La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § III-2103

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 8, August 20, 2024

Section III-2103 - Storage of Volatile Organic Compounds

A. No person shall place, store, or hold in any stationary tank, reservoir, or other container of more than 250 gallons (950 liters) and up to 40,000 gallons (151,400 liters) nominal capacity any volatile organic compound, having a maximum true vapor pressure of 1.5 psia or greater at storage conditions, unless such tank, reservoir, or other container is designed and equipped with a submerged fill pipe or a vapor loss control system, as defined in Subsection E of this Section, or is a pressure tank capable of maintaining working pressures sufficient at all times under normal operating conditions to prevent vapor or gas loss to the atmosphere.

B. No person shall place, store, or hold in any stationary tank, reservoir, or other container of more than 40,000 gallons (151,400 liters) nominal capacity any volatile organic compound having a maximum true vapor pressure of 1.5 psia or greater at storage conditions unless such tank, reservoir, or other container is a pressure tank capable of maintaining working pressures sufficient at all times under normal operating conditions to prevent vapor or gas loss to the atmosphere or is designed and equipped with a submerged fill pipe and one or more of the vapor loss control devices described in Subsections C, D, and E of this Section.

C. Internal Floating Roof. An internal floating roof consists of a pontoon type roof, double deck type roof, or internal floating cover which will rest or float on the surface of the liquid contents and is equipped with a closure seal to close the space between the roof edge and tank wall. All tank gauging and sampling devices shall be gas tight except when gauging or sampling is taking place. If the organic compounds have a vapor pressure of 11.0 psia or greater under actual storage conditions, the requirements of Subsection F of this Section shall supersede the requirements of this Subsection. In the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge, the following additional requirements apply:

1. The closure seal shall consist of either:

a. a liquid mounted seal consisting of a foam- or liquid-filled seal mounted in contact with the liquid between the wall of the storage vessel and the floating roof continuously around the circumference of the tank;

b. a mechanical shoe seal (metallic-type shoe seal) consisting of a metal sheet held vertically against the wall of the storage vessel by springs or weighted levers and connected by braces to the floating roof. A flexible coated fabric (envelope) spans the annular space between the metal sheet and the floating roof; or

c. two seals mounted one above the other so that each forms a continuous closure that completely covers the space between the wall of the storage vessel and the edge of the internal floating roof. The lower seal may be vapor-mounted, but both must be continuous.

2. Each opening in the internal floating roof (except rim space vents and automatic bleeder vents) shall be provided with a projection below the liquid surface. In addition, each opening (except for leg sleeves, bleeder vents, rim space vents, column wells, ladder wells, sample wells, and stub drains) shall be provided with a cover equipped with a gasket. Automatic bleeder vents and rim space vents shall be gasketed and ladder wells shall be equipped with a sliding cover.

3. If the internal floating roof does not meet the specifications of this rule, then the specifications shall be met at the earlier of either the next scheduled maintenance turnaround (when deinventorying and degassing occurs) or December 1, 2005. Any request for an extension beyond December 1, 2005, shall be examined on a case-by-case basis and must be approved by the administrative authority*.

D. External Floating Roof. An external floating roof consists of a pontoon type roof, double deck type roof, or external floating cover which will rest or float on the surface of the liquid contents and is equipped with a primary closure seal to close the space between the roof edge and tank wall and a continuous secondary seal (a rim mounted secondary) extending from the floating roof to the tank wall. In the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge, the primary closure seal shall consist of a liquid mounted seal or a mechanical shoe seal, as defined in Subparagraphs C.1.a and b of this Section. Installation of the primary and secondary seals in these parishes shall be within the same time requirements as stipulated in Paragraph C.3 of this Section.

1. A secondary seal is not required if:

a. the tank is a welded tank storing a VOC with a vapor pressure at storage conditions less than 4.0 psia and is also equipped with a liquid mounted seal, a mechanical shoe seal, or a seal deemed equivalent by the administrative authority*;

b. the storage vessels are external floating roof tanks having nominal storage capacities of 420,000 gallons (1,589,900 liters) or less used to store produced crude oil or condensate prior to lease custody transfer;

c. a mechanical shoe seal is used in a welded tank which also has a secondary seal from the top of the shoe seal to the tank wall (i.e., a shoe-mounted secondary);

d. an alternate seal or seals can be used in lieu of the primary and secondary seals required herein provided the resulting emission is not greater than that which would have resulted if the primary and secondary seals were installed. The equivalency demonstration will be made to the satisfaction of the administrative authority*.

2. The seal closure devices required in LAC 33:III.2103.D shall:

a. have no visible holes, tears, or other openings in the seal(s) or seal(s) fabric;

b. be intact and uniformly in place around the circumference of the floating roof and the tank wall;

c. not have gap areas, of gaps exceeding 1/8 inch (0.32 cm) in width between the secondary seal and the tank wall, in excess of 1.0 in² per foot of tank diameter (6.5 cm² per 0.3m);

d. not have gap areas, of gaps exceeding 1/8 inch (0.32 cm) in width between the primary seal and the tank wall, in excess of 10.0 in² per foot of tank diameter (65 cm² per 0.3m);

e. the secondary seals shall be visually inspected at least semiannually. The secondary seal gap measurements shall be made annually at any tank level provided the roof is off its legs. The primary seal gap measurements shall be made every five years at any tank level provided the roof is off its legs. Conditions not up to standards described in LAC 33:III.2103.D.2 shall be recorded along with date(s) that the standards are not met and the administrative authority shall be notified within seven days. To avoid noncompliance with this Section, repairs necessary to be in compliance must be initiated within seven working days of recognition of defective conditions by ordering appropriate parts. Repairs shall be completed within three months of the ordering of the repair parts. However, if it can be demonstrated that additional time for repair is needed, the administrative authority may extend this deadline.

3. Requirements for Covering Openings. All openings in the external floating roof, except for automatic bleeder vents, rim space vent, and leg sleeves, are to provide a projection below the liquid surface. Except for automatic bleeder vents, rim space vents, roof drains, and leg sleeves, each opening in the roof is to be equipped with a cover, seal, or lid that is to be maintained in a closed position at all times (i.e., no visible gap) except when the device is in actual use. Automatic bleeder vents must be closed at all times except when the roof is floated off or landed on the roof leg supports. Rim vents must be set to open when the roof is being floated off the roof leg supports or at the manufacturer's recommended setting. Any emergency roof drain must be equipped with a slotted membrane fabric cover or equivalent cover that covers at least 90 percent of the opening. In the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Point Coupee, and West Baton Rouge, all covers, seals, lids, automatic bleeder vents, and rim space vents are to be gasketed.

4. Requirements for Guide Poles and Stilling Well Systems. Emissions from guide pole systems must be controlled for external floating roof storage tanks with a capacity greater than 40,000 gallons (approximately 151 m³) and which store a liquid having a total vapor pressure of 1.5 psia or greater. The requirements of this Paragraph shall only apply in the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge.

a. Controls for nonslotted guide poles and stilling wells shall include pole wiper and gasketing between the well and sliding cover. Controls for slotted guide poles shall include a float with wiper, pole wiper, and gasketing between the well and sliding cover. The description of the method of control and supporting calculations based upon the Addendum to American Petroleum Institute Publication Number 2517, Evaporative Loss from External Floating Roof Tanks, (dated May 1994) shall be submitted to the Office of Environmental Services for approval prior to installation.

b. Alternate methods of controls are acceptable if demonstrated to be equivalent to the controls in Subparagraph D.4.a of this Section. The administrative authority* must approve alternate methods of control.

c. Installation of controls required by Paragraph D.4 of this Section shall be required by November 15, 1996. Requests for extension of the November 15, 1996, compliance date will be considered on a case-by-case basis for situations which require the tank to be removed from service to install the controls and must be approved by the administrative authority*.

d. Control systems required by Paragraph D.4 of this Section shall be inspected semiannually for rips, tears, visible gaps in the pole or float wiper, and/or missing sliding cover gaskets. Any rips, tears, visible gaps in the pole or float wiper, and/or missing sliding cover gaskets shall be repaired in accordance with this Paragraph in order to avoid noncompliance. Repairs must be initiated by ordering appropriate parts within seven working days after a defect listed in this Subparagraph is identified. Repairs shall be completed within three months of the ordering of the repair parts. However, if it can be demonstrated that additional time for repair is needed, the administrative authority may extend this deadline.

E. Vapor Loss Control System. A vapor loss control system consists of a gathering system capable of collecting the volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors and a vapor disposal system capable of processing such organic vapors. All tank gauging and sampling devices shall be gas-tight except when gauging or sampling is taking place.

1. The vapor loss control system shall reduce inlet emissions of total volatile organic compounds by 95 percent or greater.

2. Notwithstanding Paragraph E.1 of this Section, if the vapor loss control system was installed on or before December 31, 1992, then the vapor loss control system shall reduce inlet emissions of total volatile organic compounds by 90 percent or greater.

3. The specifications and requirements in Paragraph E.1 or 2 of this Section do not apply during periods of planned routine maintenance. Periods of planned routine maintenance of the vapor loss control system, during which the vapor loss control system does not meet the specifications of Paragraph E.1 or 2 of this Section, as applicable, shall not exceed 240 hours per year.

F. No person shall place, store or hold in any stationary tank, reservoir or other container of more than 40,000 gallons (151,400 liters) nominal capacity any volatile organic compound having a true vapor pressure of 11 psia or greater at storage conditions unless such tank, reservoir or other container is a pressure tank capable of maintaining working pressures sufficient at all times under normal operating conditions to prevent vapor or gas loss to the atmosphere or is designed and equipped with a submerged fill pipe and vapor loss control system in accordance with LAC 33:III.2103.E.

G. Exemptions. The provisions of this Section (e.g., LAC 33:III.2103) do not apply to:

1. existing and new storage tanks, located in any parish other than the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge, used for crude oil or condensate and having a nominal storage capacity of less than 420,000 gallons (1,589,900 liters) unless such new tanks are subject to New Source Performance Standards;

2. tanks 420,000 gallons (1,589,900 liters) or greater, located in any parish other than the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge, used to store produced crude oil or condensate prior to lease custody transfer unless such tanks are subject to New Source Performance Standards;

3. existing and new storage tanks in the parishes of Ascension, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, and West Baton Rouge that are used for crude oil or condensate prior to lease custody transfer and that have a nominal storage capacity of less than 420,000 gallons (1,589,900 liters) unless such new tanks are subject to New Source Performance Standards;

4. JP-4 fuels stored in horizontal underground tanks;

5. with regard to the requirements of Paragraph C.1 of this Section, any storage tank that is used for less than two weeks in the calendar year, provided that the tank is empty and liquid-free when not in use;

6. with regard to the submerged fill pipe provisions of Subsection A of this Section, tanks, drums, or other containers storing pyrophoric catalyst at the Vistalon Production Facility of ExxonMobil Chemical Company's Baton Rouge Chemical Plant; and

7. with regard to the submerged fill pipe provisions of Subsections A and B of this Section, tanks, drums, or other containers used for the storage of corrosive materials, including but not limited to spent sulfuric acid and hazardous waste, at the Baton Rouge facility of Rhodia Inc.

H. Compliance Tests

1. Floating Roofs. The seal gap area shall be determined by measuring the length and width of the gaps around the entire circumference of the seal. A 1/8 inch (0.32 cm) uniform diameter probe shall be used for measuring gaps. Only gaps greater than or equal to 1/8 inch (0.32 cm) shall be used in computing the gap area. The area of the gaps shall be accumulated to determine compliance with LAC 33:III.2103.D.2.c and d. Compliance with the other provisions specified in LAC 33:III.2103.D.2.a and b and D.4 may be determined by visual inspection.

2. Add-On Control Devices. The following test methods shall be used, where appropriate to measure control device compliance:

a. Test Methods 1-4 ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003) for determining flow rates, as necessary;

b. Test Method 18 ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003) for measuring gaseous organic compound emissions by gas chromatographic analysis;

c. Test Method 21 ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003) for determination of volatile organic compound leaks;

d. Test Method 25 ( 40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A, as incorporated by reference at LAC 33:III.3003) for determining total gaseous nonmethane organic emissions as carbon;

e. additional performance test procedures, or equivalent test methods, approved by the administrative authority*.

3. Vapor Pressure. The maximum true vapor pressure is determined based upon the highest expected calendar-month average of the storage temperature. The true vapor pressure shall be determined from one of the following methods:

a. from available data on the Reid vapor pressure;

b. by ASTM Test Methods D323, D4953, or D5190 for the measurement of Reid vapor pressure, and adjusted for actual storage temperature using the nomographs contained in API Bulletin 2517;

c. from standard reference texts;

d. determined by ASTM Test Method D2879 or D5191; or

e. by another method approved by the administrative authority*.

I. Monitoring/Recordkeeping/Reporting. The owner/ operator of any storage facility shall maintain records to verify compliance with or exemption from LAC 33:III.2103. The records shall be maintained for at least two years and will include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. the results of inspections required by LAC 33:III.2103.D.2.e and D.4 shall be recorded;

2. for vapor loss control systems (LAC 33:III.2103.E) the following information shall be recorded:

a. daily measurements of the exhaust gas temperature immediately downstream of a direct-flame incinerator;

b. daily measurements of the inlet and outlet gas temperature of a chiller, or catalytic incinerator;

c. results of monitoring outlet VOC concentration of carbon adsorption bed to detect breakthrough;

3. the date and reason for any maintenance and repair of the applicable control devices and the estimated quantity and duration of volatile organic compound emissions during such activities;

4. the results of any testing conducted in accordance with the provisions specified in LAC 33:III.2103.H;

5. records of the type(s) of VOC stored and the average monthly true vapor pressure of the stored liquid for any storage vessel with an external floating roof that is exempt from the requirements for a secondary seal and is used to store VOCs with a true vapor pressure greater than 1.0 psia; and

6. records of the type(s) of VOC stored and the length of time stored for any storage tank exempted under Paragraph G.5 of this Section;

7. records of planned routine maintenance performed on the vapor loss control system, including the duration of each time the vapor loss control system does not meet the specifications of Paragraph E.1 or 2 of this Section, as applicable, due to the planned routine maintenance. Such records shall include the information specified as follows:

a. the first time of day and date the requirements of Subsection E of this Section were not met, at the beginning of the planned routine maintenance; and

b. the first time of day and date the requirements of Subsection E of this Section were met, at the conclusion of the planned routine maintenance.

J. The facility shall provide notice of any use of a storage tank exempted under Paragraph G.5 of this Section. The notice shall be provided to the Office of Environmental Compliance in the manner identified in LAC 33:I.3923.A in advance, if possible, but no later than 24 hours after the tank starts filling.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § III-2103

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Air Quality and Nuclear Energy, Air Quality Division, LR 13:741 (December 1987), amended LR 15:1065 (December 1989), repromulgated LR 16:27 (January 1990), amended by the Office of Air Quality and Radiation Protection, Air Quality Division, LR 17:360 (April 1991), LR 18:1121 (October 1992), LR 20:1376 (December 1994), LR 21:1223 (November 1995), repromulgated LR 21:1333 (December 1995), amended LR 22:453 (June 1996), LR 22:1212 (December 1996), LR 24:20 (January 1998), LR 24:2242 (December 1998), LR 25:657 (April 1999), LR 25:852 (May 1999), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 26:2452 (November 2000), LR 28:1763 (August 2002), LR 30:1671 (August 2004), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 31:2439 (October 2005), LR 33:447 (March 2007), LR 33:2085 (October 2007), LR 36:2271 (October 2010), amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, LR 38:2751 (November 2012).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2054.