Transcript PCB
1
PG&E’s
Management of
Oil-Filled Electrical Equipment
(OFEE) and Other Materials
Containing
Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB)
2
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
3
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
Man-made organic chemicals, domestically manufactured
beginning in 1929
Used in many commercial applications
Insulating properties
Stability
Non-flammable
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
Potential Health Effects:
Probable Human Carcinogen
Causes cancer Animals
Non-cancer effects to the immune, reproductive, endocrine
systems
8
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
9
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
10
PCB Regulatory Information
Oil-Filled
Electrical Equipment
Polychlorinated Biphynels
Federal and State Definition
Identification
Operating Procedures
Emergency Response
Level of Clean-up
Regulatory Reporting
11
Federal and State Levels
PCB in mineral oil (or in any material) :
Federal level TSCA: >50 ppm
State level: 5-49 ppm
12
Equipment that contains
PCB’s
13
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
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
PGE Policy’s and
Emergency Response
22
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
23
24
PCB Waste Management
Requirements
25
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
26
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.