2/27/2012 - COMPLIANCE ORDER ISSUED.
ORDER STATES:
ON AUGUST 30, 2011, EPA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN AIR COMPLIANCE INSPECTION OF THE COLUMBIA FACILITY UTILIZING A FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED GAS FINDER CAMERA (FLIR)
THE FLIR IS AN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY THAT USES INFRARED RADIATION TO DETECT VARIOUS GASES AND HYDROCARBONS.
AT THE TIME OF THE EPA'S AUGUST 30, 2011, INSPECTION OF THE COLUMBIA FACILITY, THE COLUMBIA FACILITY, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING METHANE, AT COMPRESSOR NO. 3 AND COMPRESSOR NO.
THESE RELEASES DEMONSTRATE, AT A MINIMUM, RESPONDENT HAS FAILED TO DESIGN AND MAINTAIN A SAFE FACILITY TAKING SUCH STEPS AS ARE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RELEASES, AND IS IN VIOLATION OF SECTION 112(r)(1) OF THE ACT.
AT THE TIME OF THE EPA'S AUGUST 30, 2011, INSPECTION OF THE COLUMBIA FACILITY, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED ANOTHER RELEASE OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING METHANE, FROM THE EMERGENCY BLOWOUT VENT LOCATED NEXT TO THE FACILITY SCRUBBERS. EMISSIONS FROM THE EMERGENCY BLOWOUT VENT WERE ALSO OBSERVED VISUALLY BY THE INSPECTORS WITHOUT THE USE OF THE FLIR OR ANY OTHER EQUIPMENT. EPA INSPECTORS DID NOT OBSERVE ANY EMERGENCIES OCCURRING AT THE TIME AND CONFIRMED WITH FACILITY PERSONNEL THAT NO EMERGENCIES WERE OCCURRING. SINCE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION DID NOT EXIST, THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN O EMISSIONS FROM THE EMERGENCY BLOWOUT VENT. THESE RELEASES DEMONSTRATE, AT A MINIMUM, RESPONDENT HAS FAILED TO DESIGN AND MAINTAIN A SAFE FACILITY TAKING