Md. Code Regs. 26.11.41.01

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 12, June 14, 2024

Section 26.11.41.01 - Definitions

A. In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

B. Terms Defined.

(1) Affected facilities means any one of the following facilities:

(a) Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas Facility;

(b) Myersville Natural Gas Compressor Station;

(c) Accident Natural Gas Compressor Station and Storage;

(d) Rutledge Natural Gas Compressor Station;

(e) Ellicott City Natural Gas Compressor Station; and

(f) Any new, modified, or reconstructed natural gas compressor station, natural gas underground storage facility, or liquefied natural gas facility.

(2) Audio, visual, and olfactory inspection means sensory monitoring to detect natural gas leaks utilizing a human ear, eyes, and nose.

(3) Blowdown.

(a) Blowdown means the release of pressurized natural gas from a station, equipment, or pipelines into the atmosphere conducted with the intent to lower the pressure in a vessel or pipeline.

(b) Blowdown" does not include natural gas pneumatics emissions, fugitive components emissions, or compressor seal leakage.

(4) Bubble test means the alternative screening procedure as described at EPA Method 21 ( 40 CFR 60, Appendix A-7, § 8.3.3).

(5) Component means a valve, fitting, flange, threaded-connection, process drain, stuffing box, pressure-vacuum valve, pressure-relief device, pipes, seal fluid system, diaphragm, hatch, sight-glass, meter, open-ended line, well casing, natural gas powered pneumatic device, natural gas powered pneumatic pump, reciprocating compressor rod packing/seal, metal to metal joint or seal of nonwelded connection separated by a compression gasket, screwed thread (with or without thread sealing compound), metal to metal compression, or fluid barrier through which natural gas or liquid can escape to the atmosphere.

(6) Continuous bleed means the continuous venting of natural gas from a gas-powered pneumatic device to the atmosphere.

(7) Difficult-to-monitor means fugitive emissions components that cannot be monitored for natural gas leakage without the monitoring personnel needing specialized equipment to reach components above the grade.

(8) Direct measurement means use of high volume sampling, calibrated bagging, a calibrated flow measuring instrument, or a temporary meter.

(9) Fuel gas system means components and equipment that collect and transfer natural gas to be used as a fuel source to on-site natural gas-powered equipment other than a vapor control device.

(10) Fugitive Emissions Component.

(a) Fugitive emission component means any component that has the potential to emit fugitive emissions of natural gas, including but not limited to valves, connectors, pressure relief devices, open-ended lines, flanges, covers, and vapor collection systems.

(b) Fugitive emission component does not include devices that vent as a part of normal operations, such as natural gas-driven pneumatic devices or annulus vents, insofar as the natural gas discharged from the device's vent is not considered a fugitive emission.

(c) Fugitive emission component includes thief hatches or other openings on a storage vessel, compressor, instrument, natural gas-powered pneumatic device, or meter that are not venting.

(11) Intermittent bleed means a pneumatic controller that is designed to vent noncontinuously.

(12) Leak detection and repair or LDAR means the inspection of fugitive emissions components to detect leaks of total methane and the repair of components with leaks above the standards specified in this chapter and within the time frames specified in this chapter.

(13) Leak or fugitive leak means any visible emission from a fugitive emissions component observed by optical gas imaging or an instrument reading of 500 ppm or greater of methane using U.S. EPA Method 21 ( 40 CFR 60, Appendix A-7) or any emissions discovered from a fugitive emissions component observed using an auditory, visual, and olfactory inspection.

(14) Liquefied natural gas or LNG means natural gas or synthetic gas having methane as its major constituent which has been changed to a liquid.

(15) LNG facility means a pipeline facility that is used for liquefying natural gas or synthetic gas or transferring, storing, or vaporizing liquefied natural gas, and includes all components and stationary equipment within the fence line.

(16) Natural gas means a naturally occurring mixture or process derivative of hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon gases, which has methane as its major constituent.

(17) Natural gas compressor station means all equipment and components located within a facility fence line associated with moving natural gas from production fields or natural gas processing plants through natural gas transmission pipelines, or within natural gas storage fields.

(18) Natural gas storage well means a well located and used in a natural gas storage reservoir for injection or withdrawal purposes, or an observation well.

(19) Natural gas underground storage means all equipment and components associated with the temporary subsurface storage of natural gas in depleted crude oil or natural gas reservoirs or salt dome caverns, not including gas disposal wells.

(20) Observation well means a well used to monitor the operational integrity and conditions in a natural gas storage reservoir, the reservoir protective area, or the strata above or below the gas storage horizon.

(21) Optical gas imaging or OGI means an instrument that makes emissions visible to the naked eye that may otherwise be invisible.

(22) Pneumatic device means an automation device that uses natural gas or compressed air to control a process.

(23) Process gas system means components and equipment that collect and transfer the natural gas to be used through the intended process of the facility, including storage, transmission, or liquefaction.

(24) Reciprocating natural gas compressor means equipment that increases the pressure of natural gas by positive displacement of a piston in a compression cylinder and is powered by an internal combustion engine or electric motor with a horsepower rating designated by the manufacturer.

(25) Reciprocating natural gas compressor rod packing means a seal composed of a series of flexible rings in machined metal cups that fit around the reciprocating compressor piston rod to create a seal limiting the amount of compressed natural gas that leaks into the atmosphere.

(26) Reciprocating natural gas compressor seal means any device or mechanism used to limit the amount of natural gas that leaks from a compression cylinder into the atmosphere.

(27) Successful repair means tightening, adjusting, or replacing equipment or a component for the purpose of stopping or reducing fugitive leaks below the minimum leak threshold or emission flow rate standard specified in this chapter.

(28) Unsafe-to-monitor means fugitive emissions components that cannot be monitored for natural gas leakage because monitoring personnel would be exposed to immediate danger while conducting a monitoring survey.

(29) Vapor collection system means equipment and components installed on pressure vessels, separators, tanks, sumps, piping, connections, reciprocating compressors, natural gas-powered pneumatic devices, and flow-inducing devices used to collect and route emission vapors to a processing gas system, fuel gas system, or vapor control device.

(30) Vapor control device means destructive or nondestructive equipment used to control otherwise vented emissions.

Md. Code Regs. 26.11.41.01

Regulation .01 adopted effective 47:23 Md. R. 978, eff. 11/16/2020