New Jersey Administrative Code
Title 7 - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Chapter 1F - UNDERGROUND STORAGE CAVERNS
Subchapter 3 - OPERATING REQUIREMENTS
Section 7:1F-3.2 - Operation and maintenance

Universal Citation: NJ Admin Code 7:1F-3.2

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 18, September 16, 2024

(a) The owner and operator of an underground storage cavern system shall submit to the Department a plan for the operation and maintenance of the system. The plan shall:

1. Establish procedures for air monitoring to detect any release of a regulated substance.

2. Establish procedures for ground water and soil vapor monitoring, in accordance with N.J.A.C. 7:1F-3.3.

3. Establish procedures to operate the system at all times as provided at (a)3i and ii below and maintain records of these operating parameters. The owner and operator shall provide the Department any information necessary to demonstrate that appropriate safety measures will be implemented and maintained to prohibit pressures and temperatures outside the range established for the system and approved by the Department.
i. For an underground storage cavern system with an approval to construct issued pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:1F-4, procedures to operate the system at all times within the maximum and minimum operating pressures and temperatures as submitted to the Department pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:1F-2.2. The maximum operating pressure (MOP) must be less than the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP).

ii. For an existing underground storage cavern system in operation as of May 1, 2023, a procedure to operate the system at all times within the pressures and temperatures established for the system and approved by the Department.

4. Establish the following additional operating procedures:
i. Procedures for the initiation of operation activities;

ii. Procedures for the cessation of operation activities under normal operating conditions;

iii. Procedures for the initiation of operation activities after a period of dormancy or decommissioning, which must include testing pursuant to (a)1 above;

iv. Procedures for normal operating conditions;

v. Procedures for abnormal operating conditions, including the expected consequences of any deviation and steps required to correct or avoid the deviation;

vi. Procedures during emergency conditions;

vii. Procedures for operation activities under temporary or special operating conditions; and

viii. A description of any safety systems, including information regarding the safety systems' functions.

5. Establish a maintenance plan, including:
i. A schedule for inspection and testing of ancillary system equipment including, but not limited to, storage wells, wellheads, pipes, lines, tubes, and instrumentation up to and including the first emergency shutdown valve. The schedule must include a list of equipment, the identification of the type of inspection and test, and the frequency of inspections and testing;

ii. Procedures for corrosion control;

iii. A schedule for inspection and testing of release detection and monitoring systems. The schedule must include a list of the release detection and monitoring systems, the identification of the type of inspection and test, and the frequency of inspection and testing;

iv. Procedures for repairs; and

v. Procedures for testing the integrity of the cavern system once every five years following issuance of a permit, or at shorter intervals, if applicable.
(1) The method for testing shall be specified in the procedures and can be performed in situ, with regulated substance in place, or after a regulated substance is withdrawn. If necessary, the system must be rendered inert to ensure the prevention of explosion or other hazardous conditions.

(b) Upon receiving approval from the Department to operate the system, the owner and operator shall implement the above operation and maintenance plans and any other conditions of the approved permit issued pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:1F-4.

(c) The owner and operator shall maintain records of the established procedures, repairs, inspections, and testing results demonstrating compliance with the operation and maintenance plans at (a) and (b) above. Such records must be maintained at the site and provide information regarding the previous five years of operation at the system.

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