49 C.F.R. Subpart F—Operations
Title 49 - Transportation
Source: Amdt. 193–2, 45 FR 70405, Oct. 23, 1980, unless otherwise noted.
This subpart prescribes requirements for the operation of LNG facilities. Each operator shall follow one or more manuals of written procedures to provide safety in normal operation and in responding to an abnormal operation that would affect safety. The procedures must include provisions for: (a) Monitoring components or buildings according to the requirements of §193.2507. (b) Startup and shutdown, including for initial startup, performance testing to demonstrate that components will operate satisfactory in service. (c) Recognizing abnormal operating conditions. (d) Purging and inerting components according to the requirements of §193.2517. (e) In the case of vaporization, maintaining the vaporization rate, temperature and pressure so that the resultant gas is within limits established for the vaporizer and the downstream piping. (f) In the case of liquefaction, maintaining temperatures, pressures, pressure differentials and flow rates, as applicable, within their design limits for: (1) Boilers; (2) Turbines and other prime movers; (3) Pumps, compressors, and expanders; (4) Purification and regeneration equipment; and (5) Equipment within cold boxes. (g) Cooldown of components according to the requirements of §193.2505. [Amdt. 193–2, 45 FR 70405, Oct. 23, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 193–18, 69 FR 11337, Mar. 10, 2004] (a) The cooldown of each system of components that is subjected to cryogenic temperatures must be limited to a rate and distribution pattern that keeps thermal stresses within design limits during the cooldown period, paying particular attention to the performance of expansion and contraction devices. (b) After cooldown stabilization is reached, cryogenic piping systems must be checked for leaks in areas of flanges, valves, and seals. Each component in operation or building in which a hazard to persons or property could exist must be monitored to detect fire or any malfunction or flammable fluid that could cause a hazardous condition. Monitoring must be accomplished by watching or listening from an attended control center for warning alarms, such as gas, temperature, pressure, vacuum, and flow alarms, or by conducting an inspection or test at intervals specified in the operating procedures. [Amdt, 193–2, 45 FR 70405, Oct. 23, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 193–18, 69 FR 11337, Mar. 10, 2004] (a) Each operator shall determine the types and places of emergencies other than fires that may reasonably be expected to occur at an LNG plant due to operating malfunctions, structural collapse, personnel error, forces of nature, and activities adjacent to the plant. (b) To adequately handle each type of emergency identified under paragraph (a) of this section and each fire emergency, each operator must follow one or more manuals of written procedures. The procedures must provide for the following: (1) Responding to controllable emergencies, including notifying personnel and using equipment appropriate for handling the emergency. (2) Recognizing an uncontrollable emergency and taking action to minimize harm to the public and personnel, including prompt notification of appropriate local officials of the emergency and possible need for evacuation of the public in the vicinity of the LNG plant. (3) Coordinating with appropriate local officials in preparation of an emergency evacuation plan, which sets forth the steps required to protect the public in the event of an emergency, including catastrophic failure of an LNG storage tank. (4) Cooperating with appropriate local officials in evacuations and emergencies requiring mutual assistance and keeping these officials advised of: (i) The LNG plant fire control equipment, its location, and quantity of units located throughout the plant; (ii) Potential hazards at the plant, including fires; (iii) Communication and emergency control capabilities at the LNG plant; and (iv) The status of each emergency. [Amdt. 193–2, 45 FR 70405, Oct. 23, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 193–18, 69 FR 11337, Mar. 10, 2004] (a) Each operator shall provide any special protective clothing and equipment necessary for the safety of personnel while they are performing emergency response duties. (b) All personnel who are normally on duty at a fixed location, such as a building or yard, where they could be harmed by thermal radiation from a burning pool of impounded liquid, must be provided a means of protection at that location from the harmful effects of thermal radiation or a means of escape. (c) Each LNG plant must be equipped with suitable first-aid material, the location of which is clearly marked and readily available to personnel. (a) Each transfer of LNG or other hazardous fluid must be conducted in accordance with one or more manuals of written procedures to provide for safe transfers. (b) The transfer procedures must include provisions for personnel to: (1) Before transfer, verify that the transfer system is ready for use, with connections and controls in proper positions, including if the system could contain a combustible mixture, verifying that it has been adequately purged in accordance with a procedure which meets the requirements of AGA “Purging Principles and Practice.” (2) Before transfer, verify that each receiving container or tank vehicle does not contain any substance that would be incompatible with the incoming fluid and that there is sufficient capacity available to receive the amount of fluid to be transferred; (3) Before transfer, verify the maximum filling volume of each receiving container or tank vehicle to ensure that expansion of the incoming fluid due to warming will not result in overfilling or overpressure; (4) When making bulk transfer of LNG into a partially filled (excluding cooldown heel) container, determine any differences in temperature or specific gravity between the LNG being transferred and the LNG already in the container and, if necessary, provide a means to prevent rollover due to stratification. (5) Verify that the transfer operations are proceeding within design conditions and that overpressure or overfilling does not occur by monitoring applicable flow rates, liquid levels, and vapor returns. (6) Manually terminate the flow before overfilling or overpressure occurs; and (7) Deactivate cargo transfer systems in a safe manner by depressurizing, venting, and disconnecting lines and conducting any other appropriate operations. (c) In addition to the requirements of paragraph (b) of this section, the procedures for cargo transfer must be located at the transfer area and include provisions for personnel to: (1) Be in constant attendance during all cargo transfer operations; (2) Prohibit the backing of tank trucks in the transfer area, except when a person is positioned at the rear of the truck giving instructions to the driver; (3) Before transfer, verify that: (i) Each tank car or tank truck complies with applicable regulations governing its use; (ii) All transfer hoses have been visually inspected for damage and defects; (iii) Each tank truck is properly immobilized with chock wheels, and electrically grounded; and (iv) Each tank truck engine is shut off unless it is required for transfer operations; (4) Prevent a tank truck engine that is off during transfer operations from being restarted until the transfer lines have been disconnected and any released vapors have dissipated; (5) Prevent loading LNG into a tank car or tank truck that is not in exclusive LNG service or that does not contain a positive pressure if it is in exclusive LNG service, until after the oxygen content in the tank is tested and if it exceeds 2 percent by volume, purged in accordance with a procedure that meets the requirements of AGA “Purging Principles and Practice;” (6) Verify that all transfer lines have been disconnected and equipment cleared before the tank car or tank truck is moved from the transfer position; and (7) Verify that transfers into a pipeline system will not exceed the pressure or temperature limits of the system. (a) Each operator shall investigate the cause of each explosion, fire, or LNG spill or leak which results in: (1) Death or injury requiring hospitalization; or (2) Property damage exceeding $10,000. (b) As a result of the investigation, appropriate action must be taken to minimize recurrence of the incident. (c) If the Administrator or relevant state agency under the pipeline safety laws (49 U.S.C. 60101 et seq.) investigates an incident, the operator involved shall make available all relevant information and provide reasonable assistance in conducting the investigation. Unless necessary to restore or maintain service, or for safety, no component involved in the incident may be moved from its location or otherwise altered until the investigation is complete or the investigating agency otherwise provides. Where components must be moved for operational or safety reasons, they must not be removed from the plant site and must be maintained intact to the extent practicable until the investigation is complete or the investigating agency otherwise provides. [Amdt. 193–2, 45 FR 70405, Oct. 23, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 193–10, 61 FR 18517, Apr. 26, 1996] When necessary for safety, components that could accumulate significant amounts of combustible mixtures must be purged in accordance with a procedure which meets the provisions of the AGA “Purging Principles and Practice” after being taken out of service and before being returned to service. (a) Each LNG plant must have a primary communication system that provides for verbal communications between all operating personnel at their work stations in the LNG plant. (b) Each LNG plant in excess of 70,000 gallons (265,000 liters) storage capacity must have an emergency communication system that provides for verbal communications between all persons and locations necessary for the orderly shutdown of operating equipment and the operation of safety equipment in time of emergency. The emergency communication system must be independent of and physically separated from the primary communication system and the security communication system under §193.2909. (c) Each communication system required by this part must have an auxiliary source of power, except sound-powered equipment. [45 FR 9203, Feb. 11, 1980, as amended by Amdt. 193–16, 63 FR 37505, July 13, 1998] Each operator shall maintain a record of results of each inspection, test and investigation required by this subpart. For each LNG facility that is designed and constructed after March 31, 2000 the operator shall also maintain related inspection, testing, and investigation records that NFPA 59A (incorporated by reference, see §193.2013) requires. Such records, whether required by this part or NFPA 59A, must be kept for a period of not less than five years. [Amdt. 193–17, 65 FR 10960, Mar. 1, 2000, as amended by Amdt. 193–18, 69 FR 11337, Mar. 10, 2004]
Title 49: Transportation
PART 193—LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITIES: FEDERAL SAFETY STANDARDS
Subpart F—Operations
§ 193.2501 Scope.
§ 193.2503 Operating procedures.
§ 193.2505 Cooldown.
§ 193.2507 Monitoring operations.
§ 193.2509 Emergency procedures.
§ 193.2511 Personnel safety.
§ 193.2513 Transfer procedures.
§ 193.2515 Investigations of failures.
§ 193.2517 Purging.
§ 193.2519 Communication systems.
§ 193.2521 Operating records.
