§65.102. Alternative means of emission limitation. — Inbound Citations

(b) Authorities that will not be delegated to States: §§ 65.8, 65.46, 65.102, 65.156(b)(l)(ii), and 65.158(a)(2)(ii).

(xiv) The reference to § 65.111(b) of this chapter in § 65.102(a) of this chapter no longer applies.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in § 65.102(b) or paragraph (e) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor all valves at the intervals specified in paragraphs (b)(3) and/or (b)(4) of this section and shall comply with all other provisions of this section.

(1) The valves shall be monitored to detect leaks by the method specified in § 65.104(b) and (c).

(2) The instrument reading that defines a leak is 500 parts per million or greater.

(3) The owner or operator shall monitor valves for leaks at the intervals specified in paragraphs (b)(3)(i) through (v) of this section and shall keep the record specified in paragraph (b)(3)(vi) of this section.

(i) If at least the greater of two valves or 2 percent of the valves in a process unit leak, as calculated according to paragraph (c) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor each valve once per month.

(ii) At process units with less than the greater of two leaking valves or 2 percent leaking valves, the owner or operator shall monitor each valve once each quarter except as provided in paragraphs (b)(3)(iii) through (v) of this section. Monitoring data generated before the regulated source became subject to the referencing subpart and meeting the criteria of either § 65.104(b)(1) through (5) or § 65.104(b)(6) may be used to qualify initially for less frequent monitoring under paragraphs (b)(3)(iii) through (v) of this section.

(iii) At process units with less than 1 percent leaking valves, the owner or operator may elect to monitor each valve once every 2 quarters.

(iv) At process units with less than 0.5 percent leaking valves, the owner or operator may elect to monitor each valve once every 4 quarters.

(v) At process units with less than 0.25 percent leaking valves, the owner or operator may elect to monitor each valve once every 2 years.

(vi) The owner or operator shall keep a record of the monitoring schedule for each process unit.

(4) For a process unit or a group of process units to which this subpart applies, an owner or operator may choose to subdivide the valves in the applicable process unit or group of process units and apply the provisions of paragraph (b)(3) of this section to each subgroup. If the owner or operator elects to subdivide the valves in the applicable process unit or group of process units, then the provisions of paragraphs (b)(4)(i) through (viii) of this section apply.

(i) The overall performance of total valves in the applicable process unit or group of process units to be subdivided shall be less than 2 percent leaking valves, as detected according to paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section and as calculated according to paragraphs (c)(1)(ii) and (c)(2) of this section.

(ii) The initial assignment or subsequent reassignment of valves to subgroups shall be governed by the following provisions:

(A) The owner or operator shall determine which valves are assigned to each subgroup. Valves with less than 1 year of monitoring data or valves not monitored within the last 12 months must be placed initially into the most frequently monitored subgroup until at least 1 year of monitoring data have been obtained.

(B) Any valve or group of valves can be reassigned from a less frequently monitored subgroup to a more frequently monitored subgroup provided that the valves to be reassigned were monitored during the most recent monitoring period for the less frequently monitored subgroup. The monitoring results must be included with that less frequently monitored subgroup's associated percent leaking valves calculation for that monitoring event.

(C) Any valve or group of valves can be reassigned from a more frequently monitored subgroup to a less frequently monitored subgroup provided that the valves to be reassigned have not leaked for the period of the less frequently monitored subgroup (for example, for the last 12 months, if the valve or group of valves is to be reassigned to a subgroup being monitored annually). Nonrepairable valves may not be reassigned to a less frequently monitored subgroup.

(iii) The owner or operator shall determine every 6 months if the overall performance of total valves in the applicable process unit or group of process units is less than 2 percent leaking valves and so indicate the performance in the next periodic report. If the overall performance of total valves in the applicable process unit or group of process units is 2 percent leaking valves or greater, the owner or operator shall no longer subgroup and shall revert to the program required in paragraphs (b)(1) through (3) of this section for that applicable process unit or group of process units. An owner or operator can again elect to comply with the valve subgrouping procedures of paragraph (b)(4) of this section if future overall performance of total valves in the process unit or group of process units is again less than 2 percent. The overall performance of total valves in the applicable process unit or group of process units shall be calculated as a weighted average of the percent leaking valves of each subgroup according to Equation 106-1 of this section:

(iv) The owner or operator shall maintain the following records:

(A) Which valves are assigned to each subgroup;

(B) Monitoring results and calculations made for each subgroup for each monitoring period;

(C) Which valves are reassigned, the last monitoring result prior to reassignment, and when they were reassigned; and

(D) The results of the semiannual overall performance calculation required in paragraph (b)(4)(iii) of this section.

(v) The owner or operator shall notify the Administrator no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the next monitoring period of the decision to begin or end subgrouping valves. The notification shall identify the participating process units and the number of valves assigned to each subgroup, if applicable. The notification may be included in a periodic report if the periodic report is submitted no later than 30 days prior to the beginning of the next monitoring period.

(vi) The owner or operator shall submit in the periodic reports the following information:

(A) Total number of valves in each subgroup; and

(B) Results of the semiannual overall performance calculation required by paragraph (b)(4)(iii) of this section.

(vii) To determine the monitoring frequency for each subgroup, the calculation procedures of paragraph (c)(2) of this section shall be used.

(viii) Except for the overall performance calculations required by paragraphs (b)(4)(i) and (iii) of this section, each subgroup shall be treated as if it were a separate process unit for the purposes of applying the provisions of this section.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in § 65.102(b) or paragraph (e) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor each pump to detect leaks and shall comply with all other provisions of this section.

(1) The pumps shall be monitored monthly to detect leaks by the method specified in § 65.104(b) and (c).

(2) The following leak definitions determined through instrument readings apply:

(i) 5,000 parts per million or greater for pumps handling polymerizing monomers;

(ii) 2,000 parts per million or greater for pumps in food/medical service; and

(iii) 1,000 parts per million or greater for all other pumps.

(3) For pumps to which a 1,000 parts per million leak definition applies, repair is not required unless an instrument reading of 2,000 parts per million or greater is detected.

(4) Each pump shall be checked by visual inspection each calendar week for indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal. The owner or operator shall document that the inspection was conducted and the date of the inspection. If there are indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal at the time of the weekly inspection, the owner or operator shall comply with either of the following procedures:

(i) The owner or operator shall monitor the pump as specified in § 65.104(b) and (c) unless the pump has already been monitored since the last routine monthly monitoring required by paragraph (b)(1) of this section. If monitoring is performed and the instrument reading indicates a leak as specified in paragraph (b)(2) of this section, a leak is detected and the leak shall be repaired using the procedures in § 65.105, except as specified in paragraph (b)(3) of this section; or

(ii) The owner or operator shall eliminate the visual indications of liquids dripping.

(a) Except as allowed in § 65.102(b) or as specified in paragraph (e) of this section, the owner or operator shall monitor all connectors in each process unit initially for leaks by either 12 months after the implementation date as specified in § 65.1(f) or 12 months after initial startup, whichever is later. If all connectors in each process unit have been monitored for leaks prior to the implementation date specified in § 65.1(f), no initial monitoring is required provided either no process changes have been made since the monitoring or the owner or operator can determine that the results of the monitoring, with or without adjustments, reliably demonstrate compliance despite process changes. If required to monitor because of a process change, the owner or operator is required to monitor only those connectors involved in the process change.

(1) Each agitator seal shall be monitored monthly to detect leaks by the methods specified in § 65.104(b) and (c), except as provided in § 65.102(b) or paragraph (e) of this section.

(b) Unless otherwise specified in § 65.102(b), the owner or operator shall comply with the following:

(1) Pumps, valves, connectors, and agitators in heavy liquid service; pressure relief devices in light liquid or heavy liquid service; and instrumentation systems shall be monitored within 5 calendar days by the method specified in § 65.104(b) and (c) if evidence of a potential leak to the atmosphere is found by visual, audible, olfactory, or any other detection method, unless the potential leak is repaired as required in paragraph (c) of this section.

(2) If an instrument reading of 10,000 parts per million or greater for agitators, 5,000 parts per million or greater for pumps handling polymerizing monomers, 2,000 parts per million or greater for all other pumps (including pumps in food/medical service), or 500 parts per million or greater for valves, connectors, instrumentation systems, and pressure relief devices is measured pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of this section, a leak is detected and it shall be repaired pursuant to § 65.105, as applicable.

(b) Each compressor shall be equipped with a seal system that includes a barrier fluid system and that prevents leakage of process fluid to the atmosphere except as provided in § 65.102(b) and paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. Each compressor seal system shall meet any one of the following requirements:

(1) Operated with the barrier fluid at a pressure that is greater than the compressor stuffing box pressure at all times (except during periods of start-up, shutdown, or malfunction); or

(2) Equipped with a barrier fluid system degassing reservoir that is routed to a process or fuel gas system, or connected by a closed vent system to a control device that meets the requirements of § 65.115; or

(b) Each sampling connection system shall be equipped with a closed-purge, closed-loop, or closed vent system except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section or § 65.102(b). Gases displaced during filling of the sample container are not required to be collected or captured.

(1) Each open-ended valve or line shall be equipped with a cap, blind flange, plug, or a second valve except as provided in § 65.102(b) and paragraphs (c) and (d) of this section. The cap, blind flange, plug, or second valve shall seal the open end at all times except during operations requiring process fluid flow through the open-ended valve or line, or during maintenance. The operational provisions of paragraphs (b)(2) and (3) of this section also apply.

(1) Owners or operators of closed vent systems and nonflare control devices used to comply with provisions of this subpart shall design and operate the closed vent systems and nonflare control devices to reduce emissions of regulated material with an efficiency of 95 percent or greater, or to reduce emissions of regulated material to a concentration of 20 parts per million by volume or, for an enclosed combustion device, to provide a minimum residence time of 0.50 second at a minimum of 760 °C (1400 °F). Owners and operators of closed vent systems and nonflare control devices used to comply with this part shall comply with the provisions of § 65.142(d), except as provided in § 65.102(b). Note that this includes the startup, shutdown, and malfunction provisions of § 65.6.

(a) As an alternative to complying with the requirements of §§ 65.106 through 65.114 and § 65.116, an owner or operator of a batch process that operates in regulated material service during the calendar year may comply with one of the standards specified in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, or the owner or operator may petition for approval of an alternative standard under the provisions of § 65.102(b). The alternative standards of this section provide the options of pressure testing or monitoring the equipment for leaks. The owner or operator may switch among the alternatives provided the change is documented as specified in paragraph (b)(7) of this section.

(4) For proposed alternatives to equipment leak requirements, the owner or operator shall also submit the information and meet the requirements for alternative means of emission limitation specified in § 65.102(b) (alternative means of emission limitation).

(c) Manufacturers of equipment used to control equipment leaks of a regulated material may request a determination of equivalence for an alternative means of emission limitation for equipment leaks, as specified in § 65.102(c).

(d) Permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be governed by the procedures in paragraph (d)(1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Where the standard is an equipment, design, or operational requirement, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying emission performance test data for an alternative means of emission limitation.

(ii) The Administrator will compare test data for the means of emission limitation to test data for the equipment, design, and operational requirements.

(iii) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve at least the same emission reduction as the equipment, design, and operational requirements of this subpart.

(2) Where the standard is a work practice, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying test data for the alternative.

(ii) The owner or operator shall demonstrate the emission reduction achieved by the required work practice and the proposed alternative means of emission limitation.

(iii) The Administrator will compare the demonstrated emission reduction for the alternative means of emission limitation to the demonstrated emission reduction for the required work practices and will consider the commitment in paragraph (d)(2)(iv) of this section.

(iv) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve the same or greater emission reduction as the required work practices of this subpart.

(3) An owner or operator may offer a unique approach to demonstrate the alternative means of emission limitation.

(4) If in the judgment of the Administrator an alternative means of emission limitation will be approved, the Administrator will publish a notice of the determination in the Federal Register using the procedures pursuant to § 65.8(a).

(d) Permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be governed by the procedures in paragraph (d)(1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Where the standard is an equipment, design, or operational requirement, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying emission performance test data for an alternative means of emission limitation.

(ii) The Administrator will compare test data for the means of emission limitation to test data for the equipment, design, and operational requirements.

(iii) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve at least the same emission reduction as the equipment, design, and operational requirements of this subpart.

(2) Where the standard is a work practice, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying test data for the alternative.

(ii) The owner or operator shall demonstrate the emission reduction achieved by the required work practice and the proposed alternative means of emission limitation.

(iii) The Administrator will compare the demonstrated emission reduction for the alternative means of emission limitation to the demonstrated emission reduction for the required work practices and will consider the commitment in paragraph (d)(2)(iv) of this section.

(iv) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve the same or greater emission reduction as the required work practices of this subpart.

(3) An owner or operator may offer a unique approach to demonstrate the alternative means of emission limitation.

(4) If in the judgment of the Administrator an alternative means of emission limitation will be approved, the Administrator will publish a notice of the determination in the Federal Register using the procedures pursuant to § 65.8(a).

(d) Permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be governed by the procedures in paragraph (d)(1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Where the standard is an equipment, design, or operational requirement, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying emission performance test data for an alternative means of emission limitation.

(ii) The Administrator will compare test data for the means of emission limitation to test data for the equipment, design, and operational requirements.

(iii) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve at least the same emission reduction as the equipment, design, and operational requirements of this subpart.

(2) Where the standard is a work practice, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying test data for the alternative.

(ii) The owner or operator shall demonstrate the emission reduction achieved by the required work practice and the proposed alternative means of emission limitation.

(iii) The Administrator will compare the demonstrated emission reduction for the alternative means of emission limitation to the demonstrated emission reduction for the required work practices and will consider the commitment in paragraph (d)(2)(iv) of this section.

(iv) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve the same or greater emission reduction as the required work practices of this subpart.

(3) An owner or operator may offer a unique approach to demonstrate the alternative means of emission limitation.

(4) If in the judgment of the Administrator an alternative means of emission limitation will be approved, the Administrator will publish a notice of the determination in the Federal Register using the procedures pursuant to § 65.8(a).

(d) Permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be governed by the procedures in paragraph (d)(1) through (4) of this section.

(1) Where the standard is an equipment, design, or operational requirement, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying emission performance test data for an alternative means of emission limitation.

(ii) The Administrator will compare test data for the means of emission limitation to test data for the equipment, design, and operational requirements.

(iii) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve at least the same emission reduction as the equipment, design, and operational requirements of this subpart.

(2) Where the standard is a work practice, the following requirements apply:

(i) Each owner or operator applying for permission to use an alternative means of emission limitation shall be responsible for collecting and verifying test data for the alternative.

(ii) The owner or operator shall demonstrate the emission reduction achieved by the required work practice and the proposed alternative means of emission limitation.

(iii) The Administrator will compare the demonstrated emission reduction for the alternative means of emission limitation to the demonstrated emission reduction for the required work practices and will consider the commitment in paragraph (d)(2)(iv) of this section.

(iv) The Administrator may condition the permission on requirements that may be necessary to ensure operation and maintenance to achieve the same or greater emission reduction as the required work practices of this subpart.

(3) An owner or operator may offer a unique approach to demonstrate the alternative means of emission limitation.

(4) If in the judgment of the Administrator an alternative means of emission limitation will be approved, the Administrator will publish a notice of the determination in the Federal Register using the procedures pursuant to § 65.8(a).