Hempfield propane terminal to begin testing alarm system next week

Neighbors of Enterprise Terminals & Storage in Hempfield are being advised the company will begin testing a new alarm system at its propane terminal next week.

Along Route 136 near the former Shop ’n Save, the terminal’s alarm system will alert employees if there is a fire or gas release at the facility, company officials told Hempfield supervisors this week.

Under federal regulations, Enterprise is required to conduct routine tests of the system to ensure it is working properly. Those tests will involve playing a series of tones every Wednesday at noon that might be audible to residents living near the terminal, the company said in a news release. The tests are expected to last about a minute.

Independent sound studies commissioned by the company found the volume beyond the fence line around the terminal should be equivalent to or less than the sound of heavy traffic.

“Great care has been taken to design the system in order to minimize the impact, including directing speakers toward the facility and away from nearby homes, businesses and churches,” the release said.

Enterprise officials said they worked with local authorities to design the alarm system and met with local residents to explain the changes, answer questions and receive feedback.

“As a responsible operator and good neighbor in the communities where it operates, Enterprise has worked proactively with local authorities to design the system with the primary objectives being to protect the public while minimizing inconvenience,” the release said.