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Dear PEI Member:
The federal EPA has been in the process of revising its underground storage
tank regulations for nearly a year (see June 2, 2008 TL). EPA concluded its
initial outreach to stakeholders (including PEI) last fall and has now
compiled a list of suggested changes to the regulations received from all
groups. The
complete list
of over 250 separate changes covers rule
applicability, closure, corrective action, definitions, delivery
prohibition, operator training, secondary containment, financial
responsibility, release detection, and release prevention.
It is important to note that EPA has neither decided
on nor endorsed any of the ideas on this list. Over the next few months, EPA
will narrow the list to include only changes "where the lack of regulations
or lack of regulatory clarity may be causing an environmental harm."
PEI will meet March 3 with other stakeholders in the
process to help EPA narrow the list. EPA anticipates the list will begin to
be cut down after the first week in March.
We are interested in your feedback on these
suggested regulatory changes. Email Bob Renkes (rrenkes@pei.org)
with your top priority items to change and provide any supporting
information that will help EPA demonstrate the need for that change. We will
keep you posted as the list is updated.
UL ISSUES STATEMENT ON E15
Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Northbrook, Illinois, issued a
statement
last week announcing that it "supports Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs)
who decide to permit legacy system dispensers, listed to UL 87 and currently
installed in the market, to be used with fuel blends containing a maximum
ethanol content of 15 percent. UL stresses that existing fuel dispensers
certified under UL 87 were for intended use with ethanol blends up to E10,
which is the current legal limit for non-flex fuel vehicles in the United
States under the federal Clean Air Act.
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EPA Considers Changes to UST Regs
UL Statement on E15
Study on Corn Ethanol and Public Health
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However, data the company has gathered as part of the organization's
ongoing research to investigate the impact of using higher ethanol blends in
fuel dispensing systems supports that existing dispensers can be used with
ethanol blends up to 15 percent."
UL advises authorities having jurisdiction to consult with the
dispenser manufacturer to "confirm that the dispenser is compatible with the
fuel to be dispensed." UL also stressed "that dispensers pumping this higher
percentage of ethanol should be subject to regular inspection and
preventive maintenance as specified by the dispenser manufacturer for the
blend of fuel being dispensed because the potential for degradation of the
metals and materials (e.g., plastics, elastomers and composites) used in a
dispensing system increases as the percentage of ethanol increases."
UL's announcement is the first step of several that need to occur if the
industry is to comply with the volume mandates of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). It is important to note that UL simply "supported AHJs" who
decide to permit dispensers listed under UL 87 to dispense ethanol blends up
to 15 percent. As far as I can tell, UL did not certify UL 87 dispensers for
use with blends above 10 percent. Here are some reasons why this
announcement, by itself, will not solve any longstanding ethanol issues:
- Some state and local fire marshals will require UL-listed or
–certified equipment for dispensing blends over 10 percent. I don't think
we have that here.
- Insurance companies covering petroleum marketers may require UL-listed
or UL-certified equipment for ethanol blends over 10 percent as well.
- UL's announcement applies only to dispensers. It says nothing about
equipment from the impact valve and below.
- EPA has not approved any fuel above E10 for conventional-fuel
vehicles. The automakers still claim that ethanol blends above E10 will
damage engines and void warranties.
STUDY SAYS CORN ETHANOL MORE HARMFUL TO HEALTH THAN GASOLINE
Ethanol derived from corn is more harmful to public health than either
cellulosic ethanol or traditional gasoline, according to a new study
published this month in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences." The study, conducted by researchers at the University of
Minnesota, Stanford University, Argonne National Laboratory, and
Cambridge-based Industrial Economics, concluded that corn ethanol has higher
health costs resulting from emissions of fine particulate matter than
gasoline. Cellulosic ethanol has the lowest cost of the three types of fuel,
with prairie grasses imposing the very lowest burden on human health. A
number of recent studies have questioned the perceived environmental
benefits of corn ethanol. This study adds a new dimension to the controversy
by focusing on how corn-based ethanol can affect public health. With
corn-based ethanol expected to rise in the coming years to meet the 2007
Energy Independence and Security Act, this new information will add fuel (no
pun intended) to the debate.
HEAVY-DUTY DIESEL EMISSIONS STANDARDS MOVE FORWARD
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to implement its
heavy-duty diesel emissions standards on schedule, an agency spokesman said
February 11. The agency's statement was issued in response to a request by
Navistar International to delay the implementation of EPA's diesel emissions
standards, set to take effect in January 2010. Most truck manufacturers are
complying using selective catalytic reduction (SCR), which uses a urea
catalyst to convert nitrogen oxide emissions. COMMENTS ON RP700 DRAFT
DUE MARCH 18
If you wish to submit a public comment on PEI's Recommended Practices
for the Design and Maintenance of Fluid-Distribution Systems at Vehicle
Maintenance Facilities (PEI/RP700-09), the comment closing date
is March 18, 2009. Anyone interested in viewing and commenting on the draft
document can download a copy and submit comments online from PEI's web site
at www.pei.org/RP700.
PEI MANUFACTURER ANNOUNCEMENTS
HBD/Thermoid, Inc., Bellefontaine, Ohio, has named David A.
Schempp director of sales and marketing for the company. Schempp has nearly
35 years of experience in the rubber industry.
National-Spencer, Inc., Wichita, Kansas, has named Smith-Turnbow
Associates, with offices in Arlington and Houston, Texas, as its 2008
Representative of the Year.
Husky Corporation, Pacific, Missouri, has added Sunbelt Industries
and The Boston Group West to its sales team. Mike Piatchek will cover
Colorado, Utah, southern Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for Sunbelt while Jay
Boston will be responsible for southern California and southern Nevada for
The Boston Group West. Husky has also expanded the territory covered by
Rice-Christ to include Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
William Robbins Associates, Inc., Lafayette, California, will
represent Riverside Steel, Inc. in northern California and northern
Nevada. Sunbelt Industries, Phoenix, Arizona, will represent
Riverside in Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, southern Nevada,
Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
Franklin Fueling Systems, Madison, Wisconsin, announced that Tony
Almond has joined the organization as territory manager for Florida and
southern Alabama. He can be reached at
almond@franklinfueling.com.
Total Control Systems, Fort Wayne, Indiana, has hired Rob Born and
Mike Kies. Born will work as an inside sales application and support manager
while Kies will be the regional sales manager for the company's East Coast
OEM and distribution network. PETROLEUM MARKETING BRIEFS
7-Eleven, Dallas, Texas, will "add 150 to 200 new stores in North
America over the next three to four years, with even greater expansion
envisioned in the long term. Some 20 stores are to be opened in the New York
area alone this year."--CSP Daily News, February 16, 2009.
Bulk Petroleum Corp., Mequon, Wisconsin, has filed for Chapter
11 bankruptcy protection. Bulk Petroleum supplies gasoline to more than 200
gas stations. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Mongolia import firm. MPI Consultants LLC, POB 13/263, Prime Minister
Amar str-4, Internom Building Floor 4, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, has applied
for affiliate division membership. Dolgorsuren Gansukh is general director
for the firm, which was established in 2000. The company imports, installs
and maintains equipment, and provides engineering services. Sponsored for
PEI membership by Lucy Sackett, Gilbarco, Greensboro, NC.
California installation and construction company. AVA Environmental
Inc., 829 West Compton Boulevard, Compton, California 90220, has applied for
membership in PEI's service and construction division. Antonio
Verduzco is president of the firm, which was established in 2006. The
company installs tanks and dispensers, and builds complete fueling
facilities. Sponsored for PEI membership by Trinidad Martinez, TLMPetro,
Downey, CA.
Florida installation and service company. Petro Flow, Inc., P. O. Box
8010, Southport, Florida 34209, has applied for service and construction
division membership. Dwain Sapp is the primary contact for the company,
which was established in 2006. The company installs and services petroleum
equipment at convenience stores, bulk plants and industrial facilities.
Sponsored for PEI membership by Pete Turner, APSPtrEqp, Anniston, AL.
Oklahoma installation and service company. TriStar Petroleum
Equipment Co., 416 Glade Avenue, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73127, has applied
for service and construction division membership. Tom Swenson is president
of the firm, which was established in 2006. The company installs petroleum
marketing equipment, including tanks and piping. Sponsored for PEI
membership by John Farrell, UntdPumpTX, Arlington, TX.
Texas service and installation firm. Lynd Fueling Systems, Inc., P.
O. Box 861357, Plano, Texas 75086, has applied for service and construction
division membership in PEI. Cameron Korneychuk is director of sales for the
company, which was established in 1999. The company installs and services
petroleum equipment. Sponsored for PEI membership by Al Eichorn, PMPCorp,
Avon, CT, and Terry Christ, RiceChrist, Grand Prairie, TX.
Virginia installation and service company. C-First, Inc., P. O. Box
19157, Roanoke, Virginia 24019, has applied for service and construction
division membership in PEI. Joshua J. Sparks is office manager for the firm,
which was established in 2001. C-First installs, services and upgrades
petroleum equipment. Sponsored for PEI membership by Forrest W. Allen,
BairdEqp, Richmond, VA. MEMBERSHIP TRANSFERS APPROVED
- SHM Industries, Obour City, Cairo, Egypt (from the distributor
to manufacturer division of PEI)
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