Emergency Vent Systems Can Help Chemical Plants and Processors Safeguard Against Accidental Gas Releases and Avoid Severe Penalties

An Emergency Vent System (EVS) may be the most cost-effective way for chemical plants and other processors with gas storage facilities to comply with the Clean Air Act Tier 3, 40 CRF, which relates to emergency releases and terrorism and includes compliance deadlines for 2010. The EVS can also help avoid civil and criminal penalties that involve fines and imprisonment.

"The regulation requires many chemical plants to have dedicated control devices," said Carolyn Byszewski, manager of The Clean Air Group LLC, an affiliate of Croll Reynolds Company, Inc., an engineering firm specializing in the research, design, and manufacture of air pollution control equipment. "An EVS is a 100-percent reliable emergency system capable of handling non-process, intermittent and unanticipated discharges such as from a malfunction or a terrorist event. It acts as an overflow containment system for gases that regulations and safety considerations prohibit being directly discharged into the atmosphere."

An EVS is typically designed as a stand-alone system that can cost up to $300,000. Unlawful discharges, on the other hand, can lead to criminal and civil penalties under federal and state regulations. Fines can range from $25,000 per day per incident to $1 million, plus imprisonment for criminal negligence.

EVS applications range from the containment of large, pressurized storage tanks for raw chemicals, such as fluorine, Cl2, or silanes, to scrubbing gases such as chlorine prior to venting for routine maintenance on vessels and piping. In either case, leaks can discharge dangerous chemicals and release excessive heat into the environment.

"An EVS adds intangible benefits to the chemical plant through building community relations," Byszewski said. "Companies can point to the EVS as a step in executing Responsible Care Agreements with local communities, towns, cities and counties. These agreements typically cover potential hazards and the ways in which manufacturers and governments will handle them."