| c>(ii) Other materials and equipment (including materials and equipment used in drilling and workover operations) which are not included within the provision of clause (i) of this subparagraph may be used for hydrogen sulfide service provided: (I) such materials and equipment are proved, as the result of advancements in technology or as the result of control and knowledge of operating conditions (such as temperature and moisture content), to be suitable for the use intended and where such usage is technologically acceptable as good engineering practice; and (II) the commission has approved the use of said materials and equipments for the specific uses after written application. (iii) Existing facilities (including materials in present common usage for drilling and workover operations in hydrogen sulfide areas) which are in operation prior to the effective date of this section, and where there has been no failure of existing equipment attributed to sulfide stress cracking, shall satisfy the requirements of this section. (iv) In the event of a failure of any element of an existing system as the result of hydrogen sulfide stress cracking, the compliance status of the system shall be determined by the commission after the operator has submitted to the commission a detailed written report on the failure. (7) All operations subject to subsection (a) of this section shall be subject to the additional control and equipment safety provision, paragraph (8) of this subsection, and the contingency plan provision, paragraph (9) of this subsection, if any of the following conditions apply: (A) the 100 ppm radius of exposure is in excess of 50 feet and includes any part of a "public area" except a public road; (B) the 500 ppm radius of exposure is greater than 50 feet and includes any part of a public road; (C) the 100 ppm radius of exposure is greater than 3,000 feet. (8) Control and equipment safety provision. Operators subject to this provision shall install safety devices and maintain them in an operable condition or shall establish safety procedures designed to prevent the undetected continuing escape of hydrogen sulfide. For intentional releases of a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide gas, the gas must be flared unless permission to vent is obtained from the commission or its delegate. Venting will be allowed only upon a showing that the venting will not pose an unreasonable risk of harm to the public. (9) Contingency plan provision. (A) All operators whose operations are subject to this provision shall develop a written contingency plan complete with all requirements before hydrogen sulfide operations are begun. (B) The purpose of the contingency plan shall be to provide an organized plan of action for alerting and protecting the public prior to an intentional release, or following the accidental release of a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide. (C) The contingency plan shall be activated prior to an intentional release, or immediately upon the detection of an accidental release of a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide. (D) Conditions that might exist in each area of exposure shall be considered when preparing a contingency plan. (E) The plan shall include instructions and procedures for alerting the general public and public safety personnel of the existence of an emergency. (F) The plan shall include procedures for requesting assistance and for follow-up action to remove the public from an area of exposure. (G) The plan shall include a call list which shall include the following as they may be applicable: (i) local supervisory personnel; (ii) county sheriff; (iii) Department of Public Safety; (iv) city police; (v) ambulance service; (vi) hospital; (vii) fire department; (viii) doctors; (ix) contractors for supplemental equipment; (x) district Railroad Commission office; (xi) the appropriate regional office of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or its successor agencies; (xii) other public agencies. (H) The plan shall include a plat detailing the area of exposure. The plat shall include the locations of private dwellings or residential areas, public facilities, such as schools, business locations, public roads, or other similar areas where the public might reasonably be expected within the area of exposure. (I) The plan shall include names and telephone numbers of residents within the area of exposure, except in cases where the reaction plan option has been approved by the commission in accordance with subparagraph (L) of this paragraph. (J) The plan shall include a list of the names and telephone numbers of the responsible parties for each of the possibly occupied public areas, such as schools, churches, businesses, or other public areas or facilities within the area of exposure. (K) The plan shall include provisions for advance briefing of the public within an area of exposure. Such advance briefing shall include the following elements: (i) the hazards and characteristics of hydrogen sulfide; (ii) the necessity for an emergency action plan; (iii) the possible sources of hydrogen sulfide within the area of exposure; (iv) instructions for reporting a gas leak; (v) the manner in which the public will be notified of an emergency; (vi) steps to be taken in case of an emergency. (L) In the event of a high density of population, or the case where the population density may be unpredictable, a reaction type of plan, in lieu of advance briefing for public notification, will be acceptable. The reaction plan option must be approved by the commission. (M) The plan shall include additional support information, if applicable, such as: (i) location of evacuation routes; (ii) location of safety and life support equipment; (iii) location of hydrogen sulfide containing facilities; (iv) location of nearby telephones and/or other means of communication; and (v) special instructions for conditions at a particular installation such as local terrain and the effect of various weather conditions. (N) The Railroad Commission District Office shall be notified as follows if the contingency plan is activated: (i) 12 hours in advance of an intentional release or as soon as a decision is made to release if such decision could not reasonably have been made more than 12 hours prior to the release; (ii) immediately in the case of an accidental release; (iii) as soon as possible before or after an unplanned intentional release made in an emergency situation to prevent a possible uncontrolled release. (O) The retention of the contingency plan shall be as follows. (i) The plan shall be available for commission inspection at the location indicated on the certificate of compliance. (ii) The plan shall be retained at the location which lends itself best to activation of the plan. (P) In the event that, due to particular situations, a contingency plan cannot be developed consistent with the provisions of this paragraph, relating to the contingency plan, then the operator may develop an adjusted plan to fit the situation, and submit same with the certificate of compliance. Approval of the certificate of compliance so submitted will constitute approval of the contingency plan. (Q) The plan shall be kept updated to insure its current applicability. (10) Injection provision. (A) Injection of fluids containing hydrogen sulfide shall not be allowed under the conditions specified in this provision unless first approved by the commission after public hearing: (i) where injection fluid is a gaseous mixture, or would be a gaseous mixture in the event of a release to the atmosphere, and where the 100 ppm radius of exposure is in excess of 50 feet and includes any part of a public area except a public road; or, if the 500 ppm radius of exposure is in excess of 50 feet and includes any part of a public road; or if the 100 ppm radius of exposure is 3,000 feet or greater; (ii) where the hydrogen sulfide content of the gas or gaseous mixture to be injected has been increased by a processing plant operation. Cont'd... |
