Document b5R9zX5e3M4mp2dJ9Ep7v9nMg

Tenneco Chemicals A Tenneco Company P O Bo 849 Pasadena Texas 77501 (713)479-3411 October 19, 1981 (JWK-119-81) Mr. Bill Stewart Executive Director Texas Air Control Board 6330 Hwy 290 East _ Austin, Texas 78723 Dear Mr. Stewart: The following information is presented concerning the discharge of vinyl chloride monomer to the PVC plant flare system at Tenneco Chemicals' Pasadena, Texas complex resulting from the opening of a pressure relief valve under the circumstances described below. Inasmuch as most of the vinyl chloride monomer released from the process was destroyed by combustion in the flare, the incident may not be a release to the atmosphere within the scope of Section 61.65a of the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants - Vinyl Chloride. The emission occurred at 7:45 a.m. on October 15, 1981. The source of the vinyl chloride monomer was the leaking through to the PVC plant flare system of the pressure relief valve on the L-302A&B VCM charge filters. When this situation was discovered, the filters were taken out of service. The relief valve was removed for inspection and repairs. A piece of rupture disk was found to be lodged in the relief valve seat. The amount of VCM released to the flare system was estimated to be less than 100 pounds, based on the appearance and duration of the flaring. Please let me know if you have any questions on this information. Sincerely, JWK/cjm cc: Mr. Allison Peirce - HCPC Mr. J. E. Langford Mr. 0. J. Martin Mr. H. E. Fife Mr. S. E. Richter Mr. C. A. Hendricks Mr. T. T. Moore Dr. R. T. Gottesman Mr. J. P. Sandstedt TEN 1366