(a) Applicability.
(1) The requirements of this section apply to centrifugal natural gas compressors located at natural gas transmission compressor stations, and natural gas underground storage facilities.
(2) The requirements of this section do not apply to centrifugal natural gas compressors that operate fewer than 200 hours over a rolling twelve (12) month period total provided that the owner or operator:
(i) Maintains a non-re-settable hour meter for operation, and
(ii) Maintains a record, for a minimum of five (5) years, of the operating hours per month, and
(iii) Provide a rolling twelve (12) month total calculation of hours to the Department once per year.
(b) Beginning January 1, 2023, centrifugal compressors with wet seals shall control the wet seal vent gas with the use of a vapor collection system as described in Subpart 203-8 or shall replace the wet seal with a dry seal.
(c) Beginning January 1, 2023, components on driver engines and compressors that use a wet seal or a dry seal shall comply with the LDAR requirements specified in Subpart 203-7, and;
(d) The compressor wet seal shall be measured annually by direct measurement (high volume sampling, bagging, calibrated flow measuring instrument) while the compressor is running at normal operating temperature in order to determine the wet seal emission flow rate using one of the following methods:
(1) Vent stacks shall be equipped with a meter or instrumentation to measure the wet seal emissions flow rate; or,
(2) Vent stacks shall be equipped with a clearly identified access port installed at a height of no more than six (6) feet above ground level or a permanent support surface for making wet seal emission flow rate measurements.
(3) If the measurement is not obtained because the compressor is not operating for the scheduled test date and the remainder of the inspection period, then testing shall be conducted within fourteen (14) days of resumed operation. The owner or operator shall maintain for at least five (5) years, and make available upon request by the Department, a copy of operating records that document the compressor hours of operation and run dates and a signed statement from the responsible official in order to demonstrate compliance with this requirement.
(e) A compressor with a wet seal emission flow rate greater than three (3) scfm, or a combined flow rate greater than the number of wet seals multiplied by three (3) scfm, shall be successfully repaired within thirty (30) days of the initial flow rate measurement.
(1) An extension to the thirty (30) day deadline may be granted by the Department if the owner or operator can demonstrate that the parts or equipment required to make necessary repairs have been ordered and the owner or operator notifies the Department as specified in 203-10.3 to report the delay and provides an estimated time by which the repairs will be completed.
(f) If parts are not available to make the repairs, the wet seal shall be replaced with a dry seal no later than eighteen (18) months after the exceeding measurement is made.
(g) The owner or operator shall maintain for at least five (5) years, a record of the flow rate measurement and shall report the result to the Department within sixty (60) days after completed.
(h) A centrifugal natural gas compressor with a wet seal emission flow rate measured above the standard specified in subdivision 203-4.3(e) and which is a critical component, shall be successfully repaired by the end of the next scheduled process shutdown or within twelve (12) months from the date of the initial flow rate measurement, whichever is sooner.
Adopted New York State Register February 16, 2022/Volume XLIV, Issue 07, eff. 3/3/2022