MEC&F Expert Engineers : 12/17/14

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

REVISED SPILL PREVENTION, CONTROL, AND COUNTERMEASURE (SPCC) GUIDANCE FOR REGIONAL INSPECTORS



Revised Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Guidance for Regional Inspectors


In accordance with the Oil Pollution Prevention regulation at 40 CFR part 112, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires certain facilities to prepare, amend, and implement Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans. The regulation is largely performance-based, which allows flexibility in meeting the rule requirements to prevent discharges of oil to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. The SPCC rule was promulgated in 1973, with significant amendments published in 2002.  EPA finalized additional revisions in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2011.  EPA developed this guidance to assist regional inspectors in implementing the SPCC program and in understanding its applicability, and to help clarify the role of the inspector in reviewing a facility’s implementation of performance-based flexibility provisions, such as environmental equivalence and impracticability.

SPCC Background
The Oil Pollution Prevention regulation promulgated under the authority of §311 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or Clean Water Act (CWA) sets forth requirements for prevention of, preparedness for, and response to oil discharges at specific non-transportation-related facilities. To prevent oil from reaching navigable waters or adjoining shorelines, and to contain discharges of oil, the regulation requires these facilities to develop and implement SPCC Plans and establishes procedures, methods, and equipment requirements.

Purpose and Scope
Subparts A through C of 40 CFR part 112 are often referred to as the “SPCC rule.” Focusing primarily on facility-related oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response, the SPCC rule is designed to protect public health, public welfare, and the environment from potential harmful effects of oil discharges to navigable waters or adjoining shorelines. The rule requires certain facilities that could reasonably be expected to discharge oil in quantities that may be harmful into navigable waters of the United States or adjoining shorelines to develop and implement SPCC Plans. The Plans ensure that these facilities put in place containment, controls, and countermeasures that will prevent oil discharges. The requirements to develop, implement, and revise the SPCC Plan, as well as train employees to carry it out, allow owners and operators to achieve the goal of preventing, preparing for, and responding to oil discharges that threaten navigable waters and adjoining shorelines. 



Part 112 also includes requirements for Facility Response Plans (FRPs) that address oil discharge preparedness requirements for a subset of SPCC-regulated facilities. These requirements define who must prepare and submit an FRP and what must be included in the Plan, and are found in Subpart D of 40 CFR part 112 (and related appendices). These requirements are often referred to as the “FRP rule.”P2P Although the SPCC and FRP rules are related, this guidance specifically covers the prevention requirements of the SPCC rule (40 CFR part 112, subparts A, B, and C).

In August 2013, EPA revised the SPCC Guidance for Regional Inspectors which is intended to assist regional inspectors in reviewing a facility's implementation of the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule at 40 CFR part 112. This guidance document is also available to owners and operators of facilities that may be subject to the requirements of the SPCC rule, and the general public on how EPA intends the SPCC rule to be implemented. The document is designed to provide a consistent national policy on several SPCC-related issues.

This guidance is a living document and will be revised, as necessary, to reflect any relevant regulatory amendments. Additionally, EPA welcomes comments from the regulated community and the public on the guidance.



SPCC Inspection, Evaluation, and Testing—5 General Things Inspectors Are Looking For
The Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule requires that owners conduct tank inspection, evaluation, and testing to ensure tank integrity and help to predict and prevent oil discharges. Today, we will review some of the general aspects an inspector will zero in on, and tomorrow, we will review more specific aspects inspectors will be watching for.

1) A complete SPCC Plan that contains a description of “the scope and schedule of inspection, evaluation, and testing to be performed on bulk containers.”  In its SPCC Guidance for Regional Inspectors, the EPA references the following sections of 40 CFR 112 that address specific requirements at all or certain facilities:

· 112.3(d)(1)(iv)—requires that procedures for required inspections and testing have been established for all covered facilities;
· 112.7(e)—defines general requirements for inspections, tests, and recordkeeping for all covered facilities;
· 112.8(c)(6)—defines tank integrity testing and inspection requirements for onshore facilities (excluding production facilities);
· 112.9(c)(3)—defines visual inspection requirements for onshore oil production facilities (excluding drilling and workover facilities); and
· 112.12(c)(6)—defines tank integrity testing and inspection requirements for facilities that store animal fats and oils and greases, fish and marine mammal oils, and vegetable oils, including oils from seeds, nuts, fruits, and kernels (AFVO).

Tank owners should also reference any applicable industry inspection standards used in their SPCC plans. 

2) A complete description of equivalent programs developed by a professional engineer (PE), such as a hybrid inspection program. Inspectors will need to verify the following: 

·         That the program is being implemented at the facility;
·         That a clear rationale is provided for the environmental equivalency, including how it deviates from applicable industry standards or that no industry standards exist;
·         That the equivalent program meets the minimum requirements for a hybrid program provided in Section 112.7(a)(2);
·         That the scheduling of integrity testing is such that it ensures implementation of any schedule associated with Section 112.7;
·         That the rationale is provided for any inspection schedule that extends beyond the frequency identified in applicable inspection standards (particularly if no baseline exists for the tanks); and
·         That the program has been developed by a PE in accordance with good engineering practice.
3) Records of visual inspections and integrity testing as defined in Section 112.7(e):
“You must keep these written procedures and a record of the inspections and tests, signed by the appropriate supervisor or inspector, with the SPCC Plan for a period of 3 years. Records of inspections and tests kept under usual and customary business practices will suffice for purposes of this paragraph.” 



Inspectors will want to see that the written procedures and records are signed by the appropriate supervisor or inspector and maintained for a period of 3 years (or 5 years for Facility Response Plan (FRP) holders). Industry standards may advise that records of certified inspections and non-destructive testing be retained for the life of the container.

4) Checklists used are in accordance with the certified SPCC Plan. The SPCC rule provides for the use of industry standards, which may include checklists for different inspection and testing activities. The inspector will want to compare the checklists that are actually used with those described in the facility’s SPCC Plan. Examples of tank inspection checklists can be found in industry standards such as STI SP001 from the Steel Tank Institute, as well as in Appendix F of 40 CFR 112 (note that while this appendix deals with FRPs, the checklist can be used for SPCC plans as well).

5) Recommended or required actions resulting from inspections and tests are completed and documented. For example, if the tank integrity evaluation/testing report recommends and/or requires repairs necessary to prevent a discharge, the inspector will need to see documentation confirming that the repair was completed or describes the rationale for why the repair was not performed. 


TRIAD HUNTER WELL BLOWOUT IN MONROE COUNTY, OH – NO ONE INJURED, 28 HOMES EVACUATED




 Triad Hunter Well Blowout in Monroe County, OH – No One Injured, 28 homes evacuated




 12/14/2014

On Saturday, Triad Hunter, wholly-owned drilling subsidiary of Magnum Hunter Resources, lost control of a Utica Shale well in Monroe County, OH. The well had been drilled and temporarily plugged as the company planned to drill three more wells at the pad.  However, “the well began to flow uncontrollably while recommencing production operations” according to a statement released by Magnum Hunter.   

 "Triad Hunter personnel were removing the well's night cap flange when a pressure disruption occurred," said a release from the company. "They attempted to bolt back down this equipment but were not able to safely do so prior to natural gas plowback."  Well pad personnel along with 28 homes located within a mile and a half were evacuated. Wild Well Control of Houston has been contacted and (presumably) now on site to contain the well. No injuries have been reported.

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Triad Hunter Commences Well Control and Safety Operations on the Stalder 3UH Well Following Blowout

12/14/2014 

HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwired - Dec 14, 2014) - Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation (NYSE: MHR) (NYSE MKT: MHR.PRC) (NYSE MKT: MHR.PRD) (NYSE MKT: MHR.PRE) (the "Company" or "Magnum Hunter") is reporting today that the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Triad Hunter, LLC ("Triad Hunter"), has experienced a loss of control of a well, the Stalder 3UH, located in Monroe County, Ohio. Triad Hunter lost control of this well at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST on December 13, 2014. The previously drilled and completed Stalder 3UH well had been temporarily plugged and abandoned in preparation for the drilling of three additional Utica horizontal wells on the Stalder pad. However, despite numerous precautionary measures taken in connection with the temporary plugging and abandonment operation, the well began to flow uncontrollably while recommencing production operations. Triad Hunter personnel were removing the well's night cap flange when a pressure disruption occurred. They attempted to bolt back down this equipment but were not able to safely do so prior to natural gas flowback. 

Triad Hunter has contacted all necessary regulatory authorities and evacuated field personnel and the residents in the immediate area. Currently, all field personnel are accounted for, and no injuries have been reported. Only critical personnel remain at a command center near the well site to mitigate the incident. Wild Well Control of Houston, Texas has been mobilized and is currently on site preparing for well control operations. Additional details will be released as they become available. 

About Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation 

Magnum Hunter Resources Corporation and subsidiaries are a Houston, Texas based independent exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition, development and production of crude oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids, primarily in the States of West Virginia, Ohio and North Dakota. The Company is presently active in three of the most prolific unconventional shale resource plays in North America, namely the Marcellus Shale, Utica Shale and Williston Basin/Bakken Shale.

US EPA PREVENTS HARMFUL CHEMICALS FROM ENTERING THE MARKETPLACE







US EPA Prevents Harmful Chemicals from Entering the Marketplace

December 17, 2014
 



WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking action to protect the public from certain chemicals that have the potential to cause a range of health effects from cancer to reproductive and developmental harm to people and aquatic organisms.







“We are committed to protecting all Americans from exposure to harmful chemicals used in domestic and imported products,” said Jim Jones, assistant administrator for chemical safety and pollution prevention. “There must be a level playing field for U.S. businesses – which is why we’re targeting harmful chemicals no longer used in the U.S. that find their way into commerce, sometimes through imported products. This final action will give EPA the opportunity to restrict or limit any new uses of these chemicals, including imported goods with these chemicals.”




Today’s action addresses the following chemicals:




Most uses of certain benzidine-based dyes which can be used in textiles, paints and inks and can be converted in the body into a chemical that is known to cause cancer;




Most uses of DnPP, a phthalate, which can be used in PVC plastics and shown to cause developmental and/or reproductive effects in laboratory animals; and




Alkanes C 12-13, chloro, a short-chain chlorinated paraffin (SCCP), which can be used as industrial lubricants and are persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations and can be transported globally in the environment. 




Some of the chemicals in today’s rule have previously been used in consumer products but are not used in the market today. Today’s Significant New Use Rules (SNURs) issued under the Toxic Substances Control Act allow EPA to review any efforts by manufacturers, including importers, to introduce these chemicals into the market and take appropriate action to ensure that human health and the environment are protected. EPA believes that new uses of these chemicals should not be allowed without an opportunity for review and, if necessary, to place restrictions on these chemicals, as warranted.




The action adds nine benzidine-based dyes to an existing SNUR. It closes a loophole to ensure that these chemicals and products containing them, such as clothing, cannot be imported without EPA review and possible restriction. EPA has investigated safer dyes and colorants as alternatives to benzidine as part of its Safer Chemical Ingredients List and Design for the Environment program. 




In 2012, EPA required companies to stop manufacturing and importing SCCPs and to pay fines as a result of an enforcement action. The SCCPs have been proposed for addition to the Stockholm Convention for Persistent Organic Pollutants: http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/ThePOPs/ChemicalsProposedforListing/tabid/2510/Default.aspx
 



EPA is further evaluating related medium-chain (MCCPs) and long-chain chlorinated paraffins (LCCPs) as part of the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments.




EPA has added several phthalates to the TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments. If a TSCA Work Plan assessment indicates a potential risk, the agency would determine if risk reduction actions, as appropriate, should be taken.




These final SNURs will require anyone who wishes to manufacture (including import) or process these chemical substances for a significant new use to notify EPA 90 days before starting or resuming new uses of these chemicals. This notice will provide EPA with the opportunity to evaluate the intended use of the chemicals and, if necessary, take action to prohibit or limit the activity.












Fact sheet on DnPP: