Environmental Stewardship – Faribault Energy Park
Organizing hazardous and flammable wastes has many benefits
Faribault Energy Park
Owned by Minnesota Municipal Power Agency
Operated by NAES Corp300-MW, gas-fired, 1 × 1 combined-cycle facility located in Faribault, Minn
Plant manager: Bob Burchfield
Key project participants: Doug Klar, operations manager
Challenge.
Faribault Energy Park was built as a model of environmental responsibility and innovation and has been welcomed as a long-term asset to the community and a good environmental neighbor. So when plant staff recognized various drums of new oil, waste oil, boiler and cooling tower chemicals, water-wash soap, and oily waste on small containments throughout the plant, they were determined to organize these hazardous and flammable materials to prevent potential accidental spills.
Solution.
The O&M staff, led by Doug Klar, purchased a two-story hazardous and flammable waste containment building to organize and retain all hazardous and flammable and flammables (Fig 18). This two-hour fire-rated structure meets all state codes and has the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 5.5 × 30.5 × 10-ft high.n Weight: 11,435 lb.
- Walls: 14 gage steel.n Roof: 12 gage steel.n Sump: 10 gage steel.
- Equipped with six doors and a three-point locking system.
- Finish inside and outside is a chemical-resistant urethane paint.
- Design meets Factory Mutual Standard 6049, “Flammable and Combustible Liquid Storage Buildings.”
- Warranties: five years, structural; one year, coatings and accessories.
Purchased from Safe Buildings Corp, Chicago, Ill, the structure is located on a concrete pad and includes the following additional features:
- R11 insulation.
- Rain guard.
- Aluminum grate, non-spark flooring.
- Natural ventilation with adjustable backdraft dampers.
- Seismic 1-in. tie downs.n Static ground connections.
- Forklift pockets.
- NFPA 30 sign.
Each compartment within the building is separated by a two-hour fire-rated UL 263 wall and contains an isolated sump with a capacity of 396.4 gallons (Fig 19). Each compartment can accommodate four drum pallets (two wide and two high), assuming the skids are 48 × 48 × 42.5 in. high. The building has a 10-in. spill containment system throughout the interior and is supplied with:
- 120-V power.n A 60-amp main panel equipped with a 60-amp breaker.
- Three Class I, Div I, explosion-proof heaters.
- Three Class I, Div I, explosion-proof interior lights rated 300 W with guards and one exterior switch.
- One weatherproof, four-space duplex-grounded GFCI receptacle (exterior mount).
Results.
Plant chemicals, flammables, and wastes are now neatly stowed in a weather- and spill-proof storage area. Purchasing and installing the building cost little more than the expense associated with having a hazmat spill response team come onsite and clean up a minor spill. Not only is the plant safer and tidier, containing these materials makes all the difference in maintaining the environmental-stewardship goals of the facility.Plant personnel have been recognized for their efforts in meeting, and exceeding, environmental stewardship goals and regulatory compliance in a timely and efficient manner. It was their dedication, persistence, and innovative solutions that brought the plant to such a high level of performance.
