25 Pa. Code § 129.138 - Covers and closed vent systems
(a)
Requirements for a cover on a storage vessel, reciprocating compressor
or centrifugal compressor. The owner or operator shall perform the
following for a cover of a source subject to §
129.133(b)(1)(i)
or §
129.136(b)(2) or
(c)(2) (relating to storage vessels; and
compressors), as applicable:
(1) Ensure that
the cover and all openings on the cover form a continuous impermeable barrier
over each subject source as follows:
(i) The
entire surface area of the liquid in the storage vessel.
(ii) The entire surface area of the liquid in
the wet seal fluid degassing system of a centrifugal compressor.
(iii) The rod packing emissions collection
system of a reciprocating compressor.
(2) Ensure that each cover opening is covered
by a gasketed lid or cap that is secured in a closed, sealed position except
when it is necessary to use an opening for one or more of the following:
(i) To inspect, maintain, repair or replace
equipment.
(ii) To route a liquid,
gas, vapor or fume from the source to a control device or a process that meets
the applicable requirements of §
129.139 (relating to control
devices) through a closed vent system designed and operated in accordance with
subsection (b).
(iii) To inspect or
sample the material in a storage vessel.
(iv) To add material to or remove material
from a storage vessel, including openings necessary to equalize or balance the
internal pressure of the storage vessel following changes in the level of the
material in the storage vessel.
(3) Ensure that each storage vessel thief
hatch is equipped, maintained and operated with the following:
(i) A mechanism to ensure that the lid
remains properly seated and sealed under normal operating conditions, including
when working, standing or breathing, or when flash emissions may be
generated.
(ii) A gasket made of a
suitable material based on the composition of the fluid in the storage vessel
and weather conditions.
(4) Conduct an initial AVO inspection on or
before January 31, 2023, with monthly inspections thereafter separated by at
least 15 calendar days but not more than 45 calendar days for defects that
could result in air emissions. Defects include the following:
(i) A visible crack, hole or gap in the
cover.
(ii) A visible crack, hole
or gap between the cover and the separator wall.
(iii) A broken, cracked or otherwise damaged
seal or gasket on a closure device.
(iv) A broken or missing hatch, access cover,
cap or other closure device.
(5) Inspect only those portions of the cover
that extend to or above the surface and the connections on those portions of
the cover, including fill ports, access hatches and gauge wells that can be
opened to the atmosphere for a storage vessel that is partially buried or
entirely underground.
(6) Repair a
detected leak or defect as specified in §
129.137(l)
(relating to fugitive emissions components).
(b)
Requirements for a closed vent
system. The owner or operator shall perform the following for each
closed vent system installed on a source subject to §
129.133(b)(1)(ii),
§
129.135(b)(1)(i) or
(c)(1)(ii) (relating to natural gas-driven
diaphragm pumps) or §
129.136(b)(2) or
(c)(2):
(1)
Design the closed vent system to route the liquid, gas, vapor or fume emitted
from the source to a control device or process that meets the applicable
requirements in §
129.139.
(2) Operate the closed vent system with no
detectable emissions as determined by the following:
(i) Conduct an initial AVO inspection on or
before January 31, 2023, with monthly inspections thereafter separated by at
least 15 calendar days but not more than 45 calendar days for defects that
could result in air emissions. Defects include the following:
(A) A visible crack, hole or gap in
piping.
(B) A loose
connection.
(C) A liquid
leak.
(D) A broken or missing cap
or other closure device.
(ii) Conducting a no detectable emissions
inspection as specified in subsection (d) during the facility's scheduled LDAR
inspection in accordance with §
129.137(c)(2)(ii) and (c)(3)(ii) or
(e)(2).
(3) Repair a detected leak or defect as
specified in §
129.137(l).
(4) Except as specified in subparagraph
(iii), if the closed vent system contains one or more bypass devices that could
be used to divert the liquid, gas, vapor or fume from routing to the control
device or to the process under paragraph (1), perform one or more of the
following:
(i) Install, calibrate, operate and
maintain a flow indicator at the inlet to the bypass device so when the bypass
device is open it does one of the following:
(A) Sounds an alarm.
(B) Initiates a notification by means of a
remote alarm to the nearest field office.
(ii) Secure the bypass device valve installed
at the inlet to the bypass device in the non-diverting position using the
following procedure:
(A) Installing either of
the following:
(I) A car-seal.
(II) A lock-and-key configuration.
(B) Visually inspecting the
mechanism in clause (A) to verify that the valve is maintained in the
non-diverting position on or before January 31, 2023, with monthly inspections
separated by at least 15 calendar days but not more than 45 calendar
days.
(C) Maintaining the records
under §
129.140(i)(4).
(iii) Subparagraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply
to a low leg drain, high point bleed, analyzer vent, open-ended valve or line
or safety device.
(5)
Conduct an assessment that meets the requirements of subsection (c).
(c)
Requirements for closed
vent system design and capacity assessment. An owner or operator that
installs a closed vent system under subsection (b) shall perform a design and
capacity assessment which must include the following:
(1) Be prepared under the supervision of an
in-house engineer or qualified professional engineer.
(2) Verify the following:
(i) That the closed vent system is of
sufficient design and capacity to ensure that the emissions from the emission
source are routed to the control device or process.
(ii) That the control device or process is of
sufficient design and capacity to accommodate the emissions from the emission
source.
(3) Be certified,
signed and dated by the engineer supervising the assessment, including the
statement: "I certify that the closed vent design and capacity assessment was
prepared under my supervision. I further certify that the assessment was
conducted and this report was prepared under the requirements of 25 Pa. Code
§
129.138(c). Based
on my professional knowledge and experience, and inquiry of personnel involved
in the assessment, the certification submitted herein is true, accurate, and
complete. I am aware that there are penalties for knowingly submitting false
information."
(d)
No detectable emissions procedures. The owner or operator
shall conduct the no detectable emissions inspection required under subsection
(b)(2)(ii) by performing one of the following:
(1) Use OGI equipment that meets §
129.137(h).
(2) Use a gas leak detection instrument that
meets §
129.137(i). The
owner or operator may adjust the gas leak detection instrument readings as
specified in §
129.137(k).
(3) Use another leak detection method
approved by the Department.
(4)
Determine if a potential leak interface operates with no detectable emissions,
if the gas leak detection instrument reading is not a leak as defined in §
129.132(a)
(relating to definitions, acronyms and EPA
methods).
Notes
The provisions of this § 129.138 added under section 5(a)(1) and (8) of the Air Pollution Act (35 P.S. § 4005(a)(1) and (8)).
This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 129.131 (relating to general provisions and applicability); 25 Pa. Code § 129.132 (relating to definitions, acronyms and EPA methods); 25 Pa. Code § 129.133 (relating to storage vessels); 25 Pa. Code § 129.135 (relating to natural gas-driven diaphragm pumps); 25 Pa. Code § 129.136 (relating to compressors); 25 Pa. Code § 129.137 (relating to fugitive emissions components); and 25 Pa. Code § 129.140 (relating to recordkeeping and reporting).
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