No. 38579 (Change in Proposed Rule): Rule R307-501. Oil and Gas Industry:General Provisions

DAR File No.: 38579
Filed: 10/07/2014 10:11:47 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Utah Air Quality Board proposed this new rule, R307-502, for public comment on 06/04/2014. A 30-day public comment period was held, during which the Division of Air Quality (DAQ) received comments that resulted in changes being made to the originally proposed rule.

Summary of the rule or change:

Definitions for "oil well" and "oil transmission" are added. The applicability section has been changed by removing the word "distribution" and clarifying that the rule applies to oil and natural gas exploration, production, and transmission operations. (DAR NOTE: The original proposed new rule upon which this change in proposed rule (CPR) was based was published in the July 1, 2014, issue of the Utah State Bulletin, on page 39. Underlining in the rule below indicates text that has been added since the publication of the proposed new rule mentioned above; strike-out indicates text that has been deleted. You must view the CPR and the proposed new rule together to understand all of the changes that will be enforceable should the agency make this rule effective.)

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 19-2-104(1)(a)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The changes to the rule are to add definitions and to clarify the rule applicability. They do not affect the state; therefore, there are no anticipated costs or savings to the state budget.

local governments:

The changes to the rule are to add definitions and to clarify the rule applicability. The changes do not apply to local government; therefore, there are no anticipated costs or savings.

small businesses:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to small businesses, as the changes merely add definitions and clarify the rule applicability.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There are no anticipated costs or savings to persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local government entities, as the changes merely add definitions and clarify the rule applicability.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There are no compliance costs for affected persons associated with these changes. The changes were to add definitions and clarify the rule applicability.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

The changes to the rule should not have a fiscal impact on businesses. The changes were to add definitions and clarify the rule applicability.

Amanda Smith, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Environmental Quality
Air QualityRoom Fourth Floor
195 N 1950 W
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84116-3085

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

• Mark Berger at the above address, by phone at 801-536-4000, by FAX at 801-536-0085, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

This rule may become effective on:

12/02/2014

Authorized by:

Bryce Bird, Director

RULE TEXT

R307. Environmental Quality.

R307-501. Oil and Gas Industry: General Provisions.

R307-501-1. Purpose.

R307-501 establishes general requirements for prevention of emissions and use of good air pollution control practices for all oil and natural gas exploration and production operations, well production facilities, natural gas compressor stations, and natural gas processing plants.

 

R307-501-2. Definitions.

(1) The definitions in 40 CFR 60, Subpart OOOO Standards of Performance for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Production, Transmission and Distribution, which is incorporated by reference in R307-210 apply to R307-501.

(2) "Well production facility" means all equipment at a single stationary source directly associated with one or more oil wells or gas wells. This equipment includes, but is not limited to, equipment used for production, extraction, recovery, lifting, stabilization, storage, separation, treating, dehydration, [artificial lift, ]combustion, compression, pumping, metering, monitoring, and flowline.

(3) "Oil well" means an onshore well drilled principally for the production of crude oil.

(4) "Oil transmission" means the pipelines used for the long distance transport of crude oil, condensate, or intermediate hydrocarbon liquids (excluding processing). Specific equipment used in transmission includes, but is not limited to, the land, mains, valves, meters, boosters, regulators, storage vessels, dehydrators, pumps and compressors, and their driving units and appurtenances. The transportation of oil or natural gas to end users is not included in the definition of "transmission".

 

R307-501-3. Applicability.

(1) R307-501 applies to all oil and natural gas exploration, production, [distribution, ]and transmission operations; well production facilities; natural gas compressor stations; and natural gas processing plants in Utah.

(2) R307-501 does not apply to oil refineries.

 

R307-501-4. General Provisions.

(1) General requirements for prevention of emissions and use of good air pollution control practices.

(a) All crude oil, condensate, and intermediate hydrocarbon liquids collection, storage, processing and handling operations, regardless of size, shall be designed, operated and maintained so as to minimize emission of volatile organic compounds to the atmosphere to the extent reasonably practicable.

(b) At all times, including periods of start-up, shutdown, and malfunction, the installation and air pollution control equipment shall be maintained and operated in a manner consistent with good air pollution control practices for minimizing emissions.

(c) Determination of whether or not acceptable operating and maintenance procedures are being used will be based on information available to the director, which may include, but is not limited to, monitoring results, infrared camera images, opacity observations, review of operating and maintenance procedures, and inspection of the source.

(2) General requirements for air pollution control equipment.

(a) All air pollution control equipment shall be operated and maintained pursuant to the manufacturing specifications or equivalent to the extent practicable and consistent with technological limitations and good engineering and maintenance practices.

(b) The owner or operator shall keep manufacturer specifications or equivalent on file.

(c) In addition, all such air pollution control equipment shall be adequately designed and sized to achieve the control efficiency rates established in rules or in approval orders issued under R307-401 and to handle reasonably foreseeable fluctuations in emissions of VOCs during normal operations. Fluctuations in emissions that occur when the separator dumps into the tank are reasonably foreseeable.

 

KEY: air pollution, oil, gas

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: 2014

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 19-2-104(1)(a)