An ammonia leak occurred at a J.R. Simplot Co. potato processing facility in Grand Forks, N.D., around 7:30 p.m. on April 19. The leak prompted the shutdown of nearby Gateway Drive and prompted a brief shelter-in-place for nearby residents, according to the local media.
“The ammonia leak occurred from our refrigeration system at our potato processing plant in Grand Forks because of a broken valve,” a company spokesperson told Green Markets. “Our facility’s ammonia detectors alerted personnel of the release and we were able to evacuate everyone safely.”
The spokesperson said the company immediately evacuated the facility and
notified the fire department, who were able to identify the exact location of
the release and close the valve. No injuries were reported, and the
shelter-in-place order was lifted several hours later.
“Our Grand Forks facility has a comprehensive safety and environmental system
and follows all OSHA process safety management (PSM) standards,” the company
spokesperson said.