(1) Reasons for Proposal

The Amendment strengthens the management of volatile organic compounds produced by particulate matter and ozone by prescribing that any alteration to the running total number of leaking facilities due to omission or other equivalent circumstances shall be reported within 30 days of the alteration, thereby streamlining matters subject to alteration reports and the alteration period. It strengthens facility management standards to reduce fugitive emissions by prescribing such provisions as additional control measures to ensure that exhaust fume limits are not exceeded in the event of an abnormal operation of flare stacks. It also strengthens volatile organic compound limits for paints, improves standards concerning regular inspections against facility management standards, and otherwise addresses and improves upon a number of weaknesses that have emerged from the operation of the current system.

(2) Major Provisions

A. Modify matters subject to alteration reports for fugitive emission facilities (Article 51-2, paragraph 3)

Prescribe that where the running total number of leaking facilities has been altered due to omission or other equivalent circumstances, the deadline for reporting such alteration shall be 30 days after the alteration, such as partial modification of the piping, instead of before the submission of the initial inspection report

B. Modify facility management standards to reduce fugitive emissions (attached Table 10-2)

Strengthen reporting requirements for flare stack exhaust fumes, newly insert leak inspection criteria for storage facilities, strengthen leak concentration limits for leaking facilities, and otherwise strengthen facility management standards to promote optimum handling of fugitive emissions; and improve facility management standards by clarifying unclear provisions

C. Modify requirements concerning regular inspections against facility management standards (attached Table 10-3)

Specify that facilities subject to leak inspections shall include facilities that handle high concentrations, etc; improve weaknesses in the operation of regular inspections by prescribing that where a direct combustion facility does not have a measuring port, only the stack concentration shall be measured without determining the reduction efficiency; and amend inspection items to reflect the provisions of the facility management standards that have been strengthened or reinforced

D. Strengthen volatile organic compound limits for paints (attached Table 16-2)

Strengthen volatile organic compound limits for paints currently subject to regulations; and prescribe volatile organic compound limits for unregulated paints