Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 38, September 20, 2024
a) Each valve in
gas/vapor or light liquid service must be monitored monthly to detect leaks by
the methods specified in Section 721.963(b) and must comply with subsections
(b) through (e), except as provided in subsections (f), (g), and (h) and
Sections 721.961 and 721.962.
b) If
an instrument reading of 10,000 ppm or greater is measured, a leak is
detected.
c) Monitoring Frequency.
1) Any valve for which a leak is not detected
for two successive months may be monitored the first month of every succeeding
quarter, beginning with the next quarter, until a leak is detected.
2) If a leak is detected, the valve must be
monitored monthly until a leak is not detected for two successive
months,
d) Leak repair.
1) When a leak is detected, it must be
repaired as soon as practicable, but no later than 15 calendar days after the
leak is detected, except as provided in Section 721.959.
2) A first attempt at repair must be made no
later than five calendar days after each leak is detected.
e) First attempts at repair include, but are
not limited to, the following best practices where practicable:
1) Tightening of bonnet bolts.
2) Replacement of bonnet bolts.
3) Tightening of packing gland
nuts.
4) Injection of lubricant
into lubricated packing.
f) Any valve that is designated, as described
in Section 721.964(g)(2), for no detectable emissions, as indicated by an
instrument reading of less than 500 ppm above background, is exempt from the
requirements of subsection (a) if the valve:
1) Has no external actuating mechanism in
contact with the hazardous secondary material stream.
2) Is operated with emissions less than 500
ppm above background as determined by the method specified in Section
721.963(c).
3) Is tested for
compliance with subsection (f)(2) initially upon designation, annually, and at
other times as requested by the Agency. The Agency must request any compliance
testing at times other than annually in writing to the remanufacturer or other
person that stores or treats the hazardous secondary material.
g) Any valve that is designated,
as described in Section 721.964(h)(1), as an unsafe-to-monitor valve is exempt
from the requirements of subsection (a) if both of the following conditions are
fulfilled:
1) The remanufacturer or other
person that stores or treats the hazardous secondary material determines that
the valve is unsafe to monitor because monitoring personnel would be exposed to
an immediate danger as a consequence of complying with subsection (a);
and
2) The remanufacturer or other
person that stores or treats the hazardous secondary material adheres to a
written plan that requires monitoring of the valve as frequently as practicable
during safe-to-monitor times.
h) Any valve that is designated, as described
in Section 721.964(h)(2), as a difficult-to-monitor valve is exempt from the
requirements of subsection (a) if all of the following conditions are
fulfilled:
1) The remanufacturer or other
person that stores or treats the hazardous secondary material determines that
the valve cannot be monitored without elevating the monitoring personnel more
than two meters above a support surface;
2) The hazardous secondary material
management unit within which the valve is located was in operation before
January 13, 2015; and
3) The owner
or operator of the valve follows a written plan that requires monitoring of the
valve at least once per calendar year.
