Housing near LPG stations in the Netherlands, 2003
More than half of the 2,200 LPG stations in the Netherlands are closer to housing than allowed by the standard.
More than half of LPG stations are too close to housing.
Since 1984, the distance between new housing and LPG stations must be at least 80 metres (VROM, 1983). From 1984 onwards, a start has also been made on the remediation of stations too close to housing. However, it is far from being the case that all the existing difficulties have been eliminated. In addition, there are many cases where new stations have been built too close to housing after 1984 or where housing has been built closer than allowed by the standard. The result is that, at present, slightly more than half of the 2,200 LPG stations in the Netherlands are too close to housing. Approximately 12,000 to 13,000 homes are affected.
Remediating difficulties
The Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment wants to withdraw authorisation for the storage and sale of LPG at stations where housing is closer than 25 metres. This must be done within three years after the adoption of the draft decree stating the new proximity requirements (Staatsblad, 2002), starting with the stations with the largest number of homes in the vicinity (VROM, 2003a). Approximately 230 stations have a total of 300 to 400 homes within a range of 25 metres. Approximately 170 of these 230 stations have only one home within this range. Closing 230 stations not only means that almost 4,000 homes will comply with the standard for local risk but also that extra space may be freed up for housing. If it is decided to close the 230 stations with the largest number of homes within the standard distance, regardless of whether there are homes within 25 metres, the total number of homes involved would be reduced by almost 8,000.
Study of the extent of the risk
In 2002, integrated studies were launched into the risks associated with the production and use of three dangerous substances: chlorine, ammonia and LPG (TNO, 2003; VROM, 2003b). These studies and preceding ones clearly show that the LPG market - and particularly the points of sale for LPG - are an important source of problems. That is why, in early 2003, KPMG determined the geographical location of all LPG stations and their filling points (KPMG/OAG, 2003). RIVM then linked this information to data about housing construction. The branch supplied sales data for a third of the stations. The average sales figure was assumed for stations about which no sales information was available.
Delivery of LPG to stations is the main source of risks
The most probable and severe incidents at LPG stations take place during the delivery of the fuel. The frequency of fuel deliveries - and therefore the sales of the station - are therefore major determinants of risks for local residents. The position of the filling points determines the spatial distribution of the risk around the station. Moving the filling point is therefore another measure that can be considered to eliminate difficulties.
In the Netherlands, there has been one incident in which a fire during the delivery of LPG resulted in the explosion of the tanker. This led to severe damage to the station, and to parts of the tank being thrown distances of up to 125 metres. This incident took place in 1978 at a station located alongside the motorway near Wychen in the east of the Netherlands.
Discussion about distance standards
The draft decree referred to above states distances to be observed from housing as a function of sales. The reasoning behind those distances is, given the financial implications of the remediation operations, the subject of extensive debate. Depending on the sources consulted, the area within which the mortality risk is 10-5 a year is between 35 metres and less than 10 metres. Here, the distance that has been assumed is the 25 metres used by the Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment to designate the stations requiring remediation first. The distances to the point where the local risk is 10-6 a year - the limit value that all stations must comply with in 2010 - have been taken from the draft decree.
