Current through Register Vol. 48, No. 9, September 27, 2024
(a) Each valve in
gas/vapor or light liquid service shall be monitored monthly to detect leaks by
the methods specified in section 261.1063(b) and shall comply with paragraphs
(b) through (e) of this section, except as provided in paragraphs (f), (g), and
(h) of this section and sections 261.1061 and 261.1062.
(b) If an instrument reading of ten thousand
(10,000) ppm or greater is measured, a leak is detected.
(c)
(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 shall be
monitored monthly until a leak is not detected for two (2) successive
months,
(d)
(1) When a leak is detected, it shall be
repaired as soon as practicable, but no later than fifteen (15) calendar days
after the leak is detected, except as provided in section 261.1059.
(2) A first attempt at repair shall be made
no later than five (5) 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 261.1064(g)(2), for no detectable emissions, as indicated
by an instrument reading of less than five hundred (500) ppm above background,
is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section if the valve:
(1) Has no external actuating mechanism in
contact with the hazardous secondary material stream.
(2) Is operated with emissions less than five
hundred (500) ppm above background as determined by the method specified in
section 261.1063(c).
(3) Is tested
for compliance with paragraph (f)(2) of this section initially upon
designation, annually, and at other times as requested by the
Department.
(g) Any
valve that is designated, as described in section 261.1064(h)(1), as an
unsafe-to-monitor valve is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (a) of
this section if:
(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 paragraph (a)
of this section.
(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 261.1064(h)(2), as a difficult-to-monitor valve is exempt
from the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section if:
(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
(2) 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.
(3) The owner or
operator of the valve follows a written plan that requires monitoring of the
valve at least once per calendar year.
