Section 129.71. Synthetic organic chemical and polymer manufacturing—fugitive sources

(a) This section applies to surface active agent manufacturing facilities subject to § 129.72 (relating to manufacture of surface active agents) and to a facility with design capability to manufacture 1,000 tons per year or more of one or a combination of the following:

(1) Synthetic organic chemicals listed in 40 CFR 60.489 (relating to list of chemicals provided by affected facilities).

(2) Methyl tert-butyl ether.

(3) Polyethylene.

(4) Polypropylene.

(5) Polystyrene.

(b) Exempt from this section are systems operated entirely under a vacuum, or process fluids that contain less than 10% by weight of VOCs and systems in service handling compounds with vapor pressures less than 0.044 psia at 68° F.

(c) The owner or operator of a newly affected facility shall complete the following by May 24, 1993.

(1) Install a second valve, blind flange, plug, cap or other equivalent sealing system on open ended lines, except for safety pressure relief valves.

(2) Develop and initiate a leak detection program including liquid leaks for pumps, valves, compressors, vessels and safety pressure relief valves and a repair program for these components that cause a hydrocarbon detection instrument reading equal to or greater than 10,000 ppm. The leak detection and repair program shall include the following:

(i) A leak check during every calendar quarter of the components, by methods referenced in § 139.14 (relating to emissions of VOCs).

(ii) Attachment of an identification tag to the leaking component causing an instrument reading equal to or greater than 10,000 ppm. The identification tag shall be waterproof, readily visible, bear an identification number, the date on which the leak was detected and indicate if the component cannot be repaired until a process shutdown that will not occur within 15 days from the date of detection.

(iii) Repair and retest of a leaking component within 15 days or as soon as possible if a shutdown is required to make the repair.

(iv) A weekly visual check of pumps in light liquid service for indications of leaks.

(v) Check, by methods referenced in § 139.14, a safety relief valve within 24 hours after it has vented to the atmosphere to assure that the safety relief valve has resealed.

(vi) The initiation and maintenance of a log of leaking components. The log shall contain, at a minimum, the total number of components checked, the total number of components found leaking, the location of the leaking component, the type of component—for example, valve, seal and the like—the tag identification number, the date on which the component was discovered to be leaking, date of repair, leak detection instrument reading after repairs, the components that cannot be repaired until a process shutdown that will not occur within 15 days from the date of detection and a record of the calibration of the leak detection monitoring instrument. The monitoring log shall be retained by the owner for 2 years after the date on which an entry was made. The log shall be made available to the Department upon oral or written request.

(d) The owner or operator of a facility subject to this section may submit to the Department an alternative plan for the control of leaks from components. If the Department finds that the alternative plan will achieve an emission reduction which is equivalent to or greater than the reduction which can be achieved under this section and that the alternative plan is as enforceable as this section, the Department may approve the alternative plan.

(e) The owner or operator of a facility subject to this section may submit to the Department a list of components the inspection of which would involve a significant element of danger. The Department may exempt the components on the list from the requirements of this section if the owner or operator can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Department that a significant element of danger exists which cannot be reasonably eliminated, and that these exemptions will not result in a significant reduction of the VOC emission control effectiveness.

The provisions of this § 129.71 adopted May 6, 1988, effective May 7, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 2098; corrected May 20, 1988, effective May 7, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 2298; corrected July 1, 1988, effective May 7, 1988, 18 Pa.B. 2903; amended May 22, 1992, effective May 23, 1992, 22 Pa. B. 2720. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (159220) and (162531) to (162532).

Notation

Authority

The provisions of this § 129.71 issued under section 5 of the Air Pollution Control Act (35 P. S. § 4005).

Cross References

This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 129.51 (relating to general); and 25 Pa. Code § 129.91 (relating to control of major sources of NO_x and VOCs).