4/23/2012 - COMPLIANCE ORDER ISSUED.
ON JAN 19, 2011, EPA INSPECTORS CONDUCTED AN AIR COMPLIANCE INSPECTION OF HTE WILLIAMS FACILITY UTILIZING A FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED GAS FINDER CAMERA (FLIR)(r).
THE FLIR IS AN IMAGING TECHNOLOGY THAT USES INFRARED RADIATION TO DETECT VARIOUS GASES AND HYDROCARBONS.
DURING EPA'S INSPECTION, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING SOME OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: ETHANE, PROPANE, BUTANES, AND PENTANES, AT THE HATCH ON THE CONDENSATE STORAGE TANK (T-081). THIS RELEASE DEMONSTRATES, 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 CAA 112(r)(1).
AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTNATS, INCLUDING METHANE, ETHANE, PROPANE, BUTANES, AND PENTANES, AT THE OUTLET DUCT AT THE TRAIN 2 EXPANDER. THE TOXIC VAPOR ANALYZER (TVA) WAS USED TO CONFIRM THE PRESENCE OF VOCs AND READ CONCENTRATIONS AS HIGH AS 20,000 ppm. THIS RELEASE DEMONSTRATES AT A MINIMUM THAT RESPONDENT HAS FAILED TO DESIGN AND MAINTAIN A SAFE FACILITY TAKING SUCH STEPS AS ARE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RELEASES, AND IS IN VIOLATION OF CAA 112(r)(1).
AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION, THE FLIR CAMERA IDENTIFIED RELEASES OF AIR POLLUTANTS, INCLUDING METHANE, AT THE HEAT EXCHANGER FOR HEATING OIL. THE TVA WAS USED TO CONFIRM THE PRESENCE OF VOCs AND READ CONCENTRATIONS AS HIGH AS 150,000 ppm. THIS RELEASE DEMONS