Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95669 - [Operative 4/1/2024] Leak Detection and Repair (2024)

(a)Except as provided in section 95669(c), the following leak detection and repairrequirements apply to facilities in sectors listed in section95666.

(b) All measurements made in accordance withUS EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) for the purposes of thissubarticle shall be conducted as follows:

(1)Leak testing shall be for total hydrocarbons in units of parts per millionvolume (ppmv) calibrated as methane in accordance with US EPA Reference Method21 (October 1, 2017).

(2) PIDinstruments shall not be used.

(c) The requirements of this section do notapply to the following:

(1) Components, --including components found on tanks, separators, wells, and pressure vessels --that are subject to local air district leak detection and repair rules if therules were in place prior to January 1, 2018, or are listed under section95669(c)(1)(B).

(A) If a component is exemptfrom leak detection and repair requirements in a local air district rule, butdoes not qualify for any exemptions in sections 95669(c)(2)-(14), then it issubject to the requirements of section 95669.

(B) If the components are located in a regionclassified as non-attainment with any federal ambient air quality standard forozone, the components shall be subject to one of the local air district ruleslisted below for the exemption to apply. For all components that are exempt dueto the rules listed in subsections3., 4., 7., or 8. below, owners oroperators shall include those components (and associated equipment) in thelists described in section 95669(d)(1)(C)-(E) and shall identify the reliedupon local air district rule for each entry in the lists.

1. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution ControlDistrict Rule 4401: Steam-Enhanced Crude Oil Production Wells (Amended June 15,2023).

2. San Joaquin Valley AirPollution Control District Rule 4409: Components at Light Crude Oil ProductionFacilities, Natural Gas Production Facilities, and Natural Gas ProcessingFacilities (Amended June 15, 2023).

3. San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution ControlDistrict Rule 4623: Storage of Organic Liquids (Amended June 15,2023).

4. South Coast Air QualityManagement District Rule 1148.1: Oil and Gas Production Wells (Amended March 5,2004).

5. South Coast Air QualityManagement District Rule 1173: Control of Volatile Organic Compound Leaks andReleases from Components at Petroleum Facilities and Chemical Plants (AmendedFebruary 6, 2009).

6. South CoastAir Quality Management District Rule 1176: VOC Emissions from WastewaterSystems (Amended September 13, 1996).

7. Ventura County Air Pollution ControlDistrict Rule 74.10: Components at Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production andProcessing Facilities (Amended March 10, 1998).

8. Yolo-Solano Air Quality ManagementDistrict Rule 2.23: Fugitive Hydrocarbon Emissions (Amended March 23,1994).

(2)Components, -- including components found on tanks, separators, wells, andpressure vessels -- used exclusively for crude oil with an API gravity lessthan 20 averaged on an annual basis. The average annual API gravity shall bedetermined using certified reports submitted to CalGEM. This includescomponents used for crude oil and the associated produced watercomponents.

(3) Componentsincorporated into produced water lines located downstream of a separator andtank system that meets any of the following requirements:

(A) Is controlled with the use of a vaporcollection system as specified in section95671.

(B) Is controlled with the use of a floatingroof that meets the requirements of40 CFR60.112b(a)(1) or (2)(October 8, 1997).

(C) Meets any ofthe criteria in section95668(a)(2).

(D) Has an annual emission rate less than orequal to 10 metric tons per year of methane as determined through flashanalysis testing pursuant to section95668(a).

(4) Natural gas distribution pipelineslocated at a crude oil production facility used for the delivery of commercialquality natural gas and which are not owned or operated by the crude oilproduction facility.

(5) Componentsthat are buried below ground. The portion of well casing that is visible aboveground is not considered a buried component.

(6) Components used to supply compressed airto equipment or instrumentation.

(7) Components operating under a negativegauge pressure or below atmospheric pressure.

(8) Components at a crude oil or natural gasproduction facility which are not owned or operated by the productionfacility.

(9) Temporary componentsused for general maintenance and used less than 300 hours per calendar year ifthe owner or operator maintains, and can make available at the request of theCARB Executive Officer, a record of the date when the components wereinstalled.

(10) Well casing ventsthat are open to the atmosphere which are subject to the requirements specifiedin section95668(g) of thissubarticle.

(11) Components foundon steam injection wells or water flood wells.

(12) Pneumatic controllers or pumps that usecompressed air or electricity to operate.

(13) A compressor rod packing which issubject to annual emission flow rate testing as specified in section95668(c)(4) ofthis subarticle.

(14) Components onequipment or wells that are actively undergoing drilling, completion, ormaintenance activities. If an inspection of these components pursuant tosection 95669(g) was missed as a result of this exemption, the components shallbe inspected before the end of the calendar quarter in which the drilling,completion, or maintenance activities are finished.

(d) All components, including componentsfound on tanks, separators, wells (including idle wells), and pressure vesselsnot identified in section 95669(c), shall be inspected and repaired within thetimeframes specified in this section.

(1) ByJuly 1, 2024, owners or operators shall develop facility-specific leakdetection and repair plans that encompass all components not identified insection 95669(c). The plans shall be updated annually if any changes are madeto the facility or equipment that alter the plan. Leak detection and repairplans shall include the following:

(A)Procedures for conducting surveys that ensure the surveys comply with therelevant sections of US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) as specifiedin section 95669(b).

(B)Sitemap.

(C) List of equipment tobe monitored, including an identification number or detailed description foreach piece of equipment.

(D) Listof components to be monitored and the method for determining location ofcomponents in the field (e.g., tagging, identification on a process andinstrumentation diagram, etc.).

(E)List of equipment and components that are designated as inaccessible or unsafeto monitor along with an explanation/review of conditions for thedesignation.

(F) For each piece ofequipment, list the frequency for conducting surveys that complies with therequirements specified in this section.

(G) For each piece of equipment, list therepair timeframes for leaks of different sizes that comply with therequirements specified in this section.

(e) The CARB Executive Officer may performinspections at facilities at any time to determine compliance with therequirements specified in this section.

(f) Except for inaccessible or unsafe tomonitor components, owners or operators shall audio-visually inspect (byhearing and by sight) all hatches, pressure-relief valves, well casings,stuffing boxes, and pump seals for leaks or indications of leaks at least onceevery 24 hours for facilities that are visited daily, or at least once percalendar week for facilities that are not visited at least once every 24 hours.

(1) Owners or operators shall audio-visuallyinspect all pipes and pipelines within the facility boundaries for leaks orindications of leaks at least once every 12 months.

(2) Owners or operators shall maintain, andmake available upon request by the CARB Executive Officer, a record of thedates of all audio-visual inspections conducted at the facility.

(3) Any audio-visual inspection specified in95669(f) that indicates a leak that cannot be repaired within 24 hours shall betested using US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) as specified insection 95669(b) within 24 hours after initial leak detection.

(A) For leaks detected during normal businesshours, the leak measurement shall be performed within 24 hours. For leaksdetected after normal business hours or on a weekend or holiday, the deadlineis shifted to the end of the next normal business day.

(B) Any leaks measured above the minimum leakthreshold shall be successfully repaired within the timeframes specified inthis section.

(g) At least once each calendar quarter, allcomponents shall be tested for leaks of total hydrocarbons in units of partsper million volume (ppmv) calibrated as methane in accordance with US EPAReference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) as specified in section 95669(b).

(1) All inaccessible or unsafe to monitorcomponents shall be inspected at least once annually using US EPA ReferenceMethod 21 (October 1, 2017) as specified in section95669(b).

(h) Anycomponent with a leak concentration measured above the following standardsshall be repaired within the time period specified below and in Table 1:

(1) A first attempt at repair shall be madewithin five (5) calendar days for leaks with measured total hydrocarbonconcentrations greater than or equal to 1,000 ppmv but not greater than 9,999ppmv, which shall be successfully repaired or removed from service within 14calendar days of the initial leak detection using US EPA Reference Method 21(October 1, 2017).

(2) Leaks withmeasured total hydrocarbon concentrations greater than or equal to 10,000 ppmvbut not greater than 49,999 ppmv shall be successfully repaired or removed fromservice within five (5) calendar days of the initial leak detection using USEPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017).

(3) Leaks with measured total hydrocarbonconcentrations greater than or equal to 50,000 ppmv shall be successfullyrepaired or removed from service within two (2) calendar days of the initialleak detection using US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017).

(4) Critical components or critical processunits shall be successfully repaired by the end of the next process shutdown orwithin 12 months from the date of initial leak detection, whichever issooner.

(5) A delay of repair maybe granted by the CARB Executive Officer as specified in section95670.1 of this subarticle.Table 1-- Repair Time Periods

Leak ThresholdRepair Time Period
1,000-9,999 ppmvFirst attempt at repair within 5 calendar days and successful repair within 14 calendar days
10,000-49,999 ppmv5 calendar days
50,000 ppmv or greater2 calendar days
Critical Components and Critical Process UnitsNext scheduled shutdown or within 12 months, whichever is sooner

(i) Upon detection of a component with a leakconcentration measured above the standards specified, the owner or operatorshall affix to that component a weatherproof readily visible tag thatidentifies the date and time of leak detection measurement and the measuredleak concentration. The tag shall remain affixed to the leaking component untilit has been successfully repaired or replaced, after which the tag shall beremoved.

(1) Successful repair shall beconfirmed by re-measuring the component using US EPA Reference Method 21(October 1, 2017) as specified in section 95669(b) to determine that thecomponent is below the minimum leak threshold after repair orreplacement.

(j) Ownersor operators shall maintain, and make available upon request by the CARBExecutive Officer, a record of all leaks found at the facility as specified inAppendix A, Tables A4 and A5, and shall report the results to CARB once percalendar year as specified in section95673 of this subarticle. If aleak is found on a component associated with a well, the owner or operatorshall indicate whether the well is active or idle as specified in Appendix A,Table A5.

(k) Hatches shall remainclosed at all times except during sampling, adding process material, orattended maintenance operations.

(l) Pressure-vacuum valves shall not vent oractuate except when the operating pressure of the tank exceeds the valve setpressure, which shall be set to within ten (10) percent of the maximumallowable working pressure of the tank.

(m) Open-ended lines and valves located atthe end of lines shall be sealed with a blind flange, plug, cap or a secondclosed valve, at all times except during operations requiring liquid or gaseousprocess fluid flow through the open-ended line. Open-ended lines do not includevent stacks used to vent natural gas from equipment that cannot be sealed forsafety reasons. Open-ended lines shall be repaired as follows:

(1) Open-ended lines that are not capped orsealed shall be capped or sealed within seven (7) calendar days from the dateof initial inspection.

(2)Open-ended lines that are capped or sealed and found leaking shall be repairedin accordance with the timeframes specified in section95669(h).

(n) Componentsor component parts which incur five (5) repair actions within a continuous12-month period shall be replaced with a compliant component in working orderand shall be re-measured using US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017) asspecified in section 95669(b) to determine that the component is below theminimum leak threshold.

(1) The componentshall be replaced and re-measured to be below the minimum leak threshold within30 calendar days of the initial leak detection using US EPA Reference Method 21(October 1, 2017) of the fifth (5th) leak.

(2) A delay of repair may be granted by theCARB Executive Officer as specified in section95670.1 of thissubarticle.

(3) A record of thereplacement shall be maintained in a log at the facility, and shall be madeavailable upon request by the CARB Executive Officer.

(o) Compliance with Leak Detection and RepairRequirements:

(1) The following provisionsapply to inspections conducted by the CARB Executive Officer:

(A) No facility shall exceed the number ofallowable leaks specified in Table 2 during a CARB Executive Officer inspectionas determined in accordance with US EPA Reference Method 21 (October 1, 2017)as specified in section 95669(b).Table 2 -- Allowable Number of Leaks

Leak Threshold200 or Fewer Components InspectedMore than 200 Components Inspected
1,000-9,999 ppmv52% of total inspected
10,000-49,999 ppmv21% of total inspected
50,000 ppmv or greater00

(B) No component shall exceed a leak of totalhydrocarbons greater than or equal to 50,000 ppmv during a CARB ExecutiveOfficer inspection as determined in accordance with US EPA Reference Method 21(October 1, 2017) as specified in section 95669(b).

(C) The failure of an owner or operator torepair leaks within the timeframes specified in this subarticle shallconstitute a violation of this subarticle.

(2) The following provisions apply toinspections conducted by the owner or operator:

(A) The failure of an owner or operator torepair leaks within the timeframes specified in this subarticle shallconstitute a violation of this subarticle.

(B) Leaks discovered during an operatorconducted inspection shall not constitute a violation if the leaking componentsare repaired within the timeframes specified in thissubarticle.

Cal. Code Regs. Tit. 17, § 95669 - [Operative 4/1/2024] Leak Detection and Repair (2024)

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