions and its size would be independent of the amount of
ammonia stored in the tank. The more ammonia stored in the tank,
the longer the plume would remain in the area.
__ 9. Figure 0-5 shows the same results as figure 0-4 except that a
nighttime scenario is assumed. Thus, under these conditions, the
harmful cloud extends 4.3 km downwind from the SAMAD facility.
The plume is longer than that for the daytime because the
nighttime windspeed is lower, resulting in less dispersion of the
gas. The plume travels in the same direction as the wind and its
duration depends on the amount of gas originally in the tank.
10. The same scenarios were used in considering the release of
ammonia from the tanks at the port. Figure 0-6 shows the results
of the computer simulation assuming the instantaneous release of
5000 MT of ammonia from these tanks at night. A harmful cloud of
gas 3 km wide would result from such an explosion. This cloud
would travel the same speed as the wind and would reach the
commercial port in approximately 65 minutes if the wind direction
were as shown. The computer simulation showed a similarly-sized
cloud of gas would result from a daytime explosion. Due to the
higher windspeeds during the day, however, the harmful cloud
would reach the port area in only 20 minutes given the correct
wind direction.
11. The amount of ammonia assumed for these simulations of an
explosion in the port area is not even the maximum that could be
stored in one of the tanks. Thus, the results shown are not even
that for a worst-case scenario. If a greater amount of ammonia
were in the tank initially, the results would be even more
devastating.
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