- Background

- Flare Minimization at Refineries (Regulation 12, Rule 12)

- Initial Flare Minimization Plans

- Flare Minimization Plan Annual Updates

- Flare Monitoring at Refineries (Regulation 12, Rule 11)

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***30-day public comment period***

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February 2, 2009 through March 3, 2009

The District will begin the 30-day public comment period for the first 'Flare Minimization Plan' (FMP) Annual Updates from the five Bay Area refineries beginning February 2, 2009. Any written comments received during this period will be considered by the District prior to approval or disapproval of the update.  The District will make this determination within 45 days of the close of the public comment period (see below for more information about FMP Annual Updates).

Click here to view the FMP Annual Update submissions by each Bay Area refinery and FMP Annual Update public comments.

Flare Regulation Background [top]

Flare systems are designed to provide for the safe disposal of hydrocarbons that are either automatically vented or manually drawn from process units at refineries.  Hydrocarbons must be controlled in a safe and effective manner in the event of an operational upset.  Flare systems gather vented gases and combust them to prevent release directly into the atmosphere. 

Flare emissions are difficult to characterize and can be dependent on a number of factors such as volumetric flow, velocity, vent gas composition, energy content, combustion efficiency, and ambient wind conditions.  'Vent gas' is defined as any gas directed to a flare, excluding assisting air or steam, pilot or continuous purge gas.  Vent gas flow rates to the flare are measured by in-pipe monitors prior to combustion.  These vent gas flow rates do not represent a direct measurement of emissions from flares. 

Two flare Regulations have been adopted by the District since 2003. The District Board of Directors adopted Regulation 12, Rule 11, Flare Monitoring at Petroleum Refineries, on June 4, 2003; Regulation 12, Rule 12, Flares at Petroleum Refineries, was adopted on July 20, 2005 and amended April 5, 2006.

Flare Minimization at Petroleum Refineries (Regulation 12, Rule 12) [top]

The purpose of this rule is to reduce emissions from flares at petroleum refineries by minimizing the frequency and magnitude of flaring.

Initial Flare Minimization Plans [top]

Flaring is prohibited unless it is consistent with an approved FMP.  FMPs shall include, in part: 1) a detailed description and technical information for each flare, 2) A description of the equipment or procedures implemented within the last five years or planned to reduce flaring, and 3) a description of prevention measures needed to perform certain refinery activities without flaring.

On July 16, 2007, following substantial public input, the District approved the initial FMPs for all five Bay Area refineries as required by Regulation 12, Rule 12.

Click here to view the approved initial FMPs and FMP public comments.

Flare Minimization Plan First Annual Update [top]

Regulation 12, Rule 12 requires each refinery to submit a FMP Annual Update no more than 12 months following approval of the initial FMP, and annually thereafter.  Each refinery’s FMP Annual Update must include any new prevention measures identified as a result of an investigation into the cause of flaring that has occurred since the initial FMP approval in July 2007.  The FMP Annual Updates are a key mechanism in the ground-breaking Flare Regulation to ensure continuous improvement towards minimizing flaring from the five Bay Area refineries.   The plan updates (with the exception of confidential information) are required to be made available to the public for 30 days.

Flare Monitoring at Petroleum Refineries (Regulation 12, Rule 11) [top]

The purpose of this rule is to require monitoring and recording of emission data for flares at petroleum refineries.  It requires operators of flares at petroleum refineries to monitor the gases directed to the flare and submit a monthly report containing: 1) the total daily and monthly volumetric flow of the vent, pilot and purge gas, 2) the hourly average molecular weight of the vent gas, 3) composition of vent gas from required sampling, 4) calculated daily and monthly methane, non-methane and sulfur dioxide emissions, and 5) archive images of the flare.

Click here to view Flare Monitoring Data submittals since 2004.