19.15.11.9

Hydrogen Sulfide Contingency Plan:

1. A. When required. If a well, facility or operation involves a potentially hazardous volume of hydrogen sulfide, the person shall develop a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan that the person will use to alert and protect the public in accordance with the Subsections B through I of 19.15.11.9 NMAC.

2. B. Plan contents.

   (1) API guidelines. The person shall develop the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan with due consideration of paragraph 7.6 of the guidelines in the API publication Recommended Practices for Oil and Gas Producing and Gas Processing Plant Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide, RP-55, most recent edition, or with due consideration to another division-approved standard.

   (2) Required contents. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall contain information on the following subjects, as appropriate to the well, facility or operation to which it applies.

   (a) Emergency procedures. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall contain information on emergency procedures the person will follow in the event of a release and shall include, at a minimum, information concerning the responsibilities and duties of personnel during the emergency, an immediate action plan as described in the API document referenced in Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 19.15.11.9 NMAC, and telephone numbers of emergency responders, public agencies, local government and other appropriate public authorities. The plan shall also include the locations of potentially affected public areas and public roads and shall describe proposed evacuation routes, locations of road blocks and procedures for notifying the public, either through direct telephone notification using telephone number lists or by means of mass notification and reaction plans. The plan shall include information on the availability and location of necessary safety equipment and supplies.

   (b) Characteristics of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall include a discussion of the characteristics of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide.

   (c) Maps and drawings. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall include maps and drawings that depict the area of exposure and public areas and public roads within the area of exposure.

   (d) Training and drills. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall provide for training and drills, including training in the responsibilities and duties of essential personnel and periodic on-site or classroom drills or exercises that simulate a release, and shall describe how the person will document the training, drills and attendance. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall also provide for training of residents as appropriate on the proper protective measures to be taken in the event of a release, and shall provide for briefing of public officials on issues such as evacuation or shelter-in-place plans.

   (e) Coordination with state emergency plans. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall describe how the person will coordinate emergency response actions under the plan with the division and the New Mexico state police consistent with the New Mexico hazardous materials emergency response plan.

   (f) Activation levels. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall include the activation level and a description of events that could lead to a release of hydrogen sulfide sufficient to create a concentration in excess of the activation level.

3. C. Plan activation. The person shall activate the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan when a release creates a hydrogen sulfide concentration greater than the activation level set forth in the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan. At a minimum, the person shall activate the plan whenever a release may create a hydrogen sulfide concentration of more than 100 ppm in a public area, 500 ppm at a public road or 100 ppm 3000 feet from the site of release.

4. D. Submission.

   (1) Where submitted. The person shall submit the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan to the division.

   (2) When submitted. The person shall submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan for a new well, facility or operation before operations commence. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan for a drilling, completion, workover or well servicing operation shall be on file with the division before operations commence and may be submitted separately or along with the APD or may be on file from a previous submission. A person shall submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan within 180 days after the person becomes aware or should have become aware that a public area or public road is established that creates a potentially hazardous volume where none previously existed.

   (3) Electronic submission. A filer who operates more than 100 wells or who operates an oil pump station, compressor station, refinery or gas plant shall submit each hydrogen sulfide contingency plan in electronic format. The file may submit the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan through electronic mail, through an Internet filing or by delivering electronic media to the division, so long as the electronic submission is compatible with the division’s systems.

5. E. Failure to submit plan. A person’s failure to submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan when required may result in denial of an application for permit to drill, cancellation of an allowable for the subject well or other enforcement action appropriate to the well, facility or operation.
6. F. Review, amendment. The person shall review the hydrogen sulfide contingency plan any time a subject addressed in the plan materially changes and make appropriate amendments. If the division determines that a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan is inadequate to protect public safety, the division may require the person to add provisions to the plan or amend the plan as necessary to protect public safety.
7. G. Retention and inspection. The hydrogen sulfide contingency plan shall be reasonably accessible in the event of a release, maintained on file at all times and available for division inspection.
8. H. Annual inventory of contingency plans. On an annual basis, each person required to prepare one or more hydrogen sulfide contingency plans pursuant to 19.15.11 NMAC shall file with the appropriate local emergency planning committee and the state emergency response commission an inventory of the wells, facilities and operations for which plans are on file with the division and the name, address and telephone number of a point of contact.
9. I. Plans required by other jurisdictions. The person may submit a hydrogen sulfide contingency plan the BLM or other jurisdiction require that meets the requirements of 19.15.11.9 NMAC to the division in satisfaction of 19.15.11.9 NMAC.

[19.15.11.9 NMAC - Rp, 19.15.3.118 NMAC, 12/1/08]