Agenda - Council - 09/09/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I CASE # REQUEST FOR SITE PLAN APPROVAL; CASE OF VISION-EASE LENS By: Zoning Administrator Sylvia Frolik Background: Vision-Ease Lens is planning to utilize organic peroxide formulations in the manufacture of their polycarbonate based products. This material is considered a hazardous chemical. Proper storage and handling are addressed in materials published by several groups including the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Factory Mutual Engineering Corporation, and PPG Industries, the peroxide manufacturer. These polycarbonate based products are manufactured in their St. Cloud, MN and Florida facilities. The Florida facility is closing and their polycarbonate product line will be assumed by the Ramsey plant. The St. Cloud facility has an accessory building for storage of the peroxides similar to that proposed for the Ramsey site. Because of Federal transporting and shipping regulations, it is not feasible to store the peroxides needed for both plants at the St. Cloud site and transport them to Ramsey on an as-needed basis. The peroxides are stored fi'ozen until they are taken out of storage for immediate use. Vision-Ease plans to store very small quantities of this material on site: no more than 100 pounds of Class I peroxide and no more than 100 pounds of Class III peroxide. (Peroxides are classified by NFPA based on combustibility, Class I Being the most combustible 'and Class V being the least combustible). The material is not considered hazardous once it has been utilized in production. The empty storage containers require no special handling or disposal. The material poses no hazard to the environment if spilled. Observations: Factory Mutual incorporates the most restrictive guidelines for locating a detached storage building on a site relative to major buildings in the same site. Their normally recommended minimum separation is 100 feet along with a barrier. Vision-Ease is proposing a 250 square foot one-room metal building on a concrete slab on grade. It will be centered in a 46' x 46' area of crushed gravel, surrounded by a 6' chain link fence. There will be an earth berm approximately 9 feet high around the west, south and east sides of the building (the berm is higher than the building). The entrance to the building will be on the north side of the building. The building will be 100 feet from the nearest point of the proposed furore expansion to the Vision-Ease facility and property lines. The building will house two typical residential style chest freezers which will hold polyethylene bottles or trays containing the peroxide. Each freezer will have a temperature sensor. The building interior will also have an ambi'ent temperature sensor.