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TITLE 30ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
PART 1TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
CHAPTER 106PERMITS BY RULE
SUBCHAPTER OOIL AND GAS
RULE §106.355Pipeline Metering, Purging, and Maintenance

Metering, purging, and maintenance operations for gaseous and liquid petroleum pipelines (including ethylene, propylene, butylene, and butadiene pipelines), between separate sites as defined in §122.10(29) of this title (relating to General Definitions), are permitted by rule provided that operations are conducted according to the following conditions of this section:

  (1) emissions of volatile organic compounds, except equipment leak fugitive emissions, are burned in a smokeless flare; or

  (2) total uncontrolled emissions of any air contaminant except carbon dioxide, water, nitrogen, methane, ethane, hydrogen, and oxygen may not exceed one ton during any metering, purging, or maintenance operation. Uncontrolled butadiene emissions may not exceed 0.04 pounds per hour.

  (3) venting of sweet, natural gas from pipelines is exempt from paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) of this section. Operators may not vent gas in areas of known or suspected ignition sources.

  (4) if any maintenance activity cannot meet all of the requirements of this section, or the emissions are not authorized under Chapter 116 of this title (relating to Control of Air Pollution by Permits for New Construction or Modification), then activities must comply with §101.7 and §101.11 of this title (relating to Maintenance, Start-up and Shutdown Reporting, Recordkeeping, and Operational Requirements; and Demonstrations).

  (5) records of all maintenance and purging emissions must be kept by the owner or operator of the facility or group of facilities at the nearest office within Texas having day-to-day operational control. These records must include all information required in this paragraph and in paragraphs (1) - (4) of this section. Resetting flow meters (changing orifice plates, etc.) and calibration of meters are considered routine operations under this rule, not maintenance or purging. Records must identify the following for all maintenance and purging activities covered by this section:

    (A) the type and reason for the activity;

    (B) the processes and equipment involved;

    (C) the date, time, and duration of the activity; and

    (D) the air contaminants and amounts which are emitted as a result of the activity.


Source Note: The provisions of this §106.355 adopted to be effective March 14, 1997, 22 TexReg 2439; amended to be effective September 4, 2000, 25 TexReg 8653; amended to be effective November 1, 2001, 26 TexReg 8518

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