November 19, 2009 | Vol. 59, No. 24

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Dear PEI Member:

The fourth edition of PEI's Recommended Practices for Installation and Testing of Vapor-Recovery Systems at Vehicle-Fueling Sites (PEI/RP300-09) is now available from PEI. In addition to being completely revised and reorganized, the 54-page manual now includes a chapter on decommissioning Stage II vapor-recovery piping. The recommended practices also reference the most recent revisions by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to its vapor recovery testing procedures.

The 2009 edition of PEI/RP300 contains 28 illustrations and various photographs on all phases of proper vapor-recovery equipment installation and testing and a section related to definitions. Chapters covering Stage I and Stage II vapor- recovery systems, Stage II vapor-recovery system components, underground piping and fittings, testing (pressure decay, dynamic backpressure, and air-to-liquid volume ratio), electrical installation, testing and inspection, and documentation and training are included. There are appendices with pressure decay test tables and sample forms for recording pressure decay data, dynamic backpressure test data, and A/L test data when using an air volume meter. A decommissioning checklist and bibliography are also included.

The document focuses only on vapor-recovery systems located at vehicle-fueling facilities. This publication is produced by PEI as an industry service and supersedes the previous (2004) edition of PEI/RP300. The recommended practices are the consensus recommendations of the PEI Vapor-Recovery Committee. All comments solicited in 2009 and submitted by interested parties were considered by the committee.

The committee responsible for revising and rewriting PEI's Recommended Practices for Installation and Testing of Vapor-Recovery Systems at Vehicle-Fueling Sites includes ten representatives from petroleum marketing companies and service and installation contractor organizations. B. J. Benton, United Pump and Controls, Inc., Suwanee, Georgia, is chairman. Committee members include Victor Ayala, D & H Pump Service, Inc., El Paso, Texas; Scott Boorse, Wawa Inc., Wawa, Pennsylvania; John Bracknell, CROMPCO, LLC, Duluth, Georgia; Jason S. Carr, Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., Portland, Maine; Pete Delderfield, Delta Petroleum & Industrial Inc., West Palm Beach, Florida; Larry R. Gregory, ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing Co., Fairfax, Virginia; Stephen A. Purpora, Protanic, Inc., Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Dennis Rethmeier, Western Pump, Inc., San Diego, California; and Jeffrey Underland, Petroleum Services, Inc., Baltimore, Maryland. Marcel Moreau, Marcel Moreau Associates, Portland, Maine, served as consultant to the committee.

Single-copy price for the RP300-09 is $40 for members ($95 for nonmembers), plus shipping and handling. Order online at www.pei.org/rp300.

PEI Updates Vapor Recovery RP

Amendments to SPCC Rule

PEI Young Executives Winter Conference

Revised RP300

now includes Stage II decommissioning

PEI and Industry News »

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AMENDMENTS TO SPCC RULE FINALIZED
On December 5, 2008, EPA amended the Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasures (SPCC) rule to provide "increased clarity with respect to specific regulatory requirements, to tailor requirements to specific industry sectors, and to streamline certain rule requirements." The Agency subsequently delayed the effective date of these amendments to January 14, 2010, to give EPA time to make sure the amendments "properly reflect consideration of all relevant facts." Now EPA has issued a final rule that takes "no action" or provides "minor technical corrections" to the majority of the December 5, 2008, amendments. There are three provisions in the December 2008 amendments, however, that EPA decided to remove. One of those three provisions affects PEI members: EPA has removed the specific exclusion of oil production facilities and farms from the loading/unloading rack requirements of Section 112.7(h).

This rulemaking marks the completion of the SPCC action proposed as far back as October 15, 2007. Because of the changes (albeit very few) brought about by this rulemaking and the "uncertainty" surrounding these and other amendments, EPA believes that facilities may need additional time to comply with the SPCC amendments and served notice that it will propose to extend the SPCC compliance deadline beyond November 10, 2010. The announcement did not indicate how long the extension might be.

YOUNG EXECUTIVES CONFERENCE FEBRUARY 4-6 in PUERTO RICO
The registration deadline for the 2010 PEI Young Executives Winter Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, is quickly approaching. Save money by registering before December 15 for the conference scheduled February 4-6 at the beachside San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. Please note that the deadline for housing is December 1. PEI cannot guarantee any reservations or rates after that date.

This year's Winter Conference will be led by Dr. Alan Zimmerman, who has conducted sessions at several PEI conventions and keynoted a recent PEI Service and Construction Manager's Conference. Dr. Zimmerman will be presenting "Peak Performance: How to Lead Yourself and Others to Achieve More."

The registration fee for members of the PEI Young Executives is $395 through December 15, 2009. The fee includes the conference, all meals and receptions. The non-member cost is $495 and includes one-year membership to YE. Spouses/guests are also invited to attend the social functions for $125, which covers meals and receptions. Registration and program information can be found at www.pei.org/ye. Questions regarding the Winter Conference registration should be directed to Sondra Sutton at (918) 494-9696 or ssutton@pei.org.

Rooms at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino are $210/night for a pool or ocean view, excluding taxes and 12 percent resort fee. Room reservations can be made by calling (888) 817-2033. Remember, make your room reservation by December 1.

WETLINES BACK IN THE NEWS
On July 1, 2009, a tractor was pulling a 1989 Fruehauf MC-306 cargo tank truck in New Jersey when it was hit by a 2002 Mitsubishi automobile. The automobile collided with the external loading/unloading lines that contained product (wetlines). Loading line 4 was ruptured and about 13 gallons of gasoline was released as the automobile became wedged beneath the cargo tank truck and was dragged about 500 feet. A post-crash fire consumed the automobile, killing the driver.

An investigation showed the impact of the collision that ruptured loading line 4 also sheared the rear vapor-recovery line and valve from the loading rack. The self-closing stop valve on the fourth compartment of the cargo tank functioned properly, and the 2,999 gallons of fuel contained in the compartment prior to the accident were safely offloaded after the fire was extinguished. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded in its report that the release of gasoline and the subsequent fire likely would not have occurred if the cargo tank's loading lines had been empty. The report is available on our website.

The NTSB is very concerned about this safety issue. This accident, according to the NTSB, "illustrates once again why the NTSB strongly believes that PHMSA (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration) should prohibit the unsafe practice of transporting flammable materials in the external loading lines of cargo tanks." In a letter dated October 16, 2009, PHMSA stated that it was completing an in-depth, comprehensive review of incident reports and other safety data to determine whether rulemaking action regarding wetlines is necessary.

PEI MEMBER NEWS
Gilbarco Inc., Greensboro, North Carolina, has bought the petroleum dispensing business of Larsen & Toubro Ltd., India's largest engineering firm by sales. The business will now become part of Gilbarco Veeder-Root India Pvt. Ltd.
JD2 Environmental, Inc. has moved across town to 800 East Washington Street, West Chester, PA 19380. The phone (610-430-8151) and fax (610-430-8016) numbers remain the same.
S. Bravo Systems, Inc., Commerce, California, has appointed Frontier Sales Inc., headquartered in Sandy, Utah, to represent the company in Oregon, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii.

THE MOVE TO ELECTRIFICATION OF CARS
"After many years of discussion and a decades-long impasse, the Obama administration is starting to lay the foundations for electrification of portions of the US automobile fleet. The effort involves crafting legislation, achieving a consensus between industry and environmental groups and promoting cooperation between government agencies with a long track record of working at cross-purposes. The administration is quietly seeking to decarbonize America's cars so as to mitigate global warming and cut US dependence on imported oil. The White House aims to do this by showing financial support on plug-in hybrid technology and stepping up the use of natural gas―both as a fuel on which cars can run and as a fuel for generating electricity. The scale of such a transformation could ultimately cost well over $1 trillion, and it could only happen with an electricity transmission grid that could move huge amounts of power from coast to coast with minimal disruption from mishaps or sabotage." The Oil Daily, November 13, 2009.

DEATHS
Don Pressler, president of Pressler & Associates, Valrico, Florida, died peacefully at home November 14 surrounded by his family. The Pressler family wishes to thank PEI and its members for both the business relationships and personal friendships that Don valued so greatly.

RETAIL MARKETING NOTES
Sinclair Oil Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, plans to exit the retail gasoline business entirely by selling its remaining 29 Sinclair-branded stations in Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Oklahoma and Nebraska.
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Laval, Quebec, expects to enter into an agreement through its wholly-owned subsidiary Circle K to create a joint venture with Shell Oil Products to operate approximately 100 convenience stores in the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Most of the stores are currently run by third party operators under an operator agreement with Shell. All 100 stores held by Shell would be transferred to the joint venture through a combination of purchased and contributed fee and lease sites.
Lukoil North America LLC has purchased 164 branded gasoline station properties, contracts to supply approximately 339 other stations and other assets, including a home heating oil and propane gas company, from Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc. for $195.5 million.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
New Brunswick distributor. Petroleum Measurement Integrators Ltd., 120 Melissa Street, Unit 2, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3A 6W1, has applied for distributor division membership. Greg Hiscock is vice president of the company, which was established in 2007. The firm distributes and services petroleum industrial handling equipment and represents ChampLabs, CntmtSoltn, Morrison, OPW-FC, PtrParts and PMPCorp. Sponsored for PEI membership by David Crouse, OPW-FC, Hamilton, OH.
www.pmintegrators.com
British Columbia installation and maintenance firm. Middleton Petroleum Services Ltd., 702 East Athabasca Street, Kamloops, British Columbia V2H 1C9, has applied for service and construction division membership. Margot Middleton is president of the firm, which was established in 1987. The company installs, services, repairs and maintains fuel systems. Sponsored for PEI membership by Paul McKay, KellrEqLtd, Calgary, Alberta.
Colorado service and construction company. Independent Pump Company, 948 3rd Avenue, Grand Junction, Colorado 81501, has applied for service and construction division membership. Anthony Giandonato is president of the firm, which was established in 1995. The company sells, services and builds petroleum fluid systems. Sponsored for PEI membership by Craig Hoyer, KubatEqp, Denver, CO.
www.ipumpco.com
North Carolina petroleum installation contractor. Tank Service & Petroleum Inc., 151 Flower House Loop, Troutman, North Carolina 28166, has applied for service and construction division membership in PEI. Wayne Pepper is president of the firm, which was established in 2003. The company installs equipment and cleans underground storage tanks. Sponsored for PEI membership by Blair Shwedo, SEPSinc, Charlotte, NC.
Texas installation and service company. Tyler Pump and Services, 2927 Rollingwood Drive, Tyler, Texas 75701, has applied for service and construction division membership. Khalid Mahmood is president of the firm, which was established in 2003. The company installs, services and upgrades equipment at service stations and convenience stores. Sponsored for PEI membership by Chuck Zelewski, P&LBusVen, Leander, TX.
Wisconsin testing and security firm. GEA, Inc., P. O. Box 80265, Saukville, Wisconsin 53080, has applied for affiliate division membership. Kimberly K. Deniswicz is administrative manager for the firm, which was established in 2008. GEA is a global testing and security company working with regional and local contractors. Sponsored for PEI membership by Marcel Moreau, MoreauAscs, Portland, ME.

ADMITTED TO PEI

Beaudreau Electric Marketing, Pawcatuck, CT (mfr)
Alert Indiana LLC, Indianapolis, IN (mfr)
GreenField Compression, Richardson, TX (mfr)
A & S Engineering, Burbank, CA (aff)
MagTon Machining & Automation, Markham, Ontario (aff)
Airgas Specialty Products, Lawrenceville, GA (aff)
Activant Solutions, Inc., Yardley, PA (aff)
Chappell's Repair Service, Riverside, RI (aff)
Crossecom Pty Ltd., Como, WA, Australia (S&C)
Global Petroleum Services, Inc., El Cajon, CA (S&C)
Rocky Mountain Petroleum Services, Denver, CO (S&C)
Sal Mangione & Sons Construction Co., Inc., Seymour, CT (S&C)
F.T.S. Management Inc., Harrison, MI (S&C)
Aventura Construction Corp., Holtsville, NY (S&C)
Advanced Petroleum Services Inc., Butler, PA (S&C)

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The TulsaLetter (ISSN 0193-9467) is published two or three times each month by the Petroleum Equipment Institute. Robert N. Renkes, Executive Vice President, Editor. Opinions expressed are the opinions of the Editor. Basic circulation confined to PEI members.