06-096 C.M.R. ch. 170, § 4 - Control Requirements

A. The owner or operator shall perform the following when emptying and degassing a petroleum storage tank, marine vessel cargo tank, or transport vessel containing, or most recently containing, an affected product:

(1) To the extent practicable, empty the petroleum storage tank, marine vessel cargo tank, or transport vessel of the affected product; and

(2) Exhaust the vapor space of the petroleum storage tank, marine vessel cargo tank, or transport vessel to a vapor control system designed to achieve a VOC control efficiency of at least 95 percent until the VOC concentration is less than 5,000 ppmv, measured as methane, or is 10 percent or less of the lower explosive limit (LEL), as methane, for at least one hour.

B. The vapor control system used in the degassing process shall be free of liquid and vapor leaks. This includes, but is not limited to, the degassing equipment, vacuum truck, pumps, hoses, and connections.

C. The intentional bypassing of a vapor control device used during degassing is prohibited. However, as appropriate, the owner or operator may temporarily remove for no longer than one hour a suitable tank fitting, such as a manway, to facilitate connection to the vapor control system.

D. Any visible or audible liquid or vapor leak originating from the vapor control device or other associated product recovery device shall be repaired as soon as possible.

E. All transport vessels carrying, or which most recently carried, an affected product shall be maintained in a vapor tight condition at all times until the VOC vapors remaining in the vessel are discharged to a vapor control system.

F. All marine vessel cargo tanks containing, or which most recently contained, affected products shall have all cargo tank closures properly secured until the vapors are discharged to a vapor control system.

G. The owner or operator shall comply with the following to control emissions from any sludge removed from a petroleum storage tank containing, or which most recently contained, an affected product. These requirements do not apply when sludge is immediately transferred (e.g., pumped) to a floating roof tank whose roof is not resting on its legs.

(1) During sludge removal, the owner or operator shall vent emissions from the vessel receiving the sludge to a vapor control system designed to achieve a VOC control efficiency of at least 95 percent;

(2) The removed sludge must be transported in containers that are vapor-tight and free of liquid leaks; and

(3) Until final disposal, removed sludge must be stored in containers that are vapor-tight and free of liquid leaks or in tanks that are vented to a vapor control system designed to achieve a VOC control efficiency of at least 95 percent.

Notes

06-096 C.M.R. ch. 170, § 4