La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § III-309

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024

Section III-309 - Regulatory Permit for Release of Natural Gas from Pipelines and Associated Equipment

A. Applicability. This regulatory permit authorizes the release of natural gas from pipelines and associated equipment resulting from metering, purging, and maintenance operations, subject to the requirements established herein, upon notification by the administrative authority that the application (i.e., notification form) submitted in accordance with Subsection C of this Section has been determined to be complete.

B. Control Requirements. For purposes of this Section, volumes of natural gas should be calculated at standard conditions, as defined in LAC 33:III.111.

1. Releases of natural gas greater than or equal to 1.0 million (MM) cubic feet, but less than 2.5 MM cubic feet, in volume require no controls.

2. Releases of natural gas greater than or equal to 2.5 MM cubic feet in volume shall be controlled by flaring. Flaring must continue until less than 0.25 MM cubic feet of gas remains to be released, at which time flaring is no longer required.

3. Notwithstanding the volumes specified in Paragraphs B.1 and 2 of this Section, releases that will result in total VOC emissions of 5,000 pounds or more; benzene emissions equal to or exceeding its minimum emission rate (MER) established by LAC 33:III.5112, Table 51.1; or total benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) emissions of 2,000 pounds or more shall be controlled by flaring. Flaring must continue until less than 0.25 MM cubic feet of gas remains to be released, at which time flaring is no longer required.

4. Natural gas releases covered by this regulatory permit shall have a hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) content of no more than 1.5 grains per 100 standard cubic feet.

C. Notification Requirements

1. The following information shall be submitted to the Office of Environmental Services using the appropriate form provided by the department:

a. the name of the owner or operator;

b. the type of, and reason for, the activity;

c. the physical location;

d. the date(s) and expected duration of the activity;

e. a description of the processes and equipment involved, including control measures, if required;

f. the estimated emissions associated with the metering, purging, or maintenance operation, including the volume of natural gas to be flared or released. Emissions of toxic air pollutants (TAPs) listed in LAC 33:III.5112, Tables 51.1 and 51.3, shall be speciated; and

g. the approximate H₂S content in the natural gas.

2. A copy of the notification required by Paragraph C.1 of this Section shall be submitted to the appropriate DEQ Regional Office.

3. A separate notification shall be submitted for each metering, purging, or maintenance operation.

4. The notification shall be submitted such that it is received by the department at least three working days prior to the metering, purging, or maintenance event. In emergency situations, the department will waive the three-working day requirement.

D. The authorization for a release from the specific metering, purging, or maintenance operation addressed by the application submitted in accordance with Subsection C of this Section shall remain effective for 60 days following the date on which the administrative authority determines that the application is complete.

E. This regulatory permit does not authorize releases from metering, purging, or maintenance operations associated with pipelines carrying refined petroleum products (e.g., ethylene, propylene, 1,3-butadiene).

F. Conducting metering, purging, and maintenance operations beyond 10 operating days at a single location shall not be authorized by this regulatory permit and must be approved separately by the administrative authority.

G. Resetting of flow meters (changing orifice plates, etc.) and calibration of meters are considered routine activities and are not classified as purging or maintenance operations.

H. Recordkeeping and Reporting. The following information shall be recorded and submitted to the Office of Environmental Services no later than 30 calendar days after completion of the metering, purging, or maintenance operation:

1. the date(s) and duration of the metering, purging, or maintenance operation;

2. the actual volumes of natural gas flared and natural gas released; and

3. the actual criteria pollutant and TAP emissions associated with the metering, purging, or maintenance operation.

I. In accordance with LAC 33:III.Chapter 2, the fee for this regulatory permit shall be $500. There shall be no annual maintenance fee associated with this regulatory permit.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § III-309

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs Division, LR 35:458 (March 2009), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Division, LR 43942 (5/1/2017), Amended by the Office of the Secretary, Legal Affairs and Criminal Investigations Division, LR 441240 (7/1/2018).

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