Source: https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=30&pt=1&ch=115&rl=354
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 16:26:58+00:00

Document:
All affected persons in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas, as defined in §115.10 of this title (relating to Definitions), shall conduct a monitoring and inspection program consistent with the following provisions.
(C) unsafe-to-monitor components that would otherwise be subject to more frequent monitoring. An unsafe-to-monitor component is a component that the owner or operator determines is unsafe to monitor because monitoring personnel would be exposed to an immediate danger as a consequence of conducting the monitoring. Components that are unsafe to monitor must be identified in a list made available upon request as specified in §115.356(5) of this title (relating to Recordkeeping Requirements). If an unsafe-to-monitor component is not considered safe to monitor within a calendar year, then it must be monitored as soon as possible during times that are safe to monitor.
(D) pressure relief valves in gaseous service.
(3) Inspect weekly, by visual, audio, and/or olfactory means, all flanges, excluding flanges that are monitored at least once each calendar year using Method 21 in 40 Code of Federal Regulations Part 60, Appendix A-7 (October 17, 2000) and excluding flanges that are unsafe to inspect. Flanges that are unsafe to inspect must be identified in a list made available upon request. If an unsafe-to-inspect flange is not considered safe to inspect within the required weekly time frame, then it must be inspected as soon as possible during a time that it is safe to inspect.
(4) Monitor (with a hydrocarbon gas analyzer) emissions from any relief valve that has vented to the atmosphere within 24 hours of the release, excluding relief valves that are unsafe to monitor or difficult to monitor. Relief valves that are unsafe to monitor must be monitored as soon as possible after relieving during times that are safe to monitor. Relief valves that are difficult to monitor must be monitored within 15 days after a release.
(5) Upon the detection of a leaking component, affix to the leaking component a weatherproof and readily visible tag, bearing an identification number and the date the leak was detected. This tag must remain in place until the leaking component is repaired. Tagging of difficult-to-monitor leaking components may be done by reference tagging. The reference tag should be located as close as possible to the leaking component and should clearly identify the leaking component and its location.
(6) The monitoring schedule of paragraphs (1) - (3) of this section may be modified to require an increase in the frequency of monitoring in a given process area if the executive director determines that there is an excessive number of leaks in that process area.
(7) After completion of the required quarterly valve monitoring for a period of at least two years, the operator of a petroleum refinery; synthetic organic chemical, polymer, resin, or methyl-tert-butyl ether manufacturing process; or a natural gas/gasoline processing operation, as defined in §115.10 of this title, may request in writing to the executive director that the valve monitoring schedule be revised based on the percent of valves leaking. The percent of valves leaking must be determined by dividing the sum of valves leaking during the current monitoring period and valves for which repair has been delayed (including valves that have been classified as non-repairable under §115.357(8) of this title (relating to Exemptions)) by the total number of valves subject to the requirements. This request must include all data that have been developed to justify the following modifications in the monitoring schedule.
(A) After two consecutive quarterly leak detection periods with the percent of valves leaking equal to or less than 2.0%, an owner or operator may begin to skip one of the quarterly leak detection periods for the valves in gas/vapor and light liquid service.
(B) After five consecutive quarterly leak detection periods with the percent of valves leaking equal to or less than 2.0%, an owner or operator may begin to skip three of the quarterly leak detection periods for the valves in gas/vapor and light liquid service.
(8) Alternate monitoring schedules approved before November 15, 1996, under §§115.324(a)(8)(A), 115.334(3)(A), and 115.344(3)(A) of this title (relating to Inspection Requirements), as in effect December 3, 1993, are approved monitoring schedules for the purposes of paragraph (7) of this section.
(9) All component monitoring must occur when the component is in contact with process material and the process unit is in service. If a unit is not operating during the required monitoring period but a component in that unit is in contact with process fluid that is circulating or under pressure, then that component is considered to be in service and is required to be monitored. Valves must be in gaseous or light liquid service to be considered in the total valve count for alternate valve monitoring schedules of paragraph (7) of this section.
(10) Monitored screening concentrations must be recorded for each component in gaseous or light liquid service. Notations such as "pegged," "off scale," "leaking," "not leaking," or "below leak definition" may not be substituted for hydrocarbon gas analyzer results. For readings that are higher than the upper end of the scale (i.e., pegged) even when using the highest scale setting or a dilution probe, record a default pegged value of 100,000 parts per million by volume. This requirement does not apply to monitoring using an optical gas imaging instrument in accordance with §115.358 of this title (relating to Alternative Work Practice).
(11) All new connectors must be checked for leaks within 30 days of being placed in volatile organic compound service by monitoring with a hydrocarbon gas analyzer for components in light liquid and gas service and by using visual, audio, and/or olfactory means for components in heavy liquid service. Components that are unsafe to monitor or inspect are exempt from this requirement if they are monitored or inspected as soon as possible during times that are safe to monitor.
(12) All exemptions for valves with a nominal size of two inches or less expired on July 31, 1992 (final compliance date).
(13) For any components that the owner or operator elects to use the alternative work practice in §115.358 of this title, the following provisions apply.
(A) The frequency for monitoring any components listed in this section must be the frequency determined according to §115.358 of this title, except as specified in subparagraph (C) of this paragraph.
(B) The alternative monitoring schedules allowed under paragraphs (7) and (8) of this section are not allowed.
(C) If the owner or operator elects to use the alternative work practice in §115.358 of this title to satisfy the hydrocarbon gas analyzer monitoring requirements of paragraphs (4) or (11) of this section, the time limitations specified in paragraphs (4) and (11) of this section on performing the monitoring continue to apply.
(D) If the component is within a class of equipment (e.g., valves, flanges, etc.) that the owner or operator has elected to use the alternative work practice in §115.358 of this title and the component meets all other conditions specified in §115.358 of this title for acceptable use of the alternative work practice, then the component may not be classified as difficult to monitor under §115.352(7) of this title unless in order to image the component as required by §115.358 of this title the monitoring personnel would have to be elevated more than two meters above a permanent support surface or would require a permit for confined space entry as defined in 29 Code of Federal Regulations §1910.146 (December 1, 1998). If the component does qualify as difficult to monitor using the alternative work practice, the owner or operator may use either Method 21 or the alternative work practice at the monitoring frequency specified in paragraph (1) of this section. Any components classified as difficult to monitor under the alternative work practice must be identified as such in the list required in §115.352(7) of this title.
(E) The owner or operator that elects to use the alternative work practice in §115.358 of this title may still classify a component as unsafe to monitor as allowed under paragraph (1)(C) of this section if the component cannot be safely monitored using either a hydrocarbon gas analyzer or the alternative work practice. The owner or operator may use either Method 21 or the alternative work practice at the monitoring frequency specified in paragraph (1) of this section. Any components classified as unsafe to monitor under the alternative work practice must be identified as such in the list required in paragraph (1)(C) of this section.
(F) If the executive director determines that there is an excessive number of leaks in any given process area that the alternative work practice in §115.358 of this title is used, the executive director may require an increase in the frequency of monitoring under the alternative work practice in that process area.

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