Section 173-490-200. Petroleum refinery equipment leaks.

(1) Specific applicability. This section shall apply to all petroleum refineries as qualified in WAC 173-490-025.

(2) Provisions for specific processes.

(a) The owner(s) or operator(s) of a petroleum refinery shall:

(i) Develop and conduct a monitoring program consistent with the provisions in WAC 173-490-200(3), 173-490-200(4), 173-490-200(5), and 173-400-105;

(ii) Record all leaking components which have a VOC concentration greater than 10,000 ppm when tested according to the provisions in WAC 173-490-200(3) and place an identification tag on each component consistent with the provisions of WAC 173-490-200 (4)(c);

(iii) Correct and retest the leaking component, as defined in WAC 173-490-200 (2)(a)(ii), as soon as practicable, but not later than fifteen days after the leak is recorded. If a leak continues after all reasonable corrective actions have been taken, then the component shall be repaired or replaced on the next scheduled turnaround.

(iv) Identify all leaking components, as defined in WAC 173-490-200 (2)(a)(ii), that cannot be corrected until the refinery unit is shut down for turnaround.

(b) The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall not install or operate a valve at the end of a pipe or line containing VOC unless the pipe or line is sealed with a second suitable closure. Exceptions to this requirement are the ends of a pipe or line connected to pressure relief valves, aspirator vents or other devices specifically required to be open for safety protection. The sealing device may be removed only when a sample is being taken or during maintenance operations.

(3) Testing procedures. To demonstrate compliance with this chapter, refer to WAC 173-400-105(5).

(4) Monitoring.

(a) The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall conduct a monitoring program consistent with the following provisions:

(i) Monitor yearly by the methods referenced in WAC 173-490-200(3) all pump seals, pipeline valves in liquid service and process drains;

(ii) Monitor quarterly by the methods referenced in WAC 173-490-200(3) all compressor seals, pipeline valves in gaseous service and pressure relief valves in gaseous service;

(iii) Monitor weekly by visual methods all pump seals;

(iv) Monitor immediately any pump seal from which liquids are observed leaking;

(v) Monitor any relief valve within twenty-four hours after it has vented to the atmosphere; and

(vi) After a leaking component is repaired, monitor for leaks prior to return to service.

(b) Pressure relief devices that are connected to an operating flare header, vapor recovery device, inaccessible valves, storage tank valves, and valves that are not externally regulated are exempt from the monitoring requirements in WAC 173-490-200 (4)(a).

(c) The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery, upon the detection of a leaking component, as defined in WAC 173-490-200 (2)(a)(ii), shall affix a weatherproof and readily visible tag, bearing an identification number and the date the leak is located, to the leaking component. This tag shall remain in place until the leak is corrected.

(5) Recordkeeping.

(a) The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall maintain a leaking component's monitoring log as specified in WAC 173-490-200 (2)(a)(ii) that shall contain, at a minimum, the following data:

(i) The name of the process unit where the component is located.

(ii) The type of component (e.g., valve, seal).

(iii) The tag number of the component.

(iv) The date on which a leaking component is discovered.

(v) The date on which a leaking component is repaired.

(vi) The date and instrument reading of the recheck procedure after a leaking component is repaired.

(vii) A record of the calibration of the monitoring instrument.

(viii) Those leaks that cannot be repaired until turnaround.

(ix) The total number of components checked and the total number of components found leaking.

(b) Copies of the monitoring log shall be retained by the owner or operator for a minimum of two years after the date on which the record was made or the report prepared.

(c) Copies of the monitoring log shall immediately be made available to ecology, upon verbal or written request, at any reasonable time.

(6) Reporting. The owner or operator of a petroleum refinery shall notify ecology in writing within forty-five days following each quarterly or annual inspection for component leaks when:

(a) The number of discovered leaks has increased by more than ten percent above the number recorded during the last inspection of the same components;

(b) The number of leaking components has increased for two consecutive quarterly or annual inspections;

(c) The number of leaks not corrected within fifteen days exceeds five percent of the leaks detected;

(d) The next scheduled process unit turnaround needed to repair an uncorrectable leak is more than twelve months away.

(7) Petition for alternative monitoring.

(a) After two complete liquid service inspections and five complete gaseous service inspections, the owner or operator of a petroleum refinery may petition the director for alternative monitoring procedures or a reduction in monitoring frequency.

(b) A petition for alternative monitoring procedures shall contain:

(i) The name and address of the company and the name and telephone number of the responsible person over whose signature the petition is submitted;

(ii) A detailed description of the problems encountered under WAC 173-490-200(4); and

(iii) A detailed description of the alternative monitoring procedures and how this alternative procedure will solve or reduce the problems encountered under WAC 173-490-200(4).

(c) A petition for a reduction in monitoring frequency shall contain:

(i) The information requested in WAC 173-490-200 (7)(b)(i);

(ii) A detailed description of the proposed component-monitoring schedule;

(iii) A demonstration by the owner or operator that the facility is currently operating with a low level of component leaks and is committed to a maintenance program that will assure a frequency and severity of component leaks as good as that attainable under WAC 173-490-200(2).

(d) An approved petition for a reduction in monitoring frequency shall begin with the next quarterly inspection and shall be valid for a period of twelve quarters (three years). At the time of the last inspection in the twelve quarters, a new submittal of the information required in WAC 173-490-200 (7)(c) shall be made if the reduced frequency of monitoring is to continue.

(e) Ecology may approve a part or all of a petition for alternative monitoring requested under WAC 173-490-200 (7)(b) or (c). Approval or disapproval will be in writing and within forty-five calendar days of receipt of the petition by ecology. A failure to approve or disapprove a new petition or petition for renewal within the stated time limit shall be taken as an approval.

[Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.94 RCW. WSR 91-05-064 (Order 90-06), § 173-490-200, filed 2/19/91, effective 3/22/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.94.331 and 70.94.395. WSR 80-11-062 (Order DE 80-18), § 173-490-200, filed 8/20/80.]

Chapter 70.94 RCW. WSR 91-05-064 (Order 90-06), § 173-490-200, filed 2/19/91, effective 3/22/91. Statutory Authority: RCW 70.94.331 and 70.94.395. WSR 80-11-062 (Order DE 80-18), § 173-490-200, filed 8/20/80.

Rules

173-490-025,173-400-105,173-400-105,