[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 8]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR61.65]

[Page 55-59]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 61_NATIONAL EMISSION STANDARDS FOR HAZARDOUS AIR POLLUTANTS--Table of 
 
         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), 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

[[Page 56]]

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 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

[[Page 57]]

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 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

[[Page 58]]

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 
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

[[Page 59]]

(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 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]