Transcript PCB

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PG&E’s
Management of
Oil-Filled Electrical Equipment
(OFEE) and Other Materials
Containing
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
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PCB’s in Oil Filled Electrical Equipment
•Mineral Oil : to insulate, suppress corona and arcing and,
as coolant
•PCB: as dielectric* fluid
*electric insulating by polarization as opposed to electrical
obstruction
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POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
Man-made organic chemicals, domestically manufactured
beginning in 1929
Used in many commercial applications


 Insulating properties
 Stability
 Non-flammable
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Common Types of PCBs
Mineral Oil Dielectric Fluids:
Mineral oil-filled electrical equipment may be contaminated from its
origin of manufacture through servicing and/or rebuilding activities
Must be assumed to contain 50-499 ppm while in use or in storage for
reuse if:
Manufactured prior to July 2, 1979
PCB level is unknown
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Common Types of PCBs
Tar/Compound Dielectrics & Potting Agents:
•Non-liquid type of substance contaminated with PCBs
(sometimes at very high levels) that may be found in
electrical equipment
– Bushings, old light ballasts, PTs, CTs are examples that may
be tar-filled
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Emerging PCB Issues:
 PCB in Schools (New York, Oregon, Massachusetts) suspected
at any location with pre-1979 light ballasts
 Leaking light ballasts
 Caulking material
 Glazing material
 Paint
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Potential Health Effects:
 Probable Human Carcinogen
 Causes cancer Animals
 Non-cancer effects to the immune, reproductive, endocrine
systems
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PCB Regulations
40 CFR Part 761 = The PCB Mega Rule
Subpart A §761.2 – PCB concentration assumptions for
use
Subpart B §761.2 – Prohibitions & Exceptions
§761.3 – Use Authorizations
§761.35 – Storage for reuse
Subpart C §761.4 – Marking requirements
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PCB Prohibitions and Exceptions
No persons may use any PCB, or PCB Item regardless of
concentration, in any manner other than in a totally
enclosed manner within the United States unless authorized
under §761.30
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PCB Regulatory Information
Oil-Filled
Electrical Equipment
Polychlorinated Biphynels
 Federal and State Definition
 Identification
Operating Procedures



Emergency Response
Level of Clean-up
Regulatory Reporting
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Federal and State Levels
PCB in mineral oil (or in any material) :
 Federal level TSCA: >50 ppm
 State level: 5-49 ppm
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Equipment that contains
PCB’s
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Approximate number of PCB
containing equipment
System Wide PGE has over 1,000,000 pieces
of OFEE
Of those 1,000,000 Pieces approximately 33%
are pre-1979
Of those Pieces approximately 3% contain
PCB’s > 5 ppm
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PGE Policy’s and
Emergency Response
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PG&E Policy and Procedures
Our internal policy are reviewed on a regular basis to
ensure that they meet the TSCA requirements.
Our policies contain
information on the following
topics:
PCB Procedures:
 Spill categories
 Degree of response / Emergency Guides
 Notification requirements
 Cleaning requirements / Safety Equipment
 Transportation and equipment re-use
 Documentation and certification requirements
 Personnel training
 24-hour hotline to reach Environmental Professional
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PCB Waste Management
Requirements
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Federal Requirements:
 TSCA – Class 1 TSCA permitted landfill – Waste
Management Kettleman Hills – Not Accepting
 RCRA
 Not regulated by RCRA
 California
 5ppm STLC, 50ppm TTLC
 Soluble Threshold Limit Concentration (STLC) and Total
Threshold Limit Concentration (TTLC) Regulatory Limits
 Class 2 only if contaminating material is less than 50 ppm
 Transformer Oil –
 if less than 50 ppm oil is recycled
 >50 oil is incinerated
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Summary
 PG&E started addressing the issue of
PCB in 1977
 PCB procedures are based on Federal
and State regulations and they are
reviewed or updated every year.
 Personnel training conducted every twoyears to all PG&E employees who might
be assigned to handle PCB.