Current through Register Vol. 36, No. 6, March 25, 2025
A. When required. If a well, facility or
operation involves a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide, the
person shall develop a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan that the person will
use to alert and protect the public in accordance with the Subsections B
through I of
19.15.11.9 NMAC.
B. Plan contents.
(1) API guidelines. The person shall develop
the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan with due consideration of paragraph 7.6
of the guidelines in the API publication Recommended Practices for Oil and Gas
Producing and Gas Processing Plant Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide,
RP-55, most recent edition, or with due consideration to another
division-approved standard.
(2)
Required contents. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall contain
information on the following subjects, as appropriate to the well, facility or
operation to which it applies.
(a) Emergency
procedures. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall contain information on
emergency procedures the person will follow in the event of a release and shall
include, at a minimum, information concerning the responsibilities and duties
of personnel during the emergency, an immediate action plan as described in the
API document referenced in Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of
19.15.11.9 NMAC, and telephone
numbers of emergency responders, public agencies, local government and other
appropriate public authorities. The plan shall also include the locations of
potentially affected public areas and public roads and shall describe proposed
evacuation routes, locations of road blocks and procedures for notifying the
public, either through direct telephone notification using telephone number
lists or by means of mass notification and reaction plans. The plan shall
include information on the availability and location of necessary safety
equipment and supplies.
(b)
Characteristics of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. The hydrogen sulfide
contingency plan shall include a discussion of the characteristics of hydrogen
sulfide and sulfur dioxide.
(c)
Maps and drawings. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall include maps and
drawings that depict the area of exposure and public areas and public roads
within the area of exposure.
(d)
Training and drills. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall provide for
training and drills, including training in the responsibilities and duties of
essential personnel and periodic on-site or classroom drills or exercises that
simulate a release, and shall describe how the person will document the
training, drills and attendance. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall
also provide for training of residents as appropriate on the proper protective
measures to be taken in the event of a release, and shall provide for briefing
of public officials on issues such as evacuation or shelter-in-place
plans.
(e) Coordination with state
emergency plans. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall describe how the
person will coordinate emergency response actions under the plan with the
division and the New Mexico state police consistent with the New Mexico
hazardous materials emergency response plan.
(f) Activation levels. The hydrogen sulfide
contingency plan shall include the activation level and a description of events
that could lead to a release of hydrogen sulfide sufficient to create a
concentration in excess of the activation level.
C. Plan activation. The person
shall activate the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan when a release creates a
hydrogen sulfide concentration greater than the activation level set forth in
the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan. At a minimum, the person shall activate
the plan whenever a release may create a hydrogen sulfide concentration of more
than 100 ppm in a public area, 500 ppm at a public road or 100 ppm 3000 feet
from the site of release.
D.
Submission.
(1) Where submitted. The person
shall submit the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan to the division.
(2) When submitted. The person shall submit a
hydrogen sulfide contingency plan for a new well, facility or operation before
operations commence. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan for a drilling,
completion, workover or well servicing operation shall be on file with the
division before operations commence and may be submitted separately or along
with the APD or may be on file from a previous submission. A person shall
submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan within 180 days after the person
becomes aware or should have become aware that a public area or public road is
established that creates a potentially hazardous volume where none previously
existed.
(3) Electronic submission.
A filer who operates more than 100 wells or who operates an oil pump station,
compressor station, refinery or gas plant shall submit each hydrogen sulfide
contingency plan in electronic format. The file may submit the hydrogen sulfide
contingency plan through electronic mail, through an Internet filing or by
delivering electronic media to the division, so long as the electronic
submission is compatible with the division's systems.
E. Failure to submit plan. A person's failure
to submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan when required may result in
denial of an application for permit to drill, cancellation of an allowable for
the subject well or other enforcement action appropriate to the well, facility
or operation.
F. Review, amendment.
The person shall review the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan any time a
subject addressed in the plan materially changes and make appropriate
amendments. If the division determines that a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan
is inadequate to protect public safety, the division may require the person to
add provisions to the plan or amend the plan as necessary to protect public
safety.
G. Retention and
inspection. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall be reasonably
accessible in the event of a release, maintained on file at all times and
available for division inspection.
H. Annual inventory of contingency plans. On
an annual basis, each person required to prepare one or more hydrogen sulfide
contingency plans pursuant to 19.15.11 NMAC shall file with the appropriate
local emergency planning committee and the state emergency response commission
an inventory of the wells, facilities and operations for which plans are on
file with the division and the name, address and telephone number of a point of
contact.
I. Plans required by other
jurisdictions. The person may submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan the
BLM or other jurisdiction require that meets the requirements of
19.15.11.9 NMAC to the division in
satisfaction of
19.15.11.9 NMAC.
