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PEI has created a page on our website―called the UST Component Compatibility Library―where tank owners, equipment distributors, environmental officials, fire regulators and underground storage tank (UST) system installers can go to make certain particular UST equipment is compatible with higher ethanol and biodiesel blends. In anticipation that the demand for a central place to access compatibility information will increase once E15 is permitted for sale, we are asking manufacturers of UST components to provide us with this information so interested parties will have it when needed at www.pei.org/compatibility.

Background. EPA published guidance in the July 5, 2011, Federal Register regarding compatibility of UST systems with biofuel blends. The guidance discusses how owners and operators who wish to store gasoline containing more than 10 percent ethanol or diesel containing more than 20 percent biodiesel in their UST systems may demonstrate compliance with the compatibility requirement in 40 CFR 280.32.

In order to ensure the safe storage of higher ethanol (>E10) and biodiesel (>B20) blends, owners and operators must meet the existing compatibility requirement for UST systems. The UST compatibility requirement in 40 CFR 280.32 states: "Owners and operators must use an UST system made of or lined with materials that are compatible with the substance stored in the UST system." EPA explains that "because the chemical and physical properties of ethanol and biodiesel blends may make them more aggressive to certain UST system materials than petroleum, it is important that all UST system components in contact with ethanol or biodiesel blends are materially compatible with that fuel."

UST components that must be compatible. EPA considers the following parts of the UST system to be "critical" for demonstrating compatibility:

• Tank or internal tank lining
• Piping
• Line leak detector
• Flexible connectors
• Drop tube
• Spill and overfill prevention equipment
• Submersible turbine pump and components
• Sealants (including pipe dope and thread sealant), fittings, gaskets, o-rings, bushings, couplings and boots
• Containment sumps (including submersible turbine pumps and under dispenser containment)
• Release detection floats, sensors, and probes
• Fill and riser caps
• Product shear valve

Options for meeting the compatibility requirement. EPA lists three acceptable methods owners and operators of UST systems can use to demonstrate compatibility. They are:

• Use components that are certified or listed by a nationally recognized, independent testing laboratory for use with the product stored;
• Use components approved by the manufacturer to be compatible with the fuel stored; or
• Use another method determined by the implementing agency to sufficiently protect human health and the environment. EPA will work with state and implementing agencies as they evaluate other acceptable methods.

EPA is quite specific about what it considers an acceptable form for manufacturer approval. The approval must:

PEI To Host  Manufacturers Statements of UST Listing/Compatibility

PEI Board Elections Complete

Automotive Service Equipment Conference?

STI: Tank Venting Webinar

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• Be in writing;
• Indicate an affirmative statement of compatibility;
• Specify the range of biofuel blends the component is compatible with; and
• Be from the equipment manufacturer, not another entity (such as the installer or distributor).

What PEI will do. PEI will post the following types of letters from manufacturers on the PEI website:

• Letters indicating a component is compatible with ethanol or biodiesel blended fuels and meets the criteria for manufacturer approval listed above; and
• Letters indicating a component is listed or certified for use with ethanol or biodiesel blended fuels by a nationally recognized, independent testing laboratory.

Manufacturers of UST system components identified by EPA as being "critical for demonstrating compatibility" are encouraged to write a letter on company letterhead if they have produced listed equipment and/or have deemed equipment compatible with ethanol blends greater than 10 percent or ethanol or biodiesel blends greater than 20 percent biodiesel. If the manufacturer has approved equipment for higher biofuel blends―as opposed to having the equipment listed―the letter needs to include the four elements mentioned by EPA above. Although not required, we suggest the letter be dated, submitted in Acrobat PDF format, signed by a corporate officer  and include contact information provided for that person. Send those letters to compliance@pei.org and, after review, we will put them on our website where all manufacturer statements of listing/compatibility will reside. The website is available to all and is not password protected. Questions or comments should be directed to Bob Renkes at rrenkes@pei.org.

EPA is clear that if the UST owner and operator is not able to demonstrate that the UST system is made of materials that are compatible with the ethanol or biodiesel blend stored, according to 40 CFR 280.32, the UST owner and operator may not use the system to store these fuels. Manufacturers of UST system components are encouraged but not required to submit letters to PEI demonstrating compatibility so all interested parties have a single place to go for authoritative information about higher biofuel blends and their legacy equipment.

PEI BOARD ELECTIONS COMPLETED: CARLYLE ELECTED; ARN REPLACES RUSSELL
The runoff election for PEI Manufacturer District 13 has been completed and Bret Carlyle, Hamilton Tanks, Columbus, Ohio, has been elected. He will succeed Phil Parker, Samson Corporation, Swannanoa, North Carolina.

Joey Arn, Petroleum Containment Inc., is the new director from Manufacturer District 11. He was runner-up to Paula Russell of Goodyear, who recently left the company and accepted employment in another industry.

All newly elected directors will be installed at the Membership Breakfast in Chicago on October 3. If you have not sent in your RSVP, please do so now. This helps us provide accurate seating and food.

INTEREST IN AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EQUIPMENT CONFERENCE SOUGHT
The PEI Board of Directors is investigating the possibility of PEI hosting an industry conference dealing with the sale of automotive service equipment. The purpose of the conference would be to provide the sales staff of PEI member companies with useful information to increase sales and profits derived from automotive service equipment.

A letter from PEI was emailed August 22 to all PEI distributor, affiliate and service/construction division members. The letter described potential topics for the conference and asked members to complete a brief online survey to help the PEI Board of Directors gauge interest in sponsoring such a conference. If you haven't responded to the letter by participating in the survey, click here. Deadline for responses is Friday, September 2.

STI PRESENTS TANK VENTING WEBINAR
The Steel Tank Institute (STI) will present a one-hour webinar on the fire code requirements for normal and emergency tank venting on Wednesday, September 7, at 11 a.m. EST (10 a.m. Central, 9 a.m. Mountain, 8 a.m. Pacific). The program will offer a down-to-earth explanation of the technical principles and code requirements for vents and key things to look for during inspection. International code experts Jeff Shapiro and Scott Stookey will be presenting. To register or learn more click here.

DEATHS
Walter G. Latka of Homer Glen, Illinois, a 38-year employee at OPW Fuel Management Systems (Petro Vend), died August 6, 2011, after a harsh and short battle with cancer. He was 58. As Petro Vend grew, Walt wore lots of different hats including mechanical designer, technical support manager, product manager, labor warranty coordinator and engineering product manager. Survivors include his wife, Debbie, and son, Phil.

CALIFORNIA FUEL DISTRIBUTOR TO PAY $3 MILLION UST SETTLEMENT
Golden Gate Petroleum, based in Martinez, California, reached a civil settlement with the state Attorney General's office and 14 county district attorneys earlier this month to pay $3 million to the state and local counties. The prosecutors said Golden Gate Petroleum improperly raised sensors at the facilities, did not adequately train its employees to respond to potential hazardous materials spills and did not maintain adequate records.

PETROLEUM MARKETING BRIEFS
Exxon Mobil has sold its 65 percent stake in the refining and marketing company Esso Malaysia to Philippines conglomerate San Miguel.
Circle K Corp., a wholly-owned unit of Alimentation Couche Tard Inc., has agreed to acquire 33 On The Run Stores, located in southern Louisiana, from Exxon Mobil Corp.
The owner of O.J.'s Mobil Mart, Orange, Texas, was fined $60,000 and sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to charges of submitting falsified documents in order to prove his store was compliant with Texas Commission of Environmental Quality regulations.

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS
Nevada distributor. Petroleum Logistics, 101 North Pecos, Suite 112, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102, has applied for distributor division membership. Jason Vockrodt is an owner of the firm, which was established in 2010. The company sells, installs and services petroleum equipment and represents AmReel, Catlow, CNIMfg, PtrParts, RDMElec and VST. Sponsored for PEI membership by Cameron D. Carmack, Catlow, Tipp City, OH.
Georgia general contractor. BIG Services, Inc., 812 Athens Road, Crawford, Georgia 30630, has applied for service and construction division membership. Tom J. Beatty is owner of the firm, which was established in 2010. BIG Services is a full-service general contractor. Sponsored for PEI membership by John Page, LSI, Cincinnati, OH. www.bigservicesusa.com.

 

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©2011
Petroleum Equipment Institute
P. O. Box 2380
Tulsa, OK 74101-2380

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.