SECTION 115.783. Equipment Standards

The following equipment standards apply.

(1) Closed-vent systems containing bypass lines (excluding low-leg drains, high-point bleeds, analyzer vents, open-ended valves or lines, and pressure relief valves needed for safety purposes) that could divert a vent stream away from the control device and to the atmosphere, must have either:

(A) a flow indicator that determines whether vent stream flow is present in the bypass line at least once every 15 minutes; or

(B) the bypass line valve secured in the closed position with a car-seal or a lock-and-key type configuration.

(2) Whenever highly-reactive volatile organic compound emissions are vented to a closed-vent system, control device, or recovery device used to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the system or control device is subject to the requirements of Division 1 of this subchapter (relating to Vent Gas Control).

(3) Pumps, compressors, and agitators installed on or after July 1, 2003, shall be equipped with a shaft sealing system that prevents or detects emissions of volatile organic compounds from the seal.

(A) Acceptable shaft sealing systems include:

(i) seals equipped with piping capable of transporting any leakage from the seal(s) back to the process;

(ii) seals with a closed-vent system capable of transporting to a control device any leakage from the seal or seals;

(iii) dual seals with a heavy liquid or non-volatile organic compounds barrier fluid or gas at higher pressure than process pressure; and

(iv) seals with an automatic seal failure detection and alarm system.

(B) The executive director may approve shaft sealing systems different from those specified in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph. The executive director:

(i) shall consider on a case-by-case basis the technological circumstances of the individual pump, compressor, or agitator; and

(ii) must determine that the alternative shaft sealing system will result in the lowest emissions level that the pump, compressor, or agitator is capable of meeting after the application of best available control technology before approving the alternative shaft sealing system.

(C) Any owner or operator affected by the executive director's decision to deny a request for approval of an alternative shaft sealing system may file a motion to overturn the executive director's decision. The requirements of §50.139 of this title (relating to Motion to Overturn Executive Director's Decision) apply. Executive director approval does not necessarily constitute satisfaction of all federal requirements nor eliminate the need for approval by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in cases where specified criteria for determining equivalency have not been clearly identified in this section.

(4) The following equipment standards shall apply to process drains.

(A) If water seal controls, as defined in §115.140 of this title (relating to Industrial Wastewater Definitions), are used:

(i) the only acceptable alternative to water as the sealing liquid in a water seal is the use of ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, or other low vapor pressure antifreeze, that may be used only during the period of November through February; and

(ii) as an alternative to the weekly water seal inspections of §115.781(b)(5) of this title (relating to General Monitoring and Inspection Requirements), the owner or operator may choose to equip the process drain with:

(I) an alarm that alerts the operator if the water level in the vertical leg of the drain falls below 50% of the maximum level, and a device that continuously records the status of the water level alarm, including the time period for which the alarm has been activated; or

(II) a flow-monitoring device indicating either positive flow from a main to a branch water line supplying a trap or water being continuously dripped into the trap; and a device that continuously records the status of water flow into the trap.

(B) For process drains not equipped with water seal controls, the process drain shall be equipped with:

(i) a gasketed seal; or

(ii) a tightly-fitting cap or plug.

(5) No valves shall be installed or operated at the end of a pipe or line containing highly-reactive volatile organic compounds unless the pipe or line is sealed with a second valve, a blind flange, or a tightly-fitting plug or cap. The sealing device may be removed only while a sample is being taken or during maintenance operations, and when closing the line, the upstream valve shall be closed first.

Source Note: The provisions of this §115.783 adopted to be effective January 17, 2003, 28 TexReg 113; amended to be effective November 13, 2003, 28 TexReg 9835; amended to be effective December 23, 2004, 29 TexReg 11623