Benzene Fenceline Monitoring

With the promulgation of the Petroleum Refinery Sector Rule, refineries are living with new Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) requirements that require routine passive monitoring of benzene emissions from fugitive sources around the perimeter of their facilities and the reporting of their results to the public.

This enhanced compliance program has posed numerous challenges for many refiners starting with the design and implementation of the fenceline monitors (to meet the requirements of Method 325A), installation of adequate controls for known sources, the identification of unknown benzene emissions sources, the accounting/reduction of influences from known onsite exempt sources (e.g., sources subject to HON) or nearby off-site benzene emission sources using a Site Specific Monitoring Plan (SSMP), and the management public relations relative to reported results.

TRICORD’s fenceline monitoring experts are ready to help with your challenges.  Our team’s experience includes helping over 11 different refineries across the U.S. with conducting early fenceline monitoring studies and subsequently, with the final design and implementation of their fenceline monitoring programs.  Since then we have assisted these and numerous other facilities with:

  • Performing air dispersion modeling to help facilities understand their benzene emission profile
  • Identifying onsite and offsite benzene emission sources using real-time meteorological data and benzene emission monitoring devices (e.g., additional passive tubes, “open-path” monitoring, GCs, SGS Galson AIHR Sharks, etc.)
  • Conducting onsite field investigations for source identification
  • Preparing 9 site-specific monitoring plans (SSMPs), with currently 6 approved by the U.S. EPA
  • Electronic reporting of sampling results using U.S. EPA Fenceline Monitoring Report Spreadsheet upload to CEDRI
  • Conducting Root Cause Analysis and Corrective Action Plans
  • U.S. EPA Consent Decrees benzene fenceline monitoring requirements
  • Advising on the management of public relations

The key goal to a compliant benzene fenceline monitoring program is to understand the benzene emission profile of your facility and to identify local contributing sources inside and/or outside of the fenceline well in advance of experiencing compliance issues. Our GMAP group can help with source identification by doing a facility audit with our GMAP unit. Click Here to find out more about GMAP services. 

Check out our Services page for a more comprehensive list of service offerings or email one of our Benzene Fenceline Monitoring experts below.

Benzene Fenceline Monitoring Service Leaders

Gary Daves
BWON, Fenceline Monitoring, Air Permitting & Compliance
Joe Ibanez
Air Quality / National / Oil & Gas, Petroleum Refining & Petrochemicals, Chemicals, and Terminals

Call 1-888-900-0746 or email info@tricordconsulting.com with questions and let us help you get started today.