15A NCAC 02D .0962. INDUSTRIAL CLEANING SOLVENTS

(a)  For the purpose of this Rule, the following definitions apply:

(1)           "Organic solvent" means a liquid hydrocarbon, such as methyl ethyl ketone or toluene, used to dissolve paints, varnishes, grease, oil, or other hydrocarbons.

(2)           "Solvent cleaning" means the process of removing the excess penetrant from the surface or a part by wiping, flushing, or spraying with a solvent for the penetrant.

(3)           "Wipe cleaning" means the method of cleaning that utilizes a material such as a rag wetted with a solvent, prior to a physical rubbing process to remove contaminants from surfaces.

(b)  This Rule applies, with exemptions defined in Paragraphs (c) and (d) of this Rule, to sources whose volatile organic compound emissions exceed the threshold established in Paragraph (b) of Rule .0902 of this Section from the following cleaning operations:

(1)           spray gun cleaning;

(2)           spray booth cleaning;

(3)           large manufactured components cleaning;

(4)           parts cleaning;

(5)           equipment cleaning;

(6)           line cleaning;

(7)           floor cleaning;

(8)           tank cleaning; and

(9)           small manufactured components cleaning.

(c)  Paragraph (e) of this Rule does not apply to any cleaning material used for cleaning operations covered by Rules .0918, .0919, .0921, .0923, .0924, .0930, .0934, .0935, .0936, .0961, .0963, .0964, .0965, .0966, .0967, and .0968 of this Section.

(d)  Cleaning operations of portable or stationary mixing vats, high dispersion mills, grinding mills, tote tanks and roller mills for manufacturing of coating, ink, or adhesive shall apply one or more of the following methods:

(1)           use industrial cleaning solvents that either contains less than 1.67 pounds VOC per gallon or has an initial boiling point greater than 120 degrees Celsius, and where the initial boiling point exceeds the maximum operating temperature by at least 100 degrees Celsius. The industrial cleaning solvents shall be collected and stored in closed containers;

(2)           implement the following work practices:

(A)          maintain the equipment being cleaned as leak free; and

(B)          drain volatile organic compounds containing cleaning materials from the cleaned equipment upon completion of cleaning; and

(C)          store or dispose of volatile organic compounds containing cleaning materials, including waste solvent, in a manner that will prevent evaporation into atmosphere; and

(D)          store all volatile organic containing cleaning materials in closed containers;

(3)           collect and vent the emissions from equipment cleaning to an add-on control system as set forth in Paragraph (g) of this Rule; or

(4)           use organic solvents other than listed in Paragraph (d)(1) of this Rule if no more than 60 gallons of fresh solvent shall be used per month. Organic solvent that is reused or recycled either onsite or offsite for further use in equipment cleaning or the manufacture of coating, ink, or adhesive shall not be included in this limit.

(e)  Any cleaning material of the nine cleaning operations listed in Paragraph (b) of this Rule shall have:

(1)           volatile organic compounds content that does not exceed 0.42 pounds per gallon; or

(2)           composite vapor limit of eight millimeters of mercury (mmHg) at 20 degrees Celsius.

(f)  EPA Method 24 (40 CFR Part 60, Appendix A-7) shall be used to determine the volatile organic compounds content of coating materials used in industrial cleaning solvents operations unless the facility maintains records to document the volatile organic compounds content of coating materials from the manufacturer.

(g)  Facilities which have chosen to use add-on control rather than to comply with the emission limits established in Paragraph (e) of this Rule shall install control equipment with 85 percent overall efficiency.

(h)  The owner or operator of any facility subject to this Rule shall comply with the Rules .0903 and .0958 of this Section.

 

History Note:        Authority G.S. 143-215.3(a)(1); 143-215.107(a)(5);

Eff. September 1, 2010;

Amended Eff. May 1, 2013.