Controlling Fugitive VOC Emissions
Rules in Title 30, Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 115 for controlling fugitive emissions of volatile organic compounds. These rules are part of the State Implementation Plan strategy to meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone.
Rule Citations and Areas Affected
30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter D, Division 2
- Corpus Christi area (Rules apply in Nueces County)
- Northeast Texas area (Rules apply in Gregg County)
- Victoria area (Victoria County)
30 TAC Chapter 115, Subchapter D, Division 3
- Beaumont-Port Arthur area (Hardin, Jefferson, and Orange Counties)
- Dallas-Fort Worth area (Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant, and Wise Counties)
- El Paso area (El Paso County)
- Houston-Galveston-Brazoria area (Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller Counties)
Description of Rules
- Fugitive emissions can escape from seals around valves and moving rods, joints, and process drains. The emissions are described as fugitive because they are not captured by a vent.
- Finding and fixing fugitive emissions is also known as leak detection and repair, or LDAR.
- Apply to fugitive emissions from petroleum refineries in all the affected counties.
- Apply to fugitive emissions from petrochemical processes in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, and Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas.
- Include inspection, monitoring, and repair requirements using hydrocarbon analyzers or optical imaging devices.
- Include recordkeeping requirements for affected sources.
Rule History
The Chapter 115 rule history for fugitive emissions discusses revisions to the rules, including their proposal and adoption, the associated State Implementation Plan revision, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approval.
Compliance Resources
- The Decision Support System can help you determine if you are subject to the Chapter 115 fugitive emission rules for:
- petroleum refineries in Gregg, Nueces, or Victoria County
- petroleum refining and petrochemical processes in the Beaumont-Port Arthur, Dallas-Fort Worth, El Paso, or Houston-Galveston-Brazoria areas
- TexasEnviroHelp: Small Business and Local Government Assistance
- American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standards
- EPA Test Methods
- EPA Test Method 21: Volatile Organic Compund Leaks
Related Information
- The Chapter 115 Stakeholder Group helps the agency with air quality issues
- The Leak Detection and Repair Alternative Work Practice Stakeholder Group helps the agency with air quality issues related to the EPA’s leak detection and repair alternative work practice and other related technologies.
- State Implementation Plan: Air Pollution from Ozone
- Air Permits and Registrations
- Tax Relief for Pollution Control Property
- Point Source Emissions Inventory
- The fugitive monitoring rules are based on the EPA's Control of VOC Leaks from Petroleum Refinery Equipment (EPA-450/2-78-036)
- The fugitive monitoring rules in Division 3 are also based on the EPA’s Control of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Natural Gas/Gasoline Processing Plants (EPA-450/3-83-007)
Contact Information
- Contact the Stationary Source Programs Team for additional information about stationary source rules.
- Sign up to receive e-mail updates on SIP-related information, including information on stationary source rules. Select SIP Hot Topics under the Air Quality heading.