An Example of Real-Time Emergency Response: The SO_3 Release in Valleyfield, Quebec

摘要

Late on the evening of August 8th 2004, approximately 6 tonnes of gas containing sulphur trioxide (SO_3) were accidentally released by the CEZinc refinery located near Valleyfield, in south-western Quebec. The gas formed an atmospheric plume that was perceptible by people on the island of Montreal and as far as 50 km from its origin.rnDuring and following the incident, authorities and the industry based their decisions on the information produced by reliable scientific tools such as atmospheric dispersion modelling and air quality monitoring. That information, together with other relevant facts, allowed the industry as well as the municipal, provincial and federal partners to better understand what had happened during that evening. Incidents like these provide opportunities for authorities and industry to rethink their risk management plan and improve their prevention, preparation and response strategies.rnA comprehensive description of the event is given. Dispersion results provided in real time are shown and compared with monitoring data from the Montreal Air Quality Network. In addition, the activation of the various emergency response plans and their possible readjustments are discussed.