[Code of Federal Regulations]

[Title 40, Volume 8]

[Revised as of July 1, 2006]

From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access

[CITE: 40CFR61.65]



[Page 56-61]

 

                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT

 

         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)

 

PART 61_NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS--Table 

of Contents

 

         Subpart F_National Emission Standard for Vinyl Chloride

 

Sec.  61.65  Emission standard for ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride 

and polyvinyl chloride plants.



    An owner or operator of an ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride, and/

or polyvinyl chloride plant shall comply with the requirements of this 

section.

    (a) Relief valve discharge (RVD). Except for an emergency relief 

discharge, and except as provided in Sec.  61.65(d),



[[Page 57]]



there is to be no discharge to the atmosphere from any relief valve on 

any equipment in vinyl chloride service. An emergency relief discharge 

means a discharge which could not have been avoided by taking measures 

to prevent the discharge. Within 10 days of any relief valve discharge, 

except for those subject to Sec.  61.65(d), the owner or operator of the 

source from which the relief valve discharge occurs shall submit to the 

Administrator a report in writing containing information on the source, 

nature and cause of the discharge, the date and time of the discharge, 

the approximate total vinyl chloride loss during the discharge, the 

method used for determining the vinyl chloride loss (the calculation of 

the vinyl chloride loss), the action that was taken to prevent the 

discharge, and measures adopted to prevent future discharges.

    (b) Fugitive emission sources--(1) Loading and unloading lines. 

Vinyl chloride emissions from loading and unloading lines in vinyl 

chloride service which are opened to the atmosphere after each loading 

or unloading operation are to be minimized as follows:

    (i) After each loading or unloading operation and before opening a 

loading or unloading line to the atmosphere, the quantity of vinyl 

chloride in all parts of each loading or unloading line that are to be 

opened to the atmosphere is to be reduced so that the parts combined 

contain no greater than 0.0038 m \3\ (0.13 ft \3\) of vinyl chloride, at 

standard temperature and pressure; and

    (ii) Any vinyl chloride removed from a loading or unloading line in 

accordance with paragraph (b)(1)(i) of this section is to be ducted 

through a control system from which the concentration of vinyl chloride 

in the exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm (average for 3-hour period), 

or equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66.

    (2) Slip gauges. During loading or unloading operations, the vinyl 

chloride emissions from each slip gauge in vinyl chloride service are to 

be minimized by ducting any vinyl chloride discharged from the slip 

gauge through a control system from which the concentration of vinyl 

chloride in the exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm (average for 3-hour 

period), or equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66.

    (3) Leakage from pump, compressor, and agitator seals:

    (i) Rotating pumps. Vinyl chloride emissions from seals on all 

rotating pumps in vinyl chloride service are to be minimized by 

installing sealless pumps, pumps with double mechanical seals or 

equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66. If double mechanical seals are 

used, vinyl chloride emissions from the seals are to be minimized by 

maintaining the pressure between the two seals so that any leak that 

occurs is into the pump; by ducting any vinyl chloride between the two 

seals through a control system from which the concentration of vinyl 

chloride in the exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm; or equivalent as 

provided in Sec.  61.66. Compliance with the provisions of 40 CFR part 

61 subpart V demonstrates compliance with the provisions of this 

paragraph.

    (ii) Reciprocating pumps. Vinyl chloride emissions from seals on all 

reciprocating pumps in vinyl chloride service are to be minimized by 

installing double outboard seals, or equivalent as provided in Sec.  

61.66. If double outboard seals are used, vinyl chloride emissions from 

the seals are to be minimized by maintaining the pressure between the 

two seals so that any leak that occurs is into the pump; by ducting any 

vinyl chloride between the two seals through a control system from which 

the concentration of vinyl chloride in the exhaust gases does not exceed 

10 ppm; or equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66. Compliance with the 

provisions of 40 CFR part 61 subpart V demonstrates compliance with the 

provisions of this paragraph.

    (iii) Rotating compressor. Vinyl chloride emissions from seals on 

all rotating compressors in vinyl chloride service are to be minimized 

by installing compressors with double mechanical seals, or equivalent as 

provided in Sec.  61.66. If double mechanical seals are used, vinyl 

chloride emissions from the seals are to be minimized by maintaining the 

pressure between the two seals so that any leak that occurs is into the 

compressor; by ducting any vinyl chloride between the two seals through 

a



[[Page 58]]



control system from which the concentration of vinyl chloride in the 

exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm; or equivalent as provided in Sec.  

61.66. Compliance with the provisions of 40 CFR part 61 subpart V 

demonstrates compliance with the provisions of this paragraph.

    (iv) Reciprocating compressors. Vinyl chloride emissions from seals 

on all reciprocating compressors in vinyl chloride service are to be 

minimized by installing double outboard seals, or equivalent as provided 

in Sec.  61.66. If double outboard seals are used, vinyl chloride 

emissions from the seals are to be minimized by maintaining the pressure 

between the two seals so that any leak that occurs is into the 

compressor; by ducting any vinyl chloride between the two seals through 

a control system from which concentration of vinyl chloride in the 

exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm; or equivalent as provided in Sec.  

61.66. Compliance with the provisions of 40 CFR part 61 subpart V 

demonstrates compliance with the provisions of this paragraph.

    (v) Agitator. Vinyl chloride emissions from seals on all agitators 

in vinyl chloride service are to be minimized by installing agitators 

with double mechanical seals, or equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66. 

If double mechanical seals are used, vinyl chloride emissions from the 

seals are to be minimized by maintaining the pressure between the two 

seals so that any leak that occurs is into the agitated vessel; by 

ducting any vinyl chloride between the two seals through a control 

system from which the concentration of vinyl chloride in the exhaust 

gases does not exceed 10 ppm; or equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66.

    (4) Leaks from relief valves. Vinyl chloride emissions due to leaks 

from each relief valve on equipment in vinyl chloride service shall 

comply with Sec.  61.242-4 of subpart V of this part.

    (5) Manual venting of gases. Except as provided in Sec.  

61.64(a)(3), all gases which are manually vented from equipment in vinly 

chloride service are to be ducted through a control system from which 

the concentration of vinyl chloride in the exhaust gases does not exceed 

10 ppm (average for 3-hour period); or equivalent as provided in Sec.  

61.66.

    (6) Opening of equipment. Vinyl chloride emissions from opening of 

equipment (excluding crude, intermediate, and final EDC storage tanks, 

but including prepolymerization reactors used in the manufacture of bulk 

resins and loading or unloading lines that are not opened to the 

atmosphere after each loading or unloading operation) are to be 

minimized follows:

    (i) Before opening any equipment for any reason, the quantity of 

vinyl chloride which is contained therein is to be reduced to an amount 

which occupies a volume of no more than 2.0 percent of the equipment's 

containment volume or 0.0950 cubic meters (25 gallons), whichever is 

larger, at standard temperature and pressure.

    (ii) Any vinyl chloride removed from the equipment in accordance 

with paragraph (b)(6)(i) of this section is to be ducted through a 

control system from which the concentration of vinyl chloride in the 

exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm (average for 3-hour period); or 

equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66.

    (7) Samples. Unused portions of samples containing at least 10 

percent by weight vinyl chloride are to be returned to the process or 

destroyed in a control device from which concentration of vinyl chloride 

in the exhaust gas does not exceed 10 ppm (average for 3-hour period) or 

equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66. Sampling techniques are to be 

such that sample containers in vinyl chloride service are purged into a 

closed process system. Compliance with the provisions of 40 CFR part 61 

subpart V demonstrates compliance with the provisions of this paragraph.

    (8) Leak detection and elimination. Vinyl chloride emissions due to 

leaks from equipment in vinyl chloride service are to be minimized as 

follows:

    (i) A reliable and accurate vinyl chloride monitoring system shall 

be operated for detection of major leaks and identification of the 

general area of the plant where a leak is located. A vinyl chloride 

monitoring system means a device which obtains air samples from one or 

more points on a continuous sequential basis and analyzes the samples 

with gas chromatography or, if the



[[Page 59]]



owner or operator assumes that all hydrocarbons measured are vinyl 

chloride, with infrared spectrophotometry, flame ion detection, or an 

equivalent or alternative method. The vinyl chloride monitoring system 

shall be operated according to a program developed by the plant owner or 

operator. The owner or operator shall submit a description of the 

program to the Administrator within 45 days of the effective date of 

these regulations, unless a waiver of compliance is granted under Sec.  

61.11, or the program has been approved and the Administrator does not 

request a review of the program. Approval of a program will be granted 

by the Administrator provided he finds:

    (A) The location and number of points to be monitored and the 

frequency of monitoring provided for in the program are acceptable when 

they are compared with the number of pieces of equipment in vinyl 

chloride service and size and physical layout of the plant.

    (B) It contains a definition of leak which is acceptable when 

compared with the background concentrations of vinyl chloride in the 

areas of the plant to be monitored by the vinyl chloride monitoring 

system. Measurements of background concentrations of vinyl chloride in 

the areas of the plant to be monitored by the vinyl chloride monitoring 

system are to be included with the description of the program. The 

definition of leak for a given plant may vary among the different areas 

within the plant and is also to change over time as background 

concentrations in the plant are reduced.

    (C) It contains an acceptable plan of action to be taken when a leak 

is detected.

    (D) It provides for an acceptable calibration and maintenance 

schedule for the vinyl chloride monitoring system and portable 

hydrocarbon detector. For the vinyl chloride monitoring system, a daily 

span check is to be conducted with a concentration of vinyl chloride 

equal to the concentration defined as a leak according to paragraph 

(b)(8)(i)(B) of this section. The calibration is to be done with either:

    (1) A calibration gas mixture prepared from the gases specified in 

sections 7.2.1 and 7.2.2 of Method 106 and in accordance with section 

10.1 of Method 106, or

    (2) A calibration gas cylinder standard containing the appropriate 

concentration of vinyl chloride. The gas composition of the calibration 

gas cylinder standard is to have been certified by the manufacturer. The 

manufacturer must have recommended a maximum shelf life for each 

cylinder so that the concentration does not change greater than 5 percent from the certified value. The date of gas 

cylinder preparation, certified vinyl chloride concentration, and 

recommended maximum shelf life must have been affixed to the cylinder 

before shipment from the manufacturer to the buyer. If a gas 

chromatograph is used as the vinyl chloride monitoring system, these gas 

mixtures may be directly used to prepare a chromatograph calibration 

curve as described in Sections 8.1 and 9.2 of Method 106. The 

requirements in Sections 7.2.3.1 and 7.2.3.2 of Method 106 for 

certification of cylinder standards and for establishment and 

verification of calibration standards are to be followed.

    (ii) For each process unit subject to this subpart, a formal leak 

detection and repair program shall be implemented consistent with 

subpart V of this part, except as provided in paragraph (b)(8)(iii) of 

this section. This program is to be implemented within 90 days of the 

effective date of these regulations, unless a waiver of compliance is 

granted under Sec.  61.11. Except as provided in paragraph (b)(8)(ii)(E) 

of this section, an owner or operator shall be exempt from Sec.  61.242-

1(d), Sec.  61.242-7 (a), (b), and (c), Sec.  61.246, and Sec.  61.247 

of subpart V of this part for any process unit in which the percentage 

of leaking valves is demonstrated to be less than 2.0 percent, as 

determined in accordance with the following:

    (A) A performance test as specified in paragraph (b)(8)(ii)(B) of 

this section shall be conducted initially within 90 days of the 

effective date of these regulations, annually, and at times requested by 

the Administrator.

    (B) For each performance test, a minimum of 200 or 90 percent, 

whichever is less, of the total valves in VOC service (as defined in 

Sec.  60.481 of subpart VV of part 60) within the process unit shall be



[[Page 60]]



randomly selected and monitored within 1 week by the methods specified 

in Sec.  61.245(b) of this part. If an instrument reading of 10,000 ppm 

or greater is measured, a leak is detected. The leak percentage shall be 

determined by dividing the number of valves in VOC service for which 

leaks are detected by the number of tested valves in VOC service.

    (C) If a leak is detected, it shall be repaired in accordance with 

Sec.  61.242-7 (d) and (e) of subpart V of this part.

    (D) The results of the performance test shall be submitted in 

writing to the Administrator in the first quarterly report following the 

performance test as part of the reporting requirements of Sec.  61.70.

    (E) Any process unit in which the percentage of leaking valves is 

found to be greater than 2.0 percent according to the performance test 

prescribed in paragraph (b)(8)(ii)(B) of this section must comply with 

all provisions of subpart V of this part within 90 days.

    (iii) Open-ended valves or lines located on multiple service process 

lines which operate in vinyl chloride service less than 10 percent of 

the time are exempt from the requirements of Sec.  61.242-6 of subpart 

V, provided the open-ended valves or lines are addressed in the 

monitoring system required by paragraph (b)(8)(i) of this section. The 

Administrator may apply this exemption to other existing open-ended 

valves or lines that are demonstrated to require significant retrofit 

cost to comply with the requirements of Sec.  61.242-6 of subpart V.

    (9) Inprocess wastewater. Vinyl chloride emissions to the atmosphere 

from inprocess wastewater are to be reduced as follows:

    (i) The concentration of vinyl chloride in each inprocess wastewater 

stream containing greater than 10 ppm vinyl chloride measured 

immediately as it leaves a piece of equipment and before being mixed 

with any other inprocess wastewater stream is to be reduced to no more 

than 10 ppm by weight before being mixed with any other inprocess 

wastewater stream which contains less than 10 ppm vinyl chloride; before 

being exposed to the atmosphere; before being discharged to a wastewater 

treatment process; or before being discharged untreated as a wastewater. 

This paragraph does apply to water which is used to displace vinyl 

chloride from equipment before it is opened to the atmosphere in 

accordance with Sec.  61.64(a)(2) or paragraph (b)(6) of this section, 

but does not apply to water which is used to wash out equipment after 

the equipment has already been opened to the atmosphere in accordance 

with Sec.  61.64(a)(2) or paragraph (b)(6) of this section.

    (ii) Any vinyl chloride removed from the inprocess wastewater in 

accordance with paragraph (b)(9)(i) of this section is to be ducted 

through a control system from which the concentration of vinyl chloride 

in the exhaust gases does not exceed 10 ppm (average for 3-hour period); 

or equivalent as provided in Sec.  61.66.

    (c) The requirements in paragraphs (b)(1), (b)(2), (b)(5), (b)(6), 

(b)(7) and (b)(8) of this section are to be incorporated into a standard 

operating procedure, and made available upon request for inspection by 

the Administrator. The standard operating procedure is to include 

provisions for measuring the vinyl chloride in equipment 4.75 m\3\ (1255 

gal) in volume for which an emission limit is prescribed in Sec.  

61.65(b)(6)(i) after opening the equipment and using Method 106, a 

portable hydrocarbon detector, or an alternative method. The method of 

measurement is to meet the requirements in Sec.  61.67(g)(5)(i)(A) or 

(g)(5)(i)(B).

    (d) A RVD that is ducted to a control device that is continually 

operating while emissions from the release are present at the device is 

subject to the following requirements:

    (1) A discharge from a control device other than a flare shall not 

exceed 10 ppm (average over a 3-hour period) as determined by the 

continuous emission monitor system required under Sec.  61.68. Such a 

discharge is subject to the requirements of Sec.  61.70.

    (2) For a discharge routed to a flare, the flare shall comply with 

the requirements of Sec.  60.18.

    (i) Flare operations shall be monitored in accordance with the 

requirements of Sec. Sec.  60.18(d) and 60.18(f)(2). For the purposes of 

Sec.  60.18(d), the volume and component concentration of each



[[Page 61]]



relief valve discharge shall be estimated and calculation shall be made 

to verify ongoing compliance with the design and operating requirements 

of Sec. Sec.  60.18 (c)(3) through (c)(6). If more than one relief valve 

is discharged simultaneously to a single flare, these calculations shall 

account for the cumulative effect of all such relief valve discharges. 

These calculations shall be made and reported quarterly for all 

discharges within the quarter. Failure to comply with any of the 

requirements of this paragraph will be a violation of Sec.  61.65(d)(2). 

Monitoring for the presence of a flare pilot flame shall be conducted in 

accordance with Sec.  60.18(f)(2). If the results of this monitoring or 

any other information shows that the pilot flame is not present 100 

percent of the time during which a relief valve discharge is routed to 

the flare, the relief valve discharge is subject to the provisions of 

Sec.  61.65(a).

    (ii) A report describing the flare design shall be provided to the 

Administrator not later than 90 days after the adoption of this 

provision or within 30 days of the installation of a flare system for 

control of relief valve discharge whichever is later. The flare design 

report shall include calculations based upon expected relief valve 

discharge component concentrations and net heating values (for PVC this 

calculation shall be based on values expected if a release occurred at 

the instant the polymerization starts); and estimated maximum exit 

velocities based upon the design throat capacity of the gas in the 

relief valve.



[41 FR 46564, Oct. 21, 1976; 41 FR 53017, Dec. 3, 1976, as amended at 42 

FR 29006, June 7, 1977; 51 FR 34910, Sept. 30, 1986; 53 FR 36972, Sept. 

23, 1988; 55 FR 28348, July 10, 1990; 65 FR 62151, Oct. 17, 2000]