-2 Standards: Pumps in light liquid service.
40 C.F.R. § 60.482-2
in effect(a)(1) Each pump in light liquid service shall be monitored monthly to detect leaks by the methods specified in § 60.485(b), except as provided in § 60.482-1(c) and (f) and paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of this section. A pump that begins operation in light liquid service after the initial startup date for the process unit must be monitored for the first time within 30 days after the end of its startup period, except for a pump that replaces a leaking pump and except as provided in § 60.482-1(c) and (f) and paragraphs (d), (e), and (f) of this section.
(2) Each pump in light liquid service shall be checked by visual inspection each calendar week for indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal, except as provided in § 60.482-1(f).
(b)(1) If an instrument reading of 10,000 ppm or greater is measured, a leak is detected.
(2) If there are indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal, the owner or operator shall follow the procedure specified in either paragraph (b)(2)(i) or (ii) of this section. This requirement does not apply to a pump that was monitored after a previous weekly inspection if the instrument reading for that monitoring event was less than 10,000 ppm and the pump was not repaired since that monitoring event.
(i) Monitor the pump within 5 days as specified in § 60.485(b). If an instrument reading of 10,000 ppm or greater is measured, a leak is detected. The leak shall be repaired using the procedures in paragraph (c) of this section.
(ii) Designate the visual indications of liquids dripping as a leak, and repair the leak within 15 days of detection by eliminating the visual indications of liquids dripping.
(c)(1) When a leak is detected, it shall be repaired as soon as practicable, but not later than 15 calendar days after it is detected, except as provided in § 60.482-9.
(2) A first attempt at repair shall be made no later than 5 calendar days after each leak is detected. First attempts at repair include, but are not limited to, the practices described in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) and (ii) of this section, where practicable.
(i) Tightening the packing gland nuts;
(ii) Ensuring that the seal flush is operating at design pressure and temperature.
(d) Each pump equipped with a dual mechanical seal system that includes a barrier fluid system is exempt from the requirements of paragraph (a) of this section, provided the requirements specified in paragraphs (d)(1) through (6) of this section are met.
(1) Each dual mechanical seal system is—
(i) Operated with the barrier fluid at a pressure that is at all times greater than the pump stuffing box pressure; or
(ii) Equipped with a barrier fluid degassing reservoir that is routed to a process or fuel gas system or connected by a closed vent system to a control device that complies with the requirements of § 60.482-10; or
(iii) Equipped with a system that purges the barrier fluid into a process stream with zero VOC emissions to the atmosphere.
(2) The barrier fluid system is in heavy liquid service or is not in VOC service.
(3) Each barrier fluid system is equipped with a sensor that will detect failure of the seal system, the barrier fluid system, or both.
(4)(i) Each pump is checked by visual inspection, each calendar week, for indications of liquids dripping from the pump seals.
(ii) If there are indications of liquids dripping from the pump seal at the time of the weekly inspection, the owner or operator shall follow the procedure specified in either paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(A) or (B) of this section.
(A) Monitor the pump within 5 days as specified in § 60.485(b) to determine if there is a leak of VOC in the barrier fluid. If an instrument reading of 10,000 ppm or greater is measured, a leak is detected.
(B) Designate the visual indications of liquids dripping as a leak.
(5)(i) Each sensor as described in paragraph (d)(3) of this section is checked daily or is equipped with an audible alarm.
(ii) The owner or operator determines, based on design considerations and operating experience, a criterion that indicates failure of the seal system, the barrier fluid system, or both.
(iii) If the sensor indicates failure of the seal system, the barrier fluid system, or both, based on the criterion established in paragraph (d)(5)(ii) of this section, a leak is detected.
(6)(i) When a leak is detected pursuant to paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(A) of this section, it shall be repaired as specified in paragraph (c) of this section.
(ii) A leak detected pursuant to paragraph (d)(5)(iii) of this section shall be repaired within 15 days of detection by eliminating the conditions that activated the sensor.
(iii) A designated leak pursuant to paragraph (d)(4)(ii)(B) of this section shall be repaired within 15 days of detection by eliminating visual indications of liquids dripping.
(e) Any pump that is designated, as described in § 60.486(e)(1) and (2), for no detectable emissions, as indicated by an instrument reading of less than 500 ppm above background, is exempt from the requirements of paragraphs (a), (c), and (d) of this section if the pump:
(1) Has no externally actuated shaft penetrating the pump housing,
(2) Is demonstrated to be operating with no detectable emissions as indicated by an instrument reading of less than 500 ppm above background as measured by the methods specified in § 60.485(c), and
(3) Is tested for compliance with paragraph (e)(2) of this section initially upon designation, annually, and at other times requested by the Administrator.
(f) If any pump is equipped with a closed vent system capable of capturing and transporting any leakage from the seal or seals to a process or to a fuel gas system or to a control device that complies with the requirements of § 60.482-10, it is exempt from paragraphs (a) through (e) of this section.
(g) Any pump that is designated, as described in § 60.486(f)(1), as an unsafe-to-monitor pump is exempt from the monitoring and inspection requirements of paragraphs (a) and (d)(4) through (6) of this section if:
(1) The owner or operator of the pump demonstrates that the pump is unsafe-to-monitor because monitoring personnel would be exposed to an immediate danger as a consequence of complying with paragraph (a) of this section; and
(2) The owner or operator of the pump has a written plan that requires monitoring of the pump as frequently as practicable during safe-to-monitor times but not more frequently than the periodic monitoring schedule otherwise applicable, and repair of the equipment according to the procedures in paragraph (c) of this section if a leak is detected.
(h) Any pump that is located within the boundary of an unmanned plant site is exempt from the weekly visual inspection requirement of paragraphs (a)(2) and (d)(4) of this section, and the daily requirements of paragraph (d)(5) of this section, provided that each pump is visually inspected as often as practicable and at least monthly.
Source: ecfr_bulkFetched: 7/26/2026
Source: eCFR APIURL: https://www.ecfr.gov/api/versioner/v1/full/2024-07-01/title-40.xml?part=60Fetched: 5/31/2026