Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95670 - Critical Components

(a) Critical components used in conjunction with a critical process unit at facilities in sectors listed in section 95666 shall be pre-approved by the CARB Executive Officer if owners or operators wish to claim any critical component exemptions available under this subarticle.

(1) Critical components that have been designated as critical under a local air district leak detection and repair rule that qualifies for an exemption to section 95669 under section 95669(c)(1) are not subject to the pre-approval requirements specified in section 95670. These critical components automatically qualify for the critical component exemptions available under this subarticle.

(2) If a process unit no longer meets the definition of a critical process unit in section 95667(a)(14), the critical component exemptions available under this subarticle no longer apply to pre-approved critical components used in conjunction with that process unit.

(b) Owners or operators shall provide sufficient documentation identifying a critical component and demonstrating that the critical component is required as part of a critical process unit or that shutting down the critical component or process unit would impact safety or reliability of the natural gas system.

(1) Critical components shall be clearly identified in the documentation submitted to CARB both to confirm that the components are part of a critical process unit and to identify a component as critical during an inspection. The documentation shall clearly show how the components are part of a critical process unit or that shutting down the critical component or process unit would impact the safety or reliability of the natural gas system.

(2) Sufficient documentation shall include diagrams showing process flow or instrumentation, a table of uniquely identified components, photographs, written descriptions, or other clear means of identification.

(c) A request for a critical component or process unit approval is made by submitting a record of the component or process unit as specified in Appendix A, Table A3 along with supporting documentation as specified in section 95670(b) of this subarticle. Requests shall be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject line "O&G Critical Components Request."

(d) Owners or operators shall maintain, and make available upon request by the CARB Executive Officer the following:

(1) A record of all critical components or process units located at the facility as specified in Appendix A, Table A3.

(2) Records of the approved critical component or process requests, including all supporting documentation that was submitted to CARB as specified in section 95670(c) of this subarticle.

(e) Each critical component or critical process unit shall be identified according to one of the following methods:

(1) Identify each component using a weatherproof, readily visible tag that indicates it as a CARB approved critical component and includes the date of CARB Executive Officer approval; or

(2) Provide a diagram or drawing of all critical components or the critical process unit upon request by the CARB Executive Officer.

(f) Approval of a critical component may be granted only if owners or operators fully comply with this section. The CARB Executive Officer retains discretion to deny any request for critical component or process unit approval.

Notes

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95670

Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38562, 39600, 39601 and 41511, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 38551, 38560, 38566, 39600 and 41511, Health and Safety Code.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 38510, 38562, 39600, 39601 and 41511, Health and Safety Code. Reference: Sections 38551, 38560, 39600 and 41511, Health and Safety Code.

1. New section and Appendices A, B and C filed 7-17-2017; operative 10/1/2017 (Register 2017, No. 29).
2. Amendment of section and Note filed 3-4-2024; operative 4/1/2024 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2024, No. 10).