What GHG standards apply to process unit equipment designated facilities?

§ 60.5400c What GHG standards apply to process unit equipment designated facilities?

This section applies to process unit equipment designated facilities located at an onshore natural gas processing plant. You must comply with the requirements of paragraphs (a) through (l) of this section to reduce methane emissions from equipment leaks, except as provided in § 60.5402c. As an alternative to the standards in this section, you may comply with the requirements in § 60.5401c.

(a) General standards. You must comply with the requirements in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section for each pump in light liquid service, pressure relief device in gas/vapor service, valve in gas/vapor or light liquid service, and connector in gas/vapor or light liquid service, as applicable. You must comply with the requirements in paragraph (e) of this section for each open-ended valve or line. You must comply with the requirements in paragraph (f) of this section for each closed vent system and control device used to comply with equipment leak provisions in this section. You must comply with paragraph (g) of this section for each pump, valve, and connector in heavy liquid service and pressure relief device in light liquid or heavy liquid service. You must make repairs as specified in paragraph (h) of this section. You must demonstrate initial compliance with the standards as specified in paragraph (i) of this section. You must demonstrate continuous compliance with the standards as specified in paragraph (j) of this section. You must perform the reporting as specified in paragraph (k) of this section. You must perform the recordkeeping as required in paragraph (l) of this section.

(1) Each piece of equipment is presumed to have the potential to emit methane unless an owner or operator demonstrates that the piece of equipment does not have the potential to emit methane. For a piece of equipment to be considered not to have the potential to emit methane, the methane content of a gaseous stream must be below detection limits using Method 18 of appendix A-6 of this part. Alternatively, if the piece of equipment is in wet gas service, you may choose to determine the methane content of the stream is below the detection limit of the methods described in ASTM E168-16(R2023), E169-16(R2022), or E260-96 (all incorporated by reference, see§ 60.17).

(2) [Reserved]

(b) Monitoring surveys. You must monitor for leaks using OGI in accordance with appendix K to this part, unless otherwise specified in paragraphs (c) or (d) of this section.

(1) Monitoring surveys must be conducted bimonthly.

(2) Any emissions observed using OGI are defined as a leak.

(c) Additional requirements for pumps in light liquid service. In addition to the requirements in paragraph (b) of this section, you must conduct weekly visual inspections of all pumps in light liquid service for indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal, except as specified in paragraphs (c)(3) and (4) of this section. If there are indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal, you must follow the procedure specified in either paragraph (c)(1) or (2) of this section.

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